IMPORTANT LOOP RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 394, 26 March 1908, Page 2

IMPORTANT LOOP RAILWAY.

Thu Wellington Times has revived a subject which has received a certain amount of attention from the Government, and which has been set aside for the time being until other important matters in connection with the North Island Main Trunk Line have been completed. We refer to looping the Manawatu line between Devin and Greatford, via Foxton, Rongotea, and Bulls, with the Main Trunk Dine. The Times says :— ■ “ An alternative route for the railway between Devin and Martou is being talked of a great deal in the districts which hope to benefit from it. The main feature of general importance is that the proposed line would save seventeen miles in the journey between Auckland and Wellington. Study of the North Island railway map indicates that from Devin northwards the Manawatu line and its State-owned continuation makes a fairly big bend towards the east. The alternative loop would run almost due north, passing through Foxton, Rongotea, and Marton, having traversed forty miles of fertile country with no engineering obstacles excepting the bridgeing of the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers. We are almost afraid to mention it, but such a line would leave Palmerston North on a side track!” The last paragraph is an indiscreet utterance and calculated to disturb our big brother, which has an awkward way of looking at things from the village pump standpoint. In fact, the editor of uur Palmerston morning contemporary has already burst out crying over the statement, and has blubbered forth a stream of r'diculous nonsense in childish protest. The question is one of colonial importance, and will be carried into effect sooner than some people imagine.