THE LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY PROJECT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1512, 19 February 1916, Page 3

THE LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY PROJECT.

(Ohakune Times). For many years past the residents of Foxton and Levin have at intervals brought before the Government the benefits of a railway running from Levin, through Foxton and on to Marton, which would shorten the journey between Wellington and Marton by sixteen miles, A syndicate of wealthy men brought belore the late Richard Seddon, the then Premier, the necessity of constructing this line, and offered to finance its construction if granted certain privileges when the line was in going order. But Mr Seddon declined the offer. Every now and then a fresh agitation arises, and the other day a meeting was held in Marton to keep the subject warm, though, as public finances now " 1 , it is

hopeless to expect tLs. .eminent to do anything off hand. To every resident along the Main Trunk line the construction of a branch railway from Leviu to Marton should appeal. The long journey from Wellington to Auckland would be shortened by sixteen miles, saving an hour in every iourney to and fro, and of course every township eu route would share iu the boon. The people of Palmerston are opposing the construction of this line because it side-tracks them to some extent, but they would not suffer iu any way. The present route from Leviu to Marton is a huge bend, whereas the proposed line would be a straight one. From Levin to Foxton is almost level land, and from Foxton to Sandon a line of railway is now la use, so that, for the heavy traffic of the Main Trunk, little formation, comparatively speaking, is required. The chief expense would be bridging the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers. Here is a route which saves sixteen miles, over easy country, which is already railed between Foxton and the Rangitikei river. And what an immense saving yearly there would be iu wear and tear of rolling stock with sixteen miles cut out. The traffic on the present line is exceedingly heavy and the expense prodigious. We therefore join in the agitation for the Government to consider the best way of financing the undertaking. If public funds just now will not allow, the Government should allow private capital to construct the line- The saving of expense and wear and tear on rolling stock on the present track between Leviu and Marton is so enormous that it would go tar to pay the interest on the outlay. The project is a worthy one, and the benefits to be obtained so great that we hope every local body between Wellington and Auckland will throw their influence into the scale to bring about the construction of this line as soon as possible.