MARTON RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8744, 19 February 1907, Page 2

MARTON RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Light Railway Scheme. A meeting of the Eatepayers’ Association’ was held last evening, Mr J. Mathers (rice-president) presiding. The Mayor brought ' forward his scheme for a light' railway between Marten and (he railway station. He proposed the line should be laid alongside the through line to Henderson's crossing and thence up Wellington road, passing in front of the gag works and going through a section between Mr P. P. White’s residence and Mr Harvey Humphrey's property into Mr Morris’ paddock, 1 the ferminus being near the bowling green. Access to the station could be obtained through the iron gale Jedding to the green, An estimate of the ebsp was put down at £6OOO, and the annual expenditure was fixed at £765, made up as follows — Interest on loan £240, wages £4OO, contingencies and maintenance £IOO, and rent of private siding to Government £25, The income would result in a profitable ui:irglii. lie estimated passenger fares would amount to £SOO, apd this W 43 clahpfld to he a yery low figure. The freight on timber from Messrs .gajonskowski Bros,' factory was put down at £3OO, and the coat of borough carting at the present time was £6O a year, go that these three items alone exceeded the expenditure by £95. To complete the scheme, if neeessary, a 'bus or palace car could be procured for free carriage of passenger's luggage to the back streets. Mr T. H. Bredin opposed the scheme. He failed to cep yhere any advantage would bp gained, and urged' that representation should be made to the Government for a deviation of the line,

The feeling of the meeting was that this would never be accomplished. It was too late to ask Government to alter the route. It was thought that the Mayor's scheme wag a feasible one and would provide a better menus of communication between the station and township. It was urged that something should bo done with the proposal, otherwise business would drift to the station, "v,

In. discussing the matter of reduction in freight it was incidentally remarked that the present charges made by the carriers were decidedly reasonable. A motion was passed approving of the Mayor’s scheme, and it was decided to further discuss the proposal at the next meeting,' Appreciation of the Mayor’s services in connection with the matter was recorded in the minutes.