FOXTON AND SANDON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 72, 6 May 1879, Page 2

FOXTON AND SANDON RAILWAY.

Mr Henry Sanson returned from his Wellington trip on Friday even^ ing last.per coach. It will be remembered that he and Mr Tompkins went down there to bring before the merchants and business people ot ■Wellington the claim* of the FoxtonSandon llailway. This was done in an energetic manner, and though the result is rather disheartening, it is not because the people of Wei* lington lack sympathy and interest with us in this matter, but rather because money is so "frightfully" scarce, and because the recent heavy failures in Wellington require business people to husband all their cash to meet contingencies th&t may arise. It is especially unfortunate that the present timp. has been selected for floating the Company, as we are in the midst of a commercial depress sion such as has not been felt for years. At the same time, the number of shares subscribed for, shows that the people of these districts have every faith in the undertaking. The fact that nowithstanding the depression 4,000 shares have been subscribed for out of 6,000, shows plainly that the people of Foxton and Sandon are in earnest in this matter. We do not wish to shut our eyes to the fact, however, that the railway will confer such extensive benefits upon some large landed proprietors upon the proposed line, and in the two townships at the termini, that the district may reasonably expect those gentlemen to put their hands in their pockets a little deeper than they have already done to push the scheme ahead On Saturday last, we were assured by a gentleman in the Carnarvon district that the construction of the Sandon line would add £1 per acre to the value of his property. The same effect would also result in both Foxton and Sandon, viz., to bring about a rapid rise in the value of land. Speaking, therefore, on behalf of both districts, we may say that it is but reasonable to expect that those who will thus reap a direct pecuniary benefit from the line should come forward and subscribe for the shares not already applied for by a certain date. We believe every resident in either district will derive benefit from the construction of the line owing to the prosperity it will bring, and therefore all should subscribe for some shares, according to their means ; but upon those who own land — either town, suburban or rural — the Company has a double claim,-- that of assisting the general weal, and at the same time promoting in a direct manner their own pecuniary welfare. We trust the Provisional Directors will not be discouraged, but will continue the canvass in the game energetic manner

in which it has beeil begun, To Mr. Sanson, who has stuck to the scheme with a manly pertinacity, every credit is due.