Farmer’s Plan For Tram Service

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28367, 28 August 1957, Page 10

Farmer’s Plan For Tram Service

"The Press’* Special '‘"Service AUCKLAND, August 27.

A farm in Matakohe may soon have its own private tram service —if the farmer, Mr M. D. Sterling, can organise a supply of electricity. Matakohe is in Northland, about halfway between Auckland and Whangarei.

One of the prime movers behind the establishment of Auckland’s trajn No. 253 on a stretch of track near Matakohe as a memorial to the out-moded transport system, Mr Sterling is going to do the same thing on his own farm, half a mile away, with tram No. 248. He has also brought tram No. 250 from Auckland as a speculation. And tram No. 304 is soon to become a bridge across a dyke. Tram No. 248 holds a special spot in Mr Sterling’s sentiments, however, as Mr Sterling’s uncle was motorman of the tram for eight years, up until 1939-40, when he took up farming. At present No. 248 stands on sleepers beside the track to the cowbyre but soon the bogie is to follow it from Auckland and tracks are also on the programme. A few more years, too, may see farm children riding the tram over a brief section of the rails with Mr Sterling at the controls.

Painting and renovating of the tram’s interior has begun and when completed everything will be as it was during the tram’s working life—even to the “honesty boxes”* on the door.