MORE WATER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3504, 1 April 1905, Page 2

MORE WATER.

A REPLY TO “ONE IN EARNEST." TO THE EDITOR OF THE MANAWATU HEBALO. Sir, — In your issue of February 4th your correspondent “ One in Earnest,** replying to my letter of January 31st r* the tramway to the beach, says that “ I am sure any civil engineer will agree that such a line, as suggested by your correspondent, could not possibly be built under £i j,ooo or £20,000, at the very lowest estimate." He also remarks about “ this arousing Tramway scheme," &c„ which I need not notice, but simply confine myself to reputing, the absurd figures he has put into print, as it is now no doubt quite “ amusing ’’ to him, to find that the slighted tramway may soon b* an accomplished fact. In the first place, the length of tramline required is almost the same, three miles, whether it leaves th« main line at the Lady's Mile, or at the windmill as I suggested, that is, if the Lady’s Mile route is taken direct to the Pilot station, along or near the telephone line, therefore, as there are no great engineering difficulties, on a perfectly level line, it would only cost about £IOOO per mile, instead of £2OOO his “lowest estimate,” making a total of about £3OOO for construction, and if the composite cars, (or motor busses with flanged wheels) were used, these would only be necess iry for a ten or fifteen minutes service on busy days, costing each about £1,230 ; therefore the total cost would only be about £7,000 , a vast difference to the £20,000 he said it would cost without including the necessary land along the route. I must apologise to “ One in Earnest," for not answering his “ amusing ” letter before, but I have been trying to get an exact estimate of a motor car or bus, but as they are new to the Colony, I have not been able to do so. Thanking you for allowing me this space.— l am. etc., F. De Ridder.