FRED PUENELL.I

5

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I would like to draw your attention to the very small amount of fares that have been collected, only £99 16s. Id. in one year and £133 11s. sd. in another. The reason is that we have no through connection. The tramway, as it is often said, starts nowhere and finishes nowhere, and if we had through connection with the main line the fares would be very largely augmented. I have also returns showing the increase in the capftal value since the Ist April, 1895, and the Ist April, 1904, the increase being a little over 50 per cent., from £782,659 to £1,178,560. C. Proposed Levin-Greatford Railway. Manawatu County Valuations. Capital Value, Capital Value, Biding. Ist April, 1895. Ist April, 1904. Sandon .. .. .. .. .. 113,289 157,034 Mount Stewart .. .. .. .. 100,891 151,686 Waitohi .. .. .. .. .. 113,396 157,334 Rongotea .. .. .. .. .. 131,037 195,985 Carnarvon .. .. .. .. 109,181 194,081 Kawakawa.. .. .. .. .. 114,801 170,125 Awahou .. .. .. .. .. 100,064 152,415 • £782,659 £1,178,560 Increase, £395,901 =50 per cent. | Mr. McKerrow in his report stated that our line was in bad order and would not be suitable for the Government to take over. With reference to this, we wish to say that since that report was written we have renewed six miles with 40 lb. rails, and also increased the distance by three miles and a half extra, the extension being entirely relaid with heavy rails and first-class sleepers, and at the r>resent time running Government rolling-stock, and the line has to be up to a passable standard before that is permissible, so that at least ten miles of the tramway should now be in a condition for the Government trains to run on it straight away. You will see from the map that the distance by tram and rail to Feilding and the north is practically prohibitory at the present time, seeing that the routes are very long and roundabout. At the present time we have two markets close at hand denied to us, the first being the Taranaki market, and the second one the main trunk line. At present we could do trade from the Sandon District with the Taranaki District and on the main trunk line in grain, produce, and general if that connection were made. I have here a schedule of goods that were carried in 1901 which is a fair average of the trade done since, and you will see that the whole of the grain and produce of our district has gone south of Feilding, proving that with this connection north there is a chance for our district to do trade with the north. D. Levin-Greatford Railway. Goods Consigned on Railways from Manawatu County Council's Tramway-line during March, April, and May, 1901 {showing Date, Consignee, and Destination). March 1. 170 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Palmerston North. March 6. 1 truck pigs, W. Dimock and Co., Wellington. March 8. 84 sacks oats, Ellison and Duncan, Spit; 84 sacks oats, Gammon and Co., Palmerston North. March 11. 166 sacks oats, Gammon and Co., Palmerston North ; 140 sacks oats, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington. March 13. 21 sacks oats, Prenter and Vile, Pahiatua ; 140 sacks oats, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington ; 1 truck pigs, W. Dimock and Co., Wellington ; 1 truck pigs, Nelson Bros., Woodville. March 15. 165 sacks oats, U.F.C.A., Palmerston North. March 18. 85 sacks oats, U.F.C.A., Palmerston North ; 84 sacks oats, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington ; machinery, Prouse Bros., Levin. March 20. 212 sacks oats, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington ; 1 truck pigs, Dimock and Co., Wellington. March 22. 84 sacks oats, U.F.C.A., Wellington ; 84 sacks oats, Monteith Bros., Woodville ; 224 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Napier ; 84 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Napier ; 56 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Mangatainoka. March 25. 84 sacks oats, French and Co., Woodville ; 1 truck chaff, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile. Wellington ; 136 sacks oats, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington. March 27. 1 truck chaff, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington ; 1 truck pigs, W. Dimock and Co., Wellington ; 1 truck pigs, Nelson Bros., Woodville. March 25. 26 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Peri Peri; 74 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Hastings. March 29. 1 truck chaff, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington ; 84 sacks oats, Greenaway, Dannevirke ; 84 sacks oats, Richter Nannestad Company, Palmerston North ; 56 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Palmerston North. April 1. 50 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Spit; 50 sacks oats, Barraud and Abraham, Bunnythorpe ; 60 sacks oats, Prenter and Vile, Pahiatua ; 1 truck chaff, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Wellington.