LIGHT RAILWAY TO THE SEASIDE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3512, 17 July 1926, Page 2

LIGHT RAILWAY TO THE SEASIDE.

DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATES WITH COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Foxton Harbour Board and local Chamber of Commerce have urged upon the New Zealand Railways Department the necessity for the construction of a light railway to the seaside. A survey of the proposed line has been made and at Thursday’s meeting of the Manawalu County Council a letter was received from the Department regarding the proposal. The district railway engineer reported that he had gone over the ground and considered the most suitable and cheapest route would be along the road reserve. There appeared to lie ample room for a railway track as well as for all likely road requirements. It had been pointed out to the Department by the chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, and also of the Chamber of Commerce, that if the line were constructed, considerable increase in settlement would result, and consequent increase in revenue to the Council. Should it be necessary to acquire land for railway right of way, the additional cost involved would in all probability have the effect of compelling ‘the Department to abandon the scheme, and the Department required the Council’s views on the matter. Cr. 11. 11. Hunt (chairman) said that the road was a chain wide, and it was a question whether it was wise to allow a railway track to be laid.. Cr. W. E. Barber did not think any objection should he raised against the scheme. On the motion of Cr. Barber, seconded by Cr. Reid, it was decided to instruct the County engineer to meet the Railway Engineer and obtain full particulars of the scheme. [We understand that the “road line” referred to is not the present road, hut a continuation of what is known as the “Lady’s Mile” which was originally laid off to the San-, itorium, hut which was not followed when the present road was con-structed.-Ed. H.]