THE FOXTON AND PALMERSTON TRAMWAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4358, 9 March 1875, Page 3

THE FOXTON AND PALMERSTON TRAMWAY.

Sin, —In one of your late issues I notice your remarks about the locomotives now being made in Wei lington for the Manawatu tramway. They arc greatly wanted here ; but before they can be used it will be necessary for the Government to have a little more energy displayed in making our tramway fit to receive them. A good, many months have now passed since the General Assembly voted funds for replacing the present wooden rails with iron ones, and what has been done as yet? I daresay you will be surprised when I tell you that they have got a few iron rails laid at various places along the line, and half-a-dozen men put on to tinker it up here and there, and that actually one chain of it is completed. Might I ask why the Government do not call for tenders for this work? It is generally reported that there are not sufficient iron rails to complete the line. Perhaps not ; but I believe they have iron rails sufficient to extend the lino from Palmerston to Feilding, which to my mind is a most absurd idea until the tramway is fit to carry the Paluierston traffic alone, the wooden rails being in that worn-out state that the larger portion of them will have to be replaced within the next three months. Why not replace them with iron at once, instead of tinkering up the Hue as is being done at present ? It is a well-known fact that the Manawatn tramway has been r piece of tinkered work from beginning to end as yet. I therefore would suggest that the Government should, without further delay, carry out the wishes of the General Assembly, in replacing the wooden rails with iron ones. Until this is done yon may depend upon it that the general public of Wellington and elsewhere, who are continually crying out for timber from the Manawatu, will not be supplied from here. I therefore suggest to you and the general public, that sufficient pressure be put upon the Government to compel them to desist from the continual tinkering process now going on, lind get the Palmerston tramway completed without further delav.—l am, &c, A Friend of the Movement. Palmerston, 3rd March.