SANDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 6 (Supplement)

SANDON.

(FROM our own correspondent.)

Some very elaborate plans were sent in for the Sandon Steam Elour Mill. That of Mr. David Murray, of Wanganui, was considered by the directors to be the best; and also his tender for the whole of the machinery for the mill for the sum of £1431. Plans were also sent in by Mr. Dickenson of Wellington and Mr. John Glasgow of Turakina, which were all very commendable. The directors have since called for tenders for the erection of the necessary buildings. The works are to be commenced immediately and completed by the first week in March.

Messrs. Sanson and Gower, who were appointed a deputation from here to interview the Government re the Foxton and Sandon line of railway, have returned, and so far have been very successful. The settlers about hero are very pleased at the prospect of being able to have direct communication by rail with our nearest port. The Hon. 11. Campbell, who, ns you are aware, is' going to find the capital, will get threepence per ton per mile, and the Government are to have the same for haulage. All the money the settlers will have to find will be .£4BO per year for five years, a very small sum indeed, considering the very largo area of country that will be benefited by the line. In Sandon, Carnarvon, and the two ridings, there are more than 120,000 acres of laud that will receive a great and immediate benefit at a cost of pot more than one penny per acre. It is, I believe, intended to classify the lands into four kinds for the purposes of taxation. First, of

course, comes the property of those who live in close proximity to stations, and the other three classes are to be rated in proportion to the advantages derived. It would only be necessary for the County Council to levy a very small rate on the third and fourth classes, and the towns at each end of the line, viz., Foxton and Sandon, could well afford to pay a good share of the interest on the capital expended. We hope soon to have a visit from Mr. Campbell, who will give us more detailed information than we are in possession of so soon as he is able to leave Wellington. In the meantime Messrs. Gower and Sanson are going to call a meeting on the subject. The concert in aid of the Wesleyan Church funds in Sandon was a great success. The proceeds amounted to £ls.