Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY. AUGUST 15, 1899. The Extension of the Tramway.

Manawatu Herald, 15 August 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY. AUGUST 15, 1899. The Extension of the Tramway.

♦ Last Wednesday the members of the Manawatu County Council discussed the advisability of extending the Sandon-Carnarvon Tramway to the new bridge to be erected at Bulls. They had the advantage of having a report from Mr Fulton on the estimated cost of the work, as well as an estimate from the County Overseer as to the advantages such an extension would be to the County. Mr Fulton's estimate is £4750 for the three miles from the terminus to the bridge, which is a larger sum than we had mentioned, but the increase arises from the proposal to use 401 b rails and from the purchase of land at Sandon for a curve. Mr Fulton admits that a line could be made at less cost but he would not recommend it, and as the other figures supplied by the Overseer are encouraging perhaps it is as well to consider the proposal on Mr Fulton's figures. The Overseer showed that 3090 yards of metal had been used last year in that portion of the county served by the Tram, and from his estimate for a number of roads that needed metalling, he arrived at the fact that by getting metal from the extension would mean a saving ot £2,500 on the cost, and that every year a saving of £250 could be made by the use of their own gravel as against procuring it from Palmerston. These figures show that one half the cost of the extension would be repaid in saving effected in metalling the county roads, and that the yearly saving (£250) for ordinary road repairing would mean the interest : required by the government on the ! amount of a loan raised for the Tramway, therefore at first sight it appears surprising to learn that the County Councillors could not see their way to undertake the work without the assistance of a grant of money from the government. It is possible that the Councillors have good reason for their decision arising from the inability to do the metamog recommended, as the sum required must be a large one if a saving of £2,500 could be effected. In road-making the same difficulties as to finance orop up as they do in business, and work can always be done cheaper and better wholesale rather than retail, but it is the want of the necessary capital which thwarts all good ideas being given effect to. Councillors also appeared to have a doubt as to whether placing the Tram close to the bridge would have the benefit to the traffic necessary as a return for the outlay. We would suggest to the Chairman that as his county has taken up the good work of progress and has secured such an encouraging groundwork to build on, that a committee be set up to gather particulars as to the probable increase in trade. If Bulls is any centre of value the approach of the Tram to within a mile and a quarter of the town should be a decidedly important factor to induce the further use of it, as it would place the business people in close contact with the port of Foxton, at which goods from Wellington can be landed at seven shillings and sixpence a ton, to which would have to be added 23 miles of rail carriage and i£ miles of cartage, in contradistinction to a rail carriage of 114 miles from Wellington to Great- 1 ford with 4 miles cartage, or 41 miles j by road and rail from Wanganui. We believe that the traders of Bulls must see the advantages offered them in

this route, and their views as well as "hose of the farmers in the Lower Rangitikei should be obtained. To show, in one item, the value of good grades to a port, we find that the Railway Department have their coal ;ent to Foxton for delivery to Mart on. md past Dannevirke. There is also he Borough of Foxton that could be consulted and it is likely that they could assist the extension by taking rheir supply of gravel from the county Ye have always seen that the dif ;rence in carting to a railway has a emarkable effect on its traffic, and hough the extension is only three miles it is a very appreciable distance to consignors. We could produce many arguments as to the advisability of stirring in this direction of an extension, one of which is that all the large estates in the Manawatu County are now being subdivided into small holdings, the last one being Mr Bull's property, through which the extension would run, and this means a larger population to which the Tram would be of service. Then again the Tram must either be extended or abandoned, as its terminus now is of very little use, though it has been of value to the county in getting the Main road metalled. As the County as a whole has had to be responsible for the upkeep of the Tram it appears but fair that the farther away portions should be given the opportunity of profiting by the saving it would make in the further metalling required ; but beyond this . we hold that the county has a magnificent asset in the Tram if they can but hold onto it for a few more years, as its position as regards the Main Trunk line points to its ultimate adoption as to the short cut to Auckland from Wellington, To keep this position it is necessary to advance with the times, even if it is but to " hasten slowly," and the opportunity appears to present itself at the present moment. If the Councillors accept their Overseer's estimate it appears plain that had they no money to do new metalling within the area served by the Tram, which is unlikely as their finance is sound and the full rate is not paid in any Riding, yet the yearly saving on repairs is stated to be sufficient to find the amount -for interest on the cost, without there being a fraction of extra traffic. We sincerely trust the Councillors will look into the proposal more closely and gather farther information before abandoning the proposal as beyond their means. It is possible, in view of the cutting up of Mr Bull's property, the government might see their way to assist and we should be glad if they would as the loss of the Tramway would be severely felt after it was gone though it may not be so much appreciated now it is with us.