TRAMWAY TO KAKAHU.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1698, 14 February 1888, Page 2

TRAMWAY TO KAKAHU.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l was pleased to read the article in your paper of the 11th. I hope it may be the means of making the Geraldine County Council pause before they finally decide to pull down the bridge at Temuka. You are quite right in saying if a railway could be taken to Kakahu it would be the means of several industries being started, but you say it would cost £50,000. I say in these times a tramway is all that is required, of a two-foot guage. This can be constructed for abouc £SOO a mile. I don’t know the distance from Temuka to Kakahu, but supposing it is twelve miles that is only £QOOO, and the interest of that at 5 per cent., at which money is procured from the Government for such works, is only £3OO a year. A tramway has been constructed for 8| miles by the Ashburton County Council from the Mount Somers township to a coal miie for about £SOO. On this line there are two bridges, and surely what can he done in the Ashburton district can be done here. The Ashburton County Council have relet the tramway for a term of 14 years for considerably more money than they hays to pqy Government for interest. You must also remember that up the Ashburton Gorge the land is cold and of poor quality, and you see few settlers. jYow in the Kakahu district the rqyerse is. thp wholq o£ the, Iqnd enclosed qncl farmed is very valuable. Again, the ratepayers would be great gainers by the tramway, as it would save the metalling of the road so often |

as heavy traffic—‘wheat and other farm produce—will be carried on the line. I have written a letter to the Chairman of the Geraldine County Council, which will be read at their next meeting, and I have no doubt before the bridge at Temuka is condemned to be pulled down the Engineer will be asked to report on the feasibility of the tramway, and the Ashburton County Council will be written to for the cost of the Mount Somers line.— I am, etc., C. G. Tbipp. Orari Gorge, 11th February, 1888.