Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEB. 27, 1900. Extension of the Tramway. III.

Manawatu Herald, 27 February 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEB. 27, 1900. Extension of the Tramway. 111.

We have shown in previous articles how much the extension of the Car-narvon-Sanson Tramway, if extended to -Bulls bridge would benefit the Manawatu County and the Bulls Town Board, and if the Tramway was carried to the Marton -Junction how muoh it Would be to the above places as well as to Marton. The facts we stated are beyond dispute and our interest in the matter lies in the very great advantage this town would derive by a junction with the government line being effected. Granting that our business men are desirous of pushing their business, their position at the present time, even with the very great advantages of being at a port, are hampered by the extraordinary way the railway from this town has been laid out. To reach places in the north by rail, distant from the port some 27 miles, they have to encounter the cost of 58 miles of railage to reach that point, no business can stand such a strain and thus the energies df our business men are " cribb'd, cabined, and confined" to the. small district -tyhig adjacent to their places of Dupßtass, The immense difference to trade can &c Itefcter determined if the desired railway could be supposed as completed, lor* then cheap goods landed in Foxton at ten shillings a ton, could be despatched to Marton for the payment of 27 miles of railway carriage as against 59 miles now required, and it would put Bata and other towns on the Hunterville Branch at similar easier distances, bringing Eata within 37 miles of Foxton, Hunterville within 43 miles and Mangaonoho within 50 miles of this town, or in other words placing all these towns and the fine distriots they represent nearer to Foxton by 3 miles by rail, than Marton is now. It may not occur to our business men to make an effort to get a distant trade, but such a Gnance offers a wonderful opening for a pushful man, and the port of Foxton would become a valuable centre for trade, instead of being but the outlet of a restricted business it now represents. Cheap carriage the whole world over means increased trade, and cheap carriage, cannot be obtained by round-about routes, and it is the maxim of good business . men to secure short cuts to desired points with increased speed. It is but a repetition of a well-known fact that increased facilities increases trade; and every item of cargo tells, until increased vessels are needed to convey it in from port to port, and every vessel discharging or loading at the wharf requires a certain amount of local labour. Further labour needed means increased population which requires to be fed and clothed. Under this view* of the Tramway extension it appears that for the best interests of the towji more attention should be paid to the proposals of the Manawatu County Council and the Mayor should bring this subject before his Council and form a committee, with outsiders, to assist the Manawatu County in securing a poll for increased loan for the work, as well as to urge the formation needed in the Eangitikei County. The older inhabitants of the district have always had faith in such a scheme and it is to their efforts that the settlers have had the advantage of the Tramway for so many years. We well remember the day the line was i declared open to Sandon by Mrs J. 1 G. Wilson, and a hope. was then •expressed, unfortunately bow many years ago, that the further extension both norfli and south would be soon effected. It is satisfactory now to know that Mr J. G. Wilson, as chairman of the Manawatu County, is taking the matter in hand, and we feel assured he will secure his aims if he puts his best work into the project and receives the loyal support of his own Council and that of the neighbouring local bodies, which thus makes a movement on the part of the Mayor of much moment.