TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1062, 11 February 1913, Page 2

TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

Thk proposed extension of the tramway from Sandon to Marton was one of the objects of the Minister’s visit to this district last week. On Friday morning the Minister and his chief departmental officers traversed the full length of the present line to its terminus at Pukeuui, this side of the Rangitikei and a few miles from Bulls. The tram pulled up eu route and the Minister was motored through the fertile district of Rongotea and Glen Oroua, He expressed his opinion of the country in these words: “The land is running over with milk and honey ; it is like the land I used to live iu, and from which I sold out the other day.” He added that the land was well worth looking after, and he did not suppose there was a better stretch of country than this pastoral country, unless it was in the Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay flats. From the tram terminus, the remainder of the journey was made in cars to Marton, via Bulls and Greatford, and it was this stage of the journey that was of particular interest, for the travellers passed through that portion of the country over which it is desired to extend the tramway. So anxious are the settlers to get connection with the main railway that they are prepared to construct the line without financial assistance from the Government. They can extend the line to within a few yards of the rail-, way without the consent of the Government, but it would be practically useless to do so if connection was refused. The matter was submitted to the House in 1910, and the Committee referred the request to the Government for favourable consideration. Nothing further, however, was done by the Government. The present Government has expressed itself as favourable to light railways for opening up the country and finding the quickest routes for our produce to the world’s markets. The linking up of this line with the Main Trunk is of the utmost importance to the settlers and beneficial to the Dominion as a whole. When the Minister takes the whole facts into consideration, we do not think he will adopt a dog in the manger attitude. The only opposition to the scheme comes from Palmerston which looks at the matter from a purely parochial point of view. From the Minister’s attitude, the prospects of connecting the tramway at the northern end are very bright.