LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 13 May 1909, Page 3

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

At the conference of Chambers of Commence held at Palmerston North on Tuesday Mr J. M. Johnston brought up the matter of the Devin-Marton railway. A strong agitation was being engineered in its favour both north and south of Palmerston, notwithstanding the emphatic denial given to the scheme by the Minister, who had stated it would cost ,£300,000. The speaker did not think it would cost so much.

Mr Williams (Napier) did not think any of these loop lines which would cover country already practically covered by other lines should be constructed. There was a great deal of country north of Napier, towards Gisborne, which needed railway communication, and so long as such country was without lines it would be a mistake to build these loop lines. In any case they would only weaken the earning power of the present lines. Mr Nash said as far as Palmerston North was concerned they were, of course, unanimously opposed to it, and most of the people affected by the proposed line were fairly well-satisfied. Foxtou had good train and tram accommodation. A lot bad been said about the constant change of trains, but if the Levih-Marton raV,-. iy became the main lin ihe 11 . vke’s Bay people would h :\v .1 bn! lime in changes, for the r e won. I b; a change at W o!'i!le, an i!u-r at Pal I’ersion, and ihm anulb.-.' 't Marton Junclio ;. Mr Haydou said that a very 1 .- fluential body of men was behind the movement, and the promoters hoped to get the Main Trim - ; traffic over the new line, in h shutting Palmerston oat. Tnis would mean that all the Hawke’s Bay passengers would have to go on to Marton to connect with the Main Trunk lino. Mr Tolley pointed out that the tram line would be useless for the proposed railway, as the route was bad and the laying of the line worse. There was a strong feeling in prominent circles that the line would never be built. It was decided on the motion of Mr Williams, seconded by Mr Fairbrother : “That in the opinion of this conference the proposed Eevin-Marton railway is not necessary nor in the interests of the Dominion.” THE TRIAD SURVEY. At the Manawatu County Council meeting the question of the Deviu-Ma-ton railway came up, Mr Edward Newman, M.P., wrote, stating that the Minister for Public Works was evidently opposed to a trial survey of the proposed Eevin-Maitiu railway. He enclosed a copy of a letter he had received from the Minister which stated that a trial survey had been made some years ago, from which it appeared that the route presented no engineering difficulties and there would be less than one mile of grades steeper than one in 100, and no sharp curves. It was probable that it would be practicable to utilise about 5 miles of the existing Foxton to Palmerston railway. The cost of constructing the whole line from Eevin to M uloa would not be less than ,£300,000. This information being available he regretted he was uuable to detach an officer to carry out a detailed survey. The matter was left in the hands of Mr Newman.