MARTON.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 3114, 29 April 1878, Page 2

MARTON.

(FttOtt.OA'E OW,N CORRESPONDENT.) 1 April 25., Easter holidays over everyone seems 1 to bo settling' down to business. 1 have heard no complaints only in reference to the Banks, it having caused some considerable inconvenience their establishments • having been kept closed" from Thursday till Wednesday morning. I have not yet given you the news as to what is being said and done about the Railway accommodation at Marton. Our local paper seems to claim the original in this matter.; but to this I say question, as I am inclined to think it originated from the corner of Wellington Road, where the Memorial has been lying, and which is to be^ sent to the Hon Member for Rangitikei, signed by nearly 200 residents, for presentation to the House of Representatives. However, I think I may be able to give you some idea of what is really required. The Chronicle's own says that several thousand pounds having been expended on the site, it cannot be expected that the position can now be altered. And then goes on to call the Station a mere pig stye ; to this I say question. lam quite of an opinion that the Marton Railway Station is tdo far from the township, and that in consequence we have to pay quite a tax for conveyance to and from ; and, anyone, much in the habit of travelling by rail, now the Express fare is a shilling instead of six pence, will find it a considerable item in the course of a- year. And we have more occasion' to complain when we have a very dangerous passage in consequence of the very narrow and unsatisfactory Btate of the road over which we have to pass to get to the Station.

I do not think that much time has been lost in regard to the station buildings. The authorities have scarcely been in a position to judge yet, as to what is really required, and looking at it in a busineS3 point of view, I should say they are not blind to their own interests, and that as soon as practicable, when they know what is really necessary, they will do Marton justice by building a station in every way adapted to the present or future requirements. In regard to the Goods Shed, I am told it is quite sufficient for the traffic at present, if an extra hand be put on, and sufficient- rolling stock be provided. Besides "we shall soon be losing about half the goods traffic— Bulls, Halcombe, Sandon, and Feilding will go through. Something is said in the memorial about this being the principal stopping place, if it was to be so where would you get your water from, — the Tutaenui INo !* Marton people are now buying water for private use, and what would be done with four or live engines standing here ? Something should have been done with the water question before this, then we might have expected that Marton would have been chosen in preference to Halcombe, but Marton cannot expect to be and to have everything. The township of Halcombe now, not by any means a small one, will rise with her neighbours, it may be called a mere village having no roads, but this is not there. Roads are made and making in all directions, opening up the country to the Rangitikei bridge and Marton, to the Kiwitea Block'and Fielding, as well as to Sandon and Bulls, and not only this, Halcombe has greater facilities for advancement with the Railway running through than ever Marton had, and will I believe become a large and important town in a very short time. See the hundreds, I may say thousands ot acres of bush land that has been taken up in allotments of from 5 to 200 acres, which is being rapidly cleared, and must of necessity be brought .under cultivation at once. I cannot think that the Government have made a mistake in fixing the stopping place tit Halcombe. I heard of a midnight train passing through Marton last weok, I think it was, with. 50,000 feet of timber, the train consisting of some 15 trucks for Wanganui from Buunythorpe, and a still longer train with posts and rails just before that, this begins to look like business, and yet only tho beginning. You will be glad to hear that the Rangitikei Bridgo is expected to bo out of the hands of tho contractor, Mr T. Denby in about a fortnigLt, as to the roads that lead to it, I can get no information as to when they are likely to be done.

I have just heard that the Marton Station Master is being removed to the more important Station at Halcombe, for which I had almpst said I was sorry, but I am not, when I think it is for his good, for I believe I have the people of Marton with me when I say that Mr Marcus during the short time he has been with us, has been very highly spoken of as being both attentive and obliging, thoroughly up in his work, and a most valuable public servant. Mr Homer, I understand is to take charge of the Marton station on Mr Marcus leaving.

I am informed that the number of children on the books at the school is 160, and that the average attendance is 120, and not somewhere about 70 as the Chronicle has it, and I am further informed that the first business of the committee will be to increase the accommodation, it being at" present quite insufficient.