The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1900. THE PROPOSED TRAMLINE TO OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 202, 19 October 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1900. THE PROPOSED TRAMLINE TO OPUNAKE.

Considering the limited amount of information forwarded to Opunake by the promoters of the tramline to connect New Plymouth and Opunake those attending the public meeting, called by the chairman of the Town Board at the latter town, probably took the best course possible in adjourning the meeting tp enable information to be obtained, In another column appears a report of the proceedings for which we are indebted to the local paper. It was hardly fair on the part of the promoters of the scheme to leave the meeting quite in the dark as to general outlines of the proposal. With the exception of the bald statement chat such a connection should be established the meeting had absolutely nothing to discuss. It would have only been courteous to the meeting if one ef the promoters had been deputed to attend and put their views before the meeting. It was hardly to be expected that the meeting with no information on the subject would throw itself unreservedly into a scheme that opens up very important issues. The people of Opunake are, we think, to be congratulated on the through and busi-ness-like way in which the matter was discussed and the decision arrived at. It now remains for the promoters to formally formulate some feasible scheme for carrying out a work so desirable and so much in the interest of a very large and important portion oE Taranaki, Indepently of the immense value of the work ta the whole of the area through which it is propose I to run the line tbe advantages of establishing cheap and easy means of communication between the large and fertile district, of which Opunake is the centre, and New Plymouth are so great as to be worth a great sacrifice, It is not to be supposed that the advantages will bj ono-sided. With a good road north and south, a line running into the back country would be a very great help to the development of Opunake as a town. The great question is, of course, the financial one, and we are strongly of opinion that the way out of that is through the Count) Council. We believe if the County Council were to build the line in accordance with the provisions of the Tramways Act that a Company could be formed to lease and work the line, paying sufficient rent to pay interest on the cost of construction. 1 his would be j an easy way out of the many difficulties with which the question appears to be surrounded, and we believe there would be very little difficulty in inducing the settlers along the route to vote for a loan on these lines. To them it would mean getting the line at no cost to themselves other than the fares and freights. The matter is one that should be gone into without delay, and some definite proposal prepated for the meeting to be held at Opunake on the 29th iiist. The district is a rich and growing one, and should have little difficulty in rising the necessary funds for a work of such vital importance to its welfare,