RAILWAY EXTENSION TO BULLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5328, 25 April 1878, Page 3

RAILWAY EXTENSION TO BULLS.

. « ■■ (From the Rangitikei Advocate, 18th inst.) ■- The committee appointed ’at 'the public meeting held in the Town-hall, .Bulls, on the llth.ult., to draw up a memorial and statistics for presentation to the .Minister for Public Works, have brought their labors to -a close, and the documents, of which ■ we append a copy courteously forwarded by the hon. secretary, have been -sent to. the’. Hon. J. Ballauce, the member for the district. The committee in their memorial make out a very good case, which is strengthened by the accompanying statistics. We feel sure that the member will use his beat exertions to ensure the granting of the prayer of the memorialists. As we have already pointed out on previous occasions, the lie of the country is such that a railway can be constructed at a

minimum of cost say from £IO,OOO to £12,000 —and the estimated returns would yield a very fair profit after the working expenses have been deducted. We trust that we shall shortly hear of surveyors being oh the ground, for we feel convinced that their report cannot but be favorable to the scheme. In the event of the Government deciding to construct the line, we hope that the residents of Bulls will take warning from Marton, and not quietly allow the station to be located at an inconvenient distance from the township. The following is the text of the memorial and of the schedule accompanying the same : “To the Hon. the Minister for Public Works,

Wellington. “1. That the line of railway between Wanganui and Foxton passes through the county of Rangitikei at a distance of four miles from the town of BuUs. “2. That the town of Bulls, situated as it is at the intersection of the Great North-Wea-tern-road with the road connecting the northern and southern" extremities Of the county of Rangitikei, is the centre of a populous aud thriving district, carrying on a very considerable trade in timber, cereals, wool, stock, and general merchandise, as is more particularly shown by the schedule hereunto annexed, marked ‘A,’ which trade, with more or less regularity, is at present carried on by means of waggon’, aud of steamers and other vessels entering and leaving the Rangitikei River, at a distance of twelve miles from Bulls. This trade would, in the opinion of your memorialists, be absorbed by a short line of railway connecting Bulls with" the Greatford station on the Wanganui and Foxou line. “ 3. That the country lying between the Greatford station and Bulls, is, comparatively speaking, level, and is perfectly open, with no stream or creek to be crossed, thereby presenting no engineering difficulty whatever. That only two owners of land would have to be dealt with, and that the cost of the proposed line would therefore necessarily be reduced to

a minimum. “ 4. That your memorialists believe that if the said line were constructed it would yield a considerable profit upon the outlay afler deducting working expenses, the town of Bulls alone showing an increase this year of 30 per cent, in rateable value over last year’s returns, which commercial activity your memorialists have every reason to believe is proportionately participated in by the whole of the district interested in the proposed branch Hue. “6. Your memorialists therefore humbly request that you will be pleased to order the immediate survey of the proposed line, in order that if satisfied with the representations of this memorial the Government may proceed without further delay with the construction of the said line. And your memorialists will ever pray, &c.” [Here follow 156 signatures of landowners and settlers.] SCHEDUI.E A enumerates in detail the imports, show- . ing a total of 2010 tons. 2000 tons imports at an average of sd. per ton per mile, say 4 miles .. .. £l6O 13 4 1500 tons sawn timber sent to Marton and vicinity, which would not be sent by rail if not extended to Balls, say at 2s. 6d. ...... .. .. 187 10 0 400 bales wool, now sent to "Wanganui.. 6 13 4 300 bales of wool, now sent by river, and which would be sent by rail if extended to Bulls, at say Is. .. .. 15 0 0 100 tons tallow, hides, produce, 1 and other exports, at say Is. 8(1. .... .. 8 6 8 Flour and grain imports and exports, say .. .. .... .. 100 0 0 500 tons firewood, which would not he sent if the line is not extended to Bulls .... 41 13 4 Live stock, say .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Passenger traflic, including sale and race days 300 0 0 Parcels, etc. .. .. .. . 50 0 0 Total revenue per annum, to commence with .. ".. .. .. £925 16 8 The following letter accompanying the memorial-was sent to the Hon. J. Ballauce, M.H.R.:

“ Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that on the 14th day of March last a meeting was convened by circular, of the principal landowners, settlers, and residents in and around this town, for the purpose of taking into consideration the desirability of having the railway extended to Bulls. There was a full attendance, and Mr. James Bull occupied the chair. A series of resolutions was unanimously passed, of which the following is a copy: “ Ist. That in the opinion of this meeting it is highly desirable, in the best interests of the town and district, that the railway should be extended from the Greatford station to the town of Bulls, and this meeting pledges itself to support every legitimate means that may be found necessary to obtain this object. “ 2nd. That a committee be appointed to urge upon the Government the necessity that exists for giving a speedy effec.t to the first resolution, and to take such other steps as they may deem necessary, either by memorial or deputation, in placing the matter fairly before the Government. “ 3rd. That the member for the district be written to, asking him to use his best efforts in getting the railway extended to’ Bulls as early as possible. “In accordance with the above resolutions, the committee prepared a memorial and schedule of traffic on the proposed line, and I am instructed to enclose the same to you, and to respectfully request that as our representative you will be good enough-to present the same to the proper quarter, and that yon will back it up with all your well-known energy and influence, as the matter is of vital importance to the well-being of the whole of this end of the district. “ I may be permitted to state that the committee are of opinion that if anything the traffic is under-estimated in the schedule.—l have, &c., ' “Thos. Mdneo, “ Hon. Secretary Railway Committee. “ Bulls, April 17, 1878.”

A somewhat novel means of providing cheap artificial light is now being introduced to the Brisbane public. The apparatus, which is on view in Elizabeth-street, near “Brookes’ Buildings,” is the invention of Mr. William Hooker, of .Mary vale-street, South Brisbane, and though apparently simple in construction, it displays considerable ingenuity. The inventor claims for it the capability of producing an atmospheric gas of greater illuminating power, and at considerably less cost, than coal gas. The apparatus is composed first of an aerometer or receiver made of sheet .iron, after the pattern of a gasometer. It is connected with a small cylindrical drum or tank by an iron pipe, extending from the base of the former to the top of the latter. Two other pipes spring from the top of the drum, ono connecting with a minature gasometer, and the other leading to four argand gas burners distributed over the premises. The gas is manufactured in the tank, and this vessel is said to contain the secret of the invention. The process of manufacture is as follows A quantity of shale oil haying been poured into the tahk, pressure is brought to bear on the aerometer. By this means the atmosphere is forced into the drum, where it becomes impregnated with particles of the shale oil, and thence it is driven to the miniature gasometer, or direct to the burners, where it becomes an illuminating power, Mr, Hooker eaid that a large argand burner would give a light equal to ten candles, aud could he kept constantly going at a cost of about ■ 6d. per week, while if used for cooking purposes it would be the means of effecting a large saving in fuel. The premises in Elizabeth-street have been brilliantly illuminated with the atmospheric gas during the week, thus demonstrating the powerful lighting capabilities -of the apparatus,