Sanson-Carnarvon Tramway.

Manawatu Herald, 12 August 1899, Page 2

Sanson-Carnarvon Tramway.

PROPOSED EXTENSION TO BULLS.

The question of the extension of the tramway was considered by the Manawatu C. C. on Wednesday. The Chairman said the tramway clauses in the Counties Act had been repealed by the Tramways Act of 1894, and it was under the latter Act the Council would have to proceed in order to make the extension. The first step would be to obtain the consent of the ratepayers, but not necessarily by a vote, for it could be done by giving notification of the intention of the Council to make the extension and deposit the plans in the county office. If, after the period specified in the Act, no objection had been made, the proposal would be deemed to be accepted. The next step would be to place the specifications of the work before the Governor, with a notice that the Council intended to borrow the required amount to complete the work and had taken all the necessary steps. The Governor, by Order-in-Council, could then give authority for the work to be done. He read Mr Fulton's estimate for the cost of carrying the tramway to the south bank of the Rangitikei River, which was — "As directed by your letter of the 25th inst., I have now the honour to report on the proposed extension : — Preliminary Estimate of Cost. £- The line laid with 401 b steel rails and totara sleepers will cost about £1280 per mile, three miles ... ... ... 3840 Two bridges and embankments... 160 Land for curve through Sanson, fencing, and cattle stops ... 200 Points and crossings... ... 50 Surveys, engineering, and inspection ... ... ... 250 Contingencies ... ... 250 Approximate cost of three miles of tram extension ... ««^4750 A line with uneven grades and se-cond-hand sleepers could no doubt be built for a good deal less, but would probably be objected to and is not recommended. I note that you propose I to lay the line on the old road so as to j get access to gravel on river bed. I do not think the river metal is such good road metal as that found in the stra- j turn on the top of the terraces. I would, therefore, suggest that if it is found feasible to extend the tramway it should be taken along the proposed new road and a siding put in at the south side of the proposed bridge. Your proposal that the new road should be i£ chains wide was referred to me, and I recommended that it should be agreed to. While oq the question of extension would it not be better to extend the tramway to Bulls, with the terminal siding in Bridgestreet, near the flour mill or courthouse. If the whole tramway then cost £6500, the interest on the cost per annum at 4 per cent, would be i'26o. The cost of filling gravel, running it on the tramway 10 or 15 miles and dropping it, would be about 2s per yard." Mr Fulton made another suggestion in regard to procuring the metal from the river bed, but this was made in error, as the Council never intended to obtain metal from the river but from the river bank.

The Council then examined the plan prepared to show what roads in the district it would be more economical to metal by means of the proposed extension than by the means available. The report of the overseer on the matter was also read. These showed that 3090 yds of metal, 2530 having been used for repairs and 1460 yards on new work, had been spread last year in the portion of the county the tram extension would benefit. The Engineer gave a list of roads to be metalled and the quantity required on each, and estimated that if the mttal could be obtained from the bank of the Rangitikei over thejiae a saving of

£2500 would be effected on the cost, also that the annual saving on the cost of metal procured over the extension as compared to that of obtaining it from Palmerston would amount to £250 a year. >• The Chairman pointed out that to make the extension would add about £6000 to the debt of the county. He did not think the ratepayers in the parts of the county who would not b« affected by the proposed extension would vote in favour of it, at any rate, unless they were given some direct benefit themselves out of the county funds, such as the metalling of Stewart's line.

Cr Clark appeared to be favourable to the proposed extension. His riding would chiefly benefit from a cheaper means of obtaining metal. Most of the Councillors, however, expressed their doubts as to "the line paying even if carried to Bulls.

It was resolved, That the Council does not see its way to extend the tramway to the river unless with the assistance of a grant of money from the Government. — Advocate.