Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1905. LEVIN GREATFORD RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3544, 8 July 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1905. LEVIN GREATFORD RAILWAY.

At a meetin ; of the Levin Chamber of CommiTc-, Mr W. C. Nation moved, “ Tn u in -vitioipition of the completion of the Main Trunk Riilway between Wellington and Auckland, and considering that sijcef*n miles would lie save 1 on that line by file construction of a line between Levin and GivatFwd (pirt Of vVhffti Is formed and now in use between hoxton and the Rmgiiikel i iv‘ r), Ibis meeting respectfully ask * Me §.'S Fntr.p and Vti:E, M.'sUl.U., to Urge upon the Govennn nt the d isirableness of authorising a survey of the proposed line.” In speaking to the motion he remarked that he considered it was a great pity that when the people np RongOtea way formed a Railway League to push on this matter, and the Levin people were asked to fall in with them, the invitation was not accepted. He pointed out how important such a line would be to the district. The journey would he shortened by about an hour, and in many ways such a line would prove to be of great advantage to the district through which it ran. It wmld also bring Levin into touch with the seaport of Foxton, the development of which would be materially advanced by the construction of the proposed line. The whole district would derive considerable benefit from the iraffi:. He alluded to the fact that a survey of the prop used roa.o h id been made years ago, and the report ot the surveyors showed there were no engineering difficulties in the way. The line was practically level. The principal difficulties would be the bridging of the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers. The Gove nment in the pa-1 had put its foot upon the proposal and no hing had been d me in the matter since. The advantage of speedier transit which such a Hue would confer would be very great, in view of the rapidly increasing traffic. He pointed out that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce wanted the Government to take over the Manawatn Railway, and therefore, it would be as well for them to put in their oar and do what they could in backing up the Wellingion C.umber. If they kept on agitating he felt sure the Hue would come. This is a mat ter in which Foxton pejple a,e vitally interested and we would urge tint any agitation promoted to secure the constru :■ tiou of the line should receive the unstinted assistance of the local community.