LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 547, 9 July 1920, Page 1

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

TUAKAU FRANKTON. TENTATIVE PROPOSALS. j In connexion with light railvKiys, Captain H. D. Danscy, of the firufrof Dansey and Gavey, civil, technical, and electrical engineers, wrote to the chairman of the Tuakau Town Board (Mr. Dynes Fulton) as ln conversation with Mr. Beli fare of Tuakau) he informed us of thefimmensei possibilities of your 'dismct. The potential wealth oJgkthe ■newhero district is not unknown »us, and we are led to believe thatmhe configuration of the country lendsjatself easily in the direction of «sonomical construction of railway. As you are nPJaoubjt aware, we are endeavouring to stimulate public interest In the subject of light railways, as we realise, from our own personal experience during? the war, that by their means the backblocks of this country can,, be more economically developed than by any other scheme to-day r ; s a forerunner to the normal gauge lines. Their cost is in the "reach of smiH communities who/ have very hope of getting foß®fnany years, if at all. Mr. Bell, who is familiar with the traffic &. going, through Tuakau to the ontlying riistrietSr is strongly of the opinion that a^|te;railway would pay those handsomely. If you consider of sufficient interest in matter of loc&l development, they would be pleased to give an address on the subject of 'Economical Transporation and Light Railways.'" The chairman said such a railway to Onewhero and Pukekawa would link up with the proposed light railway from Raglan to Frankton, and would be the means of serving a vast amount of good country in Glenmurray, Woodleigh, and other places. He thought the matter one of great importance. He moved that the clerk be instructed to write to the members of Onewhero, Pukekawa, Port Waikato, Whangape, and Te Akau Ridings of the Raglan County Council, furnishing them with a copy of the letter, and ascertaining from them if they were in favour of the suggestion. If so, a meeting could be convened at a future date. Mr. Mungall seconded, and the motion was carried. (In regard to the above-named important subject, those who were present at the banquet tendered to returned soldiers at ' Onewhero several months :>go will recollect that the editor of this paper, in responding to the toast of "The Press," said he hoped to sec a light railway linking up Tuakau, Onewhero, and other places at no distant date. The audience at that time seemed to treat the remark as if it were merely a joke. However, it is evident that others who have practical, firsthand knowledge of light railway systems in other countries, think the proposition a practicable one. If the people in the districts concerned arc sufficiently progressive, provided a practical scheme is possible, the editor of the "Times" may yet have the pleasure of taking a train rule through Onewhero.)