The Proposed Levin-Greatford Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 30 June 1904, Page 2

The Proposed Levin-Great-ford Railway.

DELEGATES MEET AT FOXTON. The following is the continuation of our report of which the first parr appeared in our last issue, the rest being held over for want of space. Cr King ; Why I referred to the matter particularly was that the question of a bridge to carry a line through Bulls would mean an expenditure of £16,000, and the Government would consider that as a very important item in constructing the line. The Mayor: That is one thing, gentlemen, I can never understand —why the bridge Was not constructed to carry a line. To my mind it will be a great detriment to getting the line through, because it means an extra expense ns Mr King says, of £16,000. I consider the first thing we want is to get the Government to acquire the Manawatu line. I don't think there is the slightest hope of getting this line through until the Government have acquired that line, because they will say, “ You are feeding the Manawatu Railway line instead of feeding ourselves.” In that state it is a very difficult thing for the Government to deal with ‘ The construction of the Sandon tram and taking it to where it is, practically to nowhere, is one of the greatest mistakes that has been made in they whole construction of the line. If •the people of Bulls had carried the Ijne across the bridge to Bulls then you would' have had -something to work. Upon. ,As it is now the Govvernment would have an extra expenditure of £16,000 to carry the line across the river. Some years ago the scheme was moving and a company practically floated to carry this line through, and the Government objected to give a connection simply on the ground that I am stating. They said “ We don’t want to give a connection on to the Manawatu line,” and I don’t see that we are likely to overcome that difficulty at the present juncture. At the same time I am voicing the opinion of the Foxton people when I say that they want this line through. It would benefit them. The distance from Wanganui to Wellington would be materially decreased by at least 20 miles. But I don’t think the Government are in a positien at the present time to undertake this work, although ut the same time I would support it, and I believe the Council would. And it is one of those cases in which it is of no use to take “no” for an answer. The only thing is to keep pegging away until we get through, and that is the only way we shall accomplish this end. It is a matter of importance for Foxton, Sandon, Bulls, and the whole surrounding district, and we certainly should discuss the matter fully. Cr King : Do you think, sir, that if a petition is presented to the Government requesting them to acquire the tram line and construct the thing as proposed it is probable the Government might ask the question —What will it cost ? Would it be necessary, sir, in your opinion to be prepared for that ? The Mayor: Well, I think that would naturally be the first question. Or Austin : That would require a practical engineer’s estimate. The Mayor: Of course there is one thing to be considered. I don’t know that petitioning would do any good; But I think' it is quite possible that if there were a combination of delegates to interview the Government they might vba able to do something- That is if you get a combined' effort/ 'But without that I doq’tthjnkthere is the slightest hope. One thing no£ to be forgotten is that conference to-day represents a very large area .of country, and another thing is this— I think we could urge on the Government the necessity of relieving the congested state of Palmerston. The Government will have to meet that some time. There are not sufficient requirements at Palmerston for the traffic. This line would relieve Palmerston in a great measure. But of course the Government always have the bugbear of the Manawatu line. That is the whole trouble in my opinion. If we could once get the Government to acquire the Manawatu Railway there would be no difficulty in getting them to take over this line and put the main line through here. Cr Austin : It is easily seen that if the thing is carried through it will only affect the Manawatu at that end and the Government would not be in favor of that. Mr McKenzie : It has been suggested to me on several occasions that the company would be more likely to make objections to it than the Government. They would object to it as taking some of their traffic off. If that is true—that the proposed line is likely to work against the Company (and I believe that the Company are afraid it will) it could not be to the injury of the Government. It cannot be to the injury of both. It would mean that a great deal would oprpe down this way to

Levin, but on the anything from Wanganui or the central ronte coming down this way to the Government line the company would be bound to get, whereas if it goes to Palmerston it can go round through Masterton. But on the other hand it would deprive the company of the carrying between Levin and Longburn. It cannot be .i,a injury to both the Government and the company, and if the company are afraid it would injure them I don’t see that it would be likely to injure the Government much. The Mayor : Of course the only way the Government can look at it is that they take a considerable amount of traffic round the Wairarapa line, and it is quite possible that they might think that a lot of traffic that now goes through would be diverted, though its being a shorter route from Wanganui on the proposed line. Or Coley: This end has got the same trouble as the Bulls end. If the Bulls Town Board forgot the bridge the Foxton Borough Council forgot the same thing, so if it comes to £16,000 to alter the bridge at Bulls it will take the same here—altogether £32,000 for bridges. The Mayor : You do away with the traffic bridge. That was practically built for traffic. It is difficult to combine it for the two as it is now constructed. Mr Coughlin: What happened was 'When, the bridge was being made the twp County Councils were ; right agaihsf theim The contractor offered to build a bridge to carry ithe line and to come iff straight and allow plenty of land on, both sides. It. would only have cost £7OO more, and neither would agree .to it... f .§50 he had to build the bridge the nest way he could. If it had been four feet wider it would carry both. That was what he had intended td do. Some discussion here took place as to the notices sent to the representatives, which did not appear to have much bearing on the business of the meeting. The Mayor: Gentlemen, it rests entirely in your hands now to take some action in the matter if you think it worth while. Cr Coley : I don’t see what good it would be for the Horowhenua people. They have a line rigffitpast their door. Mr McKenzie; I was told in Levin that they are actually carting some goods to the port of Foxton here. If the line were here it would be of use to them. They told me they pay more on kerosene at Levin than at Longburn, because the Longburn people get supplied direct through the port, yet Levin is only 9 (sic.) miles from here and Longburn 20 miles

Cr Coley : There are only a very few items. I cart the stuff." Kerosene is one of them. The Mayor: At the same time you must remember this, Or Coley, that there would be competition between the railway and the shipping. It would be a benefit both ways. The railway would try and cut the shipping and the shipping would try and cut the railway. There is no doubt the Manawatu Railway Co. have the matter of freights entirely in their own hands. They are supposed not to have, but at the same time I think Mr Gray can speak with authority on the matter. Cr Coley : Thers are only certain articles, such as flour and oats, at a very small price—the steamer cannot put them in the slings in Wellington and out here for the price. Drapery is a big item. .. t The Mayor : Of course it ‘il a very big question to be considered. There are pros and cons. It is a hard matter.to determine. I believe the whole residents in the Rangitikei district. are quite in favor of the extedsioa-ipf the line. There is no queStioA'about that. But the question is whether we> can make the Government see as we do. Cr Coley: I don’t think they do. Cr Austin : I think the trouble ia the £. s. d.

• Mr King: I think the Manawatu County Council should take a large part in this matter. . They have a large asset to sell in the tramway, I think that really they should take the initiative in approaching the Government. There are some members of the Manawatu County Council who would be properly appointed by that body. The first question would be—“ We want to buy the tram.. How much do you want ?” Mr McKenzie : I may say the first thing I did was to inquire whether the Council would be willing to dispose of the tram. We met the' Council and went into the matter, and they said they would be willing to dispose of the tram on the most favorable terms, provided it was made a through line. I suggested they should take the up. They said no, we would be in tliA position of selling the line, and fore we are the last who should move in the matter. They would be the interested parties, and they thought too they would not carry so much weight. The Government would say “you want to sell the tram,” and at the present time the tram is paying very well. But in order to get the line through' they are willing to sell the tram on very tavourable terms. T rj Cr Coley: I'm afraid they would have to give it, because they have nothing to sell beyond a bare formation —neither sleepers, rails, or anything

ei?)pWWveen here and Sandon. I don’t know what it is the other side Of Sandon. Mr McKenzie: They have the land if nothing else. That' is better than having to' take it through a new and thickly-populated district, and as far as Rongotea the line has been laid with new and heavy rails. The Mayor (to Cr Claris): You arc representing tho Manawatn County Council, Mr Claris. We should like to hear your views on the subject. Cr Claris : It seems to mo ths matter of cost would be the first thing to be considered. What will it cost right through ? It rests on all the ratepayers, and is a large matter to consider.

Mr McL ..’/.ic : We are wishing the Government to take it over and colt* struct it—not the ratepayers. Cr Claris : In the event of the Bulls Bridge being sufficient for the line, what would be the cost of widening it ? Mr McKenzie; That would be a, matter for the Government. We simply want the lino. The* Mayor: The first thing is to get the Government to take it np. They will soon consider the cost themselves. It is quite possible, I think, that they won’t be in favor of constructing it just now. They will shelve it probably by saying they will have to ascertain the cost first. Mr McKenzie: If we get a report on the line that will be one step, and as to the cost, the distance from Levin to Greatford is 39 miles. The Government have already six miles of that opened. Then there is the tram for what it is worth seventeen miles further on. The line right through is practically level and straight. The two. bridges are the only obstacles in the way. I doubt if any 39 miles in the colony Could be constructed at less cost, Especially considering that part is already made. Some discussion arising as to an adjournment for lunch, Cr Spelman referred to the visiting delegates requiring to be in time fovthe train, and proepeded to detail where they had come from, The Mayor pointed out that this information was already known to him. Mr McKenzie : I should like to make two resolutions—one asking each local body to bring the matter before the Government, and the other to have a deputation to Wellington about it,_ or at all events meetings in the district. I should not like to see it dropped now, I know Mr Vile is in favour of it. I understand Mr Field will also support it, and Mr Aitken, of Wellington, told me he would. Mr Coughlin said the members would support it without having a deputation. A deputation, he thought, would not be necessary. Mr King proposed that the various be invited to move resolutions urging on the Government the necessity of taking over the line. This was seconded by Cr Austin. Mr King then proposed, That the different local bodies interested be requested to pass resolutions pointing out to the Government the advisability of the construction of the proposed railway line from Levin to Greatford, and urging on the Government the necessity of having such railway line constructed. This was seconded by the Mayor, and carried. Mr McKenzie proposed—That this meeting of the representatives of the Manawatn County Council, Horowhenua County Council, Foxton Borough Council and Bulls Town Board, request the member for the Manawatn and the member for Otaki to urge on the Government the advisability of acquiring the Manawatn Co.’s line and constructing a through line from Levin to Greatford or Marton, via Foxton and Bulls. Speaking to the motion Mr McKenzie said. —Vhe latter is to secure the line going through Bulls. I think it will be well, sir, to ask the members for the district to push the matter, and to let the request come from the representatives of this meeting. I hope you will excuse my making the suggestion. I would suggest something to that effect, if some one would second it. Cr Claris accordingly proposed the resolution, which was seconded by Cr Coley and carried. Mr McKenzie : The only thing now is whether we should take, any further steps by way of public meetings, &c. Cr Spelman: Can y/e be responsible for Levin and Bulls ? Mr McKenzie: Bulls is here, and Levin has its intention sufficiently to justify us in considering it represented. The Mayor; I thank you, gentlemen, for your attendance, and am very plc&scd to meet you as representatives of the local bodies.