Greatford-Levin Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 13 August 1904, Page 3

Greatford-Levin Railway.

PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. A petition wa? presented to Parliament on Thursday by Mr Vile from the members of the Horowhenua County Council, Manawatu County Council, Foxton Borough Council, Bulls Town JBhard, and ratepayers and settlers Within the districts in which the abovementioned local authorities have jurisdiction, pointing out that they have had under consideration from time to lime various schemes to secure direct connection by rail from Levin to Greatford or Marton, passing through Foxton and Bulls. Part of this; has been successfully carried into effect, by the construction of a tramway or lignt railway from Rangitikei river, near Bulls, to Himitangi, about seventeen {piles now open for traffic, and working

a* d profit. From Himitangi to Foxlon, six miles, the Government railway is also working, leaving only about nine miles to complete the connection near Levin at the Louth end, and five miles to complete the connection at Greattord at the north end.

Some time ago arrangements Were made with a syndicate having the necessary capital, to carry out this work, but the Government objected on the grounds that all railways should be the property of the Government, thus preventing, say the petitioners, the focal bodies from proceeding with this important work. The Manawatu County Council is prepared to sell its interests to the Government on such terms as may be agreed on by the contracting parties, The petitioners submit that the ratepayers, who have contributed their full share towards the construction of all railways and have, out of local rates and loans constructed seventeen miles of light railway at a cost of about £25,000, are now unable to get the full benefit ot their outlay, for want ot direct connection with the main line north and south. The present route from Mahawatu County to Wellington or Wanganui, via Himitangi and Longburn, that is, by county tram to Himatarigi, thence by Government rail to Longburn, thence to Wellington by the Manawatu Company’s line, is so disjointed, so ronnd-about, so inconvenient and expensive, that much traffic which should go by rail direct is now carted to Longburn and other places by road at a considerable cost. Thus the ratepayeis not only lose the freight on their own line, but they also have to pay extra for the up keep ot their roads caused by the extracartage, etc. The proposed line from Greatfom to near Levin would, the petitioners point out, be a great benefit to settlers along the route, by giving direct railway communication north and south, and thereby shortening the distances, varying from sixteen to fifty miles. It would alsv benefit the public generally by shortening the distance between Wellington and all places north of Greatford, both by the central and by the coastal route. The proposed line is practically straight and level, presenting no engineering difficulties. The country through which it passes is good agricultural and dairying land, closely settled, and taking into consideration that twenty-three miles aie already open the petitioners feel sure that it would yield a good profit on the small outlay required to complete the line. The petitioners ask the House to authorise the Government to acquire the Manawatu County tramway and complete the construction of ,the line from Levin to Greatford and Marion, passing through Foxlon, Sandon, and Bulls, so as to make it a Government line right through.