THE DEVIATION COMMISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1556, 27 May 1916, Page 3

THE DEVIATION COMMISSION.

THE OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL.

When Wednesday afternoon s sitting of the Levin-Groatford Deviation Commission commenced, Mr J. P. Innes lodged objections against the deviation on behalf of the Palmerston North and Peilding Boroughs and the Kairang'a, Oroua, Kiwitea and Pohangina County Councils. The objections were to the effect that the line was not required in the public interest, and would be an expensive and unnecessary luxury ; the proposed line would open no new country and would not affect the closer settlement or subdivision of existing holdings. The population to he served by the line was small. Such population was now well served by good roads, and were all within easy distance of markets and railways. The line would be costly and any small benefit that might accrue would not he warranted by the expenditure. The line would not pay. Many other lines were urgently required and were entitled to precedence. Such line would seriously inconvenience the Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay districts. Wih regard to the proposed tram line extension, it was undesirable in the public interest to connect the tramways with the railway system. The cost; of such an extension would not he justified by the little benefit to he obtained.

EA’idence by W. S. Penny on the lines of that submitted by Mr W. J. Phillips, as to the suitability of large blocks of land in the ManaAvatn County for subdivision and closer settlement. The effect of the extension of the traimvay Avould have a tendency to induce settlers to cut up their lands, Avith the result that closer settlement Avould folloAv.

F. Purnell, grain merchant, Marton Junction, and secretary of the Sandon tramAvay for ten years, said the extension of the tram Avould have a beneficial effect generally in the district it Avould serve. It Avould facilitate the transport of sheep as OAvners ahvays found it paid to use the raiKvays in order to get their sheep to market. Closer proximity to the raihvay Avas a big factor to the farmer. The further he was from (he raihvay the greater the cost of production. Tim Sandon district Avas very adaptable for oatgroAving for chaff purposes, but its distance from the raihvay Avould make it unprofitable at present. The difficulties of (he district 1 it* in (In* cost of carting, it Avould cost a Sandon farmer 5s (id per ton more to deliver chaff at a northern destination, say 150 miles distant, than it AA’ould a Marion farmer, owing to the extra traffic via Himatangi and Palmerston. THURSDAY'S EVIDENCE The Deviation Commission resumed at 10 o’clock on Thursday morning, Avhen further evidence Avas taken iu support of the deviation proposal. • Alfred K. Drew stated ho had been clerk to the County Council and secretary of the Sanson tra.niAA’ay for nine years. An extension of five and a-half miles Avould bo necessary to connect the tram terminus with the main line at Greatford. The Public Works Department estimated the cost of placing the traffic bridge over the Rangitikei for raihvay purposes at £IO,OOO. Witness submitted the follmving statement of receipts and expenditure on the Sanson traimvay from 1895 to 1916 .

(The figure in brackets represents sums spent in improvements and renewals on the tramway and paid for out of ineome.)

The tramway had not added the 10 per cent, additional war charge on freights as made by the Kailway Department. One of the benefits that would result from the connecting up of the tram with the main line would be on the railage of firewood and fencing posts. The reduction from Ohakunc to Sanson on these articles by the direct route would be over 50 per cent. Another benefit would be the railage of sheep from the Marlon district. The greater portion of the coal used by the dairy companies in the Sanson and Rongotea districts came from the Auckland mines, and had to be railed right round by Longburn and Himatangi, and then along the tramway. The tramway handled 130 tons of cheese last year, and the output would increase yearly, as the factories were now taking up cheese making in preference to butter. In 1915, 557 tons of manure were railed over the tramway to district stations from Wellington. The quantity handled had shown a steady, increase since 1899. The districts of Rangototo and part of of the Oroua County would be served by the tramway if the 'conpectiou were made with the main

lino. Tie did think the traimvay would interfere with the traffle on (ho Government railways as far as The connection would probably increase the export of wool from Foxton. The first application for connection between the tram and main line was made in 1902.

Mr Myers said he understood there Avas a commission in 1882. Witness said a motor lorry Avas only able to enter into competition with the railways on high-freighted goods, such as benzine and kerosene. The freight per gallon on benzine from ’Wellington to Sanson Avas about 2.1 d. •

A statement from the clerk of the Rangitikei County Avas then put in as folloAvs :—The two ridings of (he Rangitikei County Avhich ivoiild lie mostly concerned by a through railway sendee via Great ford and Sanson Avould ho Rangitoto and Porewa. The capital A T alue of the tAVo ridings are as folloAvs : Rangitofo £767,408 and Pore Ava £792,348, and the area 100 square miles in Rangitoto and 55 square miles in Pore Ava, and the number of ratepayers in each were 103 and 484 respectiA’oly. The Rangitoto riding extended from a point about one mile south of Marlon to the ocean, and with an average width of about seven miles. The northern portion of this riding and also an area around the town of Bulls (which is excluded from the riding) Avas farmed in fairly small areas, say 200 to 300 acres, hut there are a few holdings of considerable size —one of 1400 acres. The class of farming carried on Avithin this area is chiefly ('Topping and sheep farming, Avith a little dairying. The land is being much improved by draining, etc., and I consider Avill be cajiablc of further subdivision, though perhaps not to a great extent for some years to come. The southern portion of the Rangitoto riding consists of land of a different character. Tcnvards the coast it is necessarily of a sandy nature, hut Avith the exception of a strip along the coast the soil is good, and in some parts of the finest, quality, especially the Hats along the Rangitikei river. There are a number of large holdings in this part of the riding confaining about 25,000 acres. Avhich are capable of subdivision, and a considerable area of the land served by tin* BullsScott road is suitable for dairying. The class of farming carried on in this portion of (he lading is chiefly sheep and cattle with a little cropping. Dairy farming', however, has in recent years been carried on to some extent in consequence of the subdiA'ision of some of the former large holdings. The Porewa riding extends from the Rangitoto riding on the-south to about six miles north of the Borough of Marlon, and from the Rangitikei river on the east to beyond the watershed of the Rangitikei and Turakina rivers. The remarks in regard to thi> northern portion of the RangiInto riding generally apply to the southern portion of the Poi'cavu riding', except that immediately around (he Borough of Mart on avlicv.- there is a considerable suburban settlement and the township of Mart on Junction also comes Avithin the riding. With tin* exception of one property of nearly 2,000 acres then l an* no Large holdings iu this portion of the riding. In (he northern portion of this riding the land is partly undulating and hilly, and the holdings are someAvhat larger, and chiefly used tor sheep farming. The Avhole of (lie land in the riding, Avhile varying in quality in parts, can all be considered as lirst-class, and is capable of yet further development. '

Year. Receipts . Payments. 1^95 849 . .. 1057 1896 1180 ... 1422 1897 1440 . .. 1258 1898 1776 ... 2029 (300) 1899 1750 ... 1809 (36) 1900 1941 ... 2051 1901 1986 ... 2034 1902 2397 ... 2151 1903 2873 . .. 3196 1904 3227 ... 3690 (474) 1905 3119 ... 2537 1906 2459 ... 2342 1907 2339 ... 2688 (522) 1908 2948 ... 2868 (291) 1909 3020 . .. 3603 (630) 1010 3334 ... 3257 1911 4210 ... 4652 (1295) 1912 4157 . .. 5953 (1837) 1913 4822 ... 4475(152) 1914 4308 ... 4715 (427) 1915 4192 ... 4307 (285) 1916 5622 ... 5400 (500)