PUKETITIRI TRAMWAY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 103, 16 April 1912, Page 2

PUKETITIRI TRAMWAY.

DEPUTATION TO THE COUNCIL The Hawke’s Bay County Council vas yesterday waited upon by Messrs. Bennett. Collier, and Peajock, representing Puketitiri and Patoka settlers v.ith a petition from jach locality asking the council to undertake the survey and estimation of cost of a tramway from Hastings m Puketitiri. Mr. Bennett pointed out that the Puketitiri road was going from •bad :o worse and there was no possibility of its improvement. The damage was caused by heavy traffic and from chat the ratepayers received no benefit whatever. He believed that the tramway would be a good business proposition. He would not vverrj the council with figures, but he pointed to the timber traffic which alone was a very big matter. Then there was wool and stores and manures going back, The line should be self supporting. It was too early to make promises, but he thought he could say the bulk of the settlers would igree to the formation of a rating area to pay for the line. There was, he pointed out, some 30,000 acres cf good agricultural land which would go under the plow if a market could be reached.

Mr. Collier supplemented what had been said by Mr. Bennett, and, referring to the timber traffic, he pointed out that only a portion of the timber was being carted now. If the tramline existed they could bring firewood and 'also white pine which could be exported for butter boxes. There was no reason why the volcanic soil in the locality should not be successfully used for fruit growing. He was sure all the Puketitiri settlers would confirm what Mr. Bennett said. If they had the tram to take the heavy traffic they would have a road which could be used at all times. He urged the council to ascertain the cost of the line apd they would confer a great benefit upon the district. Touching upon the timber question, Mr. Bennett said that at Pi.lrebitiri there was 20 years cutting and the same at Henley.

The chairman pointed out that the survey and estimate was likely to be expensive. Who was to bear that expense!

Mr Bennett replied that the riding would bear the cost.. They cIH not wish anyone outside the ; r cliArie. to be called upon to share the expense. As an indication cf the probable cost, he said that some years ago a survey had been made for Mos: is. Butcher and Bourke from Henley to Petane and the cost was by no means heavy, something like £5O. T eking the figures quoted by Mr. AHc i in the House a light line of railway could be built for £3OOO a mile and a tramway would not cost bo much. There would be no stations and the settlers would do their own unloading.

The chairman pointed out that it ■would be necessary to see that the rate struck would do inc-re than cover, interest upon the loan. Thetrest cf the county could not be caltrd upon to make up anv less. The ■-ite would have to cover proban’e loss as well as interest. Mr. Bennett said that the estimated interest on the loan would be £6OOO per annum. The tie nei Jgures showed that some three million feet of timber passed over the-road every year nt 4/6 per hundred, but down to 2/6 upon the. railway this would bring in £3750. This was not counting wool and live stock, which would come down or the stores and manure which would go up to thesettlers. At present they could net sell fat stock and all had to be sold as stores. If there were facilities for transport they would send away a large number of fat lambs. There were 30,000 acres of real agricultural land to be tapped, and to show the. worth of this land Mr. Bennett said that one settler who has tried dairying had averaged £lO per cow. Cr. Clark said he thought that there should be no difference in the guagc of the. line with that cf th° Government railway. He had experience of the Sandon tramway. He also did not think it right tc make the rating area coyer the whole riding. The land which, was to benefit should be first considered, Mr. Bennett said the settlers cctild quite see there should be a spiral rating area. The chairman asked Mr. B. r •i r if the settlers were determined m any particular route. Would they, fol- instance, object to an alt.?ra; i<>u of the route to Napier. Mr Bennett said they left ’lm route entirely to the council’s survey but they thought the Hastings route was a good one..

Cr. Macdonald held they should not go into the question of routes. That should be decided by the survey. If the Count} Council could assist the settlers in the back country, good and well. He was not in favour of a tram along a public road and the council must keep clour of private interests. Cr. Crosse was rather interested in the proposal. He wr.:; of a deputation which waited on the Government some time ago and he pointed to the fact that Mr. R. McKenzie referred to that route as suitable for a branch line and said if the line could not be provided they should knock off the traction engine traffic. It was a matter which they would have to consider, but.it would mean considerable hardship to raise the price of timber consumers throughout Hawke’s Bay. Previous surveys made would not of much guidance to them. He was convinced the proposal was a step in the right direction and the survey should be made even at considerable cost. Puketitiri road showed no signs oj improvement, and it . was obvious something must be done. He felt sure the ratepayers would be justified in getting the report and ho moved that the report be obtained. The Sandon tramway paid its way and he could not see why this one should no do so also.

Cr. Donnelly expressed himself in sympathy with the proposal. It meant the opening up of fine land., He did not see why they should not ask Government to have the line sur-

veyed. Why should they not fall back on Government to get the, work done '? He thought Government would do it. He also pointed to the fact that in America they were running these light lines through the country at small cost and they might got some valuable information from the States. Cr. Stead agreed as to the benefit deni ed from small lines. He was inclined to think that the whole council should pay a proportional share of the cost. All Hawke’s Bay would be served. Valuations would go up and the towns would be served by the work as well as the country. Cr. Donnelly suggested that Government should be asked to* pay half. The chairman then suggested that they pass a resolution granting the prayer of the petition. He doubted the wisdom of waiting for mcnl to undertake the work. Cr. Crosse seconded, and the motion was passed with the provijMKi that the sum expended upon vey did not exceed £2OO. (. r. Donnelly was still of opinion that Government should be approached, and it was eventualty resolved to apply to Government to do the survey work. ■ ’ A committee to deal with the matter was set up as follows : Crs. Chambers, Crosse, Donnelly and Macdonald. The deputation then retired, Mr. Bennett thanking the council and promising to supply all information possible when called upon to do so. A special meeting/ of the council will probably be held to further discuss the question. THE PROMOTERS INVITED TO HASTINGS. At last night’s meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, Mr. E. H. Williams said he wished to bring up a matter, an important question which Mr. Lane had touched on. The Hawke's Bay County Council had that day received a deputation of delegates from Puketitiri, Patoka, and Puketapu, asking tnem to obtain a report on the cost of a tram wav from Hastings to Piiketitni. Die county had appointed a committee to make arrangements fcr obtammg the report and voted a sum, not to <xcecd £2OO, towards the ci.,t. 'inc reason ioi the settlers pcilti'm’ng was that the roads from n-ki’it .) -to Nivhcr were so cut up by the timber traffic that it was ncecssari that other means of getting produce on to the market should be adopted. He suggested that the qacsiiou should be discussed, at a special meeting at which the delegates, Messrs. Bennett., Meßae-Pea-cock, and Collier, should be invited to attend. He did not prondse to ask the Chamber to pass anv resolution at the present stage, * because they were not in possession of the detmls, but after having all information before them, they considered it in the best interests, of the district, he hoped the Chamber would support it thoroughly. The question' of arranging a date for the meeting was ’eft in the hands of the chairman. .