20
Horowhenua Chronicle
Friday, August 23, 2013
Fabulous Foxton Horsetram Society honours stalwarts By FRANKIE WEBB Bob and Jan Saunders have given an awful lot of their life to Foxton wearing a huge variety of hats. From president of the Foxton Tourist and Development Association to managing the Museum of Audio and Visual Technology, and heaps of time poured into the Foxton Horsetram through the years. Nobody but the Saunders were surprised to have Life Membership bestowed upon them from the Horsetram Society. ‘‘They’ve given so much for so many years,’’ society treasurer and reinsman Jim White said. ‘‘They’ve stepped down this year, but said they’ll always be there if we need them, and we know they will be.’’ When the Saunders first got involved with the Horsetram Society it wasn’t a separate entity. ‘‘I became president of the FTDA and the tram was owned and run by them,’’ Bob said. Where Bob goes, Jan goes and vice versa so it wasn’t long before team Saunders were
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in there doing their bit. Despite a little history with racehorses, Bob hasn’t taken up the reins of the horsetram. ‘‘No, I’m happy to help with everything else, but not that,’’ Bob said. The Horsetram Society organised a dinner to present the Saunders with their life membership. ‘‘We nearly didn’t come,’’ Jan confessed. ‘‘There’s always rugby on Saturday nights, we always watch it.’’ Because Jim had been so insistent they attend this special ‘meeting’ they decided to again make a sacrifice to support something in the community. ‘‘When Dan (Inglis, president) stood up and said what we were there for, well, it blew us away,’’ Bob said. The couple ‘retired’ from running the Museum of Audio and Visual Technology a few years ago, but the museum couldn’t do without them so they’re back with a vengeance. ‘‘We just don’t have time to do everything, we’ll always be here for the horsetram, but unofficially,’’ Bob said. ‘‘It’s in pretty good heart at the moment.’’
FOXTON HISTORY
The tramway’s part in Foxton’s development Foxton historian Tony Hunt continues his history of the area. With the land in the Manawatu available for settlement, some way of getting settlers and their possessions inland was needed. The river was available but navigation was only possible to Nga Whakarau, just
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NOT ON YOUR LIFE: Bob Saunders, left, and wife Jan, right, surprised and delighted to receive Life Membership to the Foxton Horsetram Society from vice president Stephanie Thomas and treasurer-reinsman, Jim White, back. PICTURE: FRANKIE WEBB
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upstream of the present day Opiki Bridge. In the late 1860s it was suggested that a tramway may be the answer and after much discussion it was decided to construct a wooden tramway from the port at Foxton to the new town of Palmerston. Key figures in these plans were
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surveyor J T Stewart and local settler Geo Nye. The tramway was laid down in three sections. The first was south from Palmerston and was carried out by Scandinavians settlers who owned the sections along it. Next it went across swampy ground to Oroua Bridge (Rangiotu). The third and final stretch extended 21km to Foxton. Work began in 1872 and by August there was a line connecting Palmerston and Nga Whakarau. This resulted in the locomotive, Palmerston being shipped up from Dunedin. This was the first locomotive built entirely in New Zealand and a replica stands outside the Museum Of Foxton History. It had to be transhipped to Nga Whakarau and made a triumphant entry into Palmerston on 20 August. It was not until July 1873 that the tramway was complete and the first horsedrawn tram made the trip to Palmerston. The wooden rails did not prove very successful and by January 1874 replacement with iron ones was recommended. Despite many problems the line provided the necessary access to the Manawatu. Those wanting to read the full story will find it in K R Cassell’s book The Foxton and Wanganui Railway. ■ Next month the associated development of the port of Foxton will be described.
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