RAILWAY OFFICIALS AND RAILWAY MISMANAGEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1677, 3 July 1875, Page 2

RAILWAY OFFICIALS AND RAILWAY MISMANAGEMENT.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.)

Str,, —I n to-day's issue of the Waikato Times the oft-repeated story of railway mismanagement has again turned up in the shape of a leading article and a letter signed " A Waikato Settler." This is a matter which ha 3 been sufficiently well ventilated in the columns of the Evening Star to satisfy any reasonable person as to whether such is the case or not, but if I understand the tenor of this letter aright it is intended to accuse "the employees on the Mercer and Auckland railway of negligence, incivility, and dishonesty. Negligence in omitting to collect tickets; incivility in not allowing a person, to take a dog into the passenger carriage ; and dishonesty in allowing persons to travel on the trains free. The writer of these astonishing revelations informs us further, that he has a friend-who has six tickets in his possession because he has not been asked for them. Such may be the case, but I think that the sooner the "Waikato Settler" cuts his friend's company the better for him, and the soouer that interesting friend of his is in Mount Eden it will be the better for society generally. At least he ought to feel proud of the friendship of any scrubber who is mean enough to sneak into a railway carriage with the virtuous intention of not paying his fare. And as for his getting away without delivering up his ticket Well, that is a matter that will not require any great stretch of genius to accomplish : the most simple thing in the world to step out on the off side of the train, then stand still for a minute, and the train will go away of its own accord. But .the man who will systematically carry off the railway tickets, which by the by are the property of the Government, is capable of walking eff with a pair of waggon wheels, and then swearing that he found them. A3 far as th? incivility is concerned. I have no doubt thai a " Waikato Settler" would like to take his pet dog into the passenger carriage. But this is not his affair either ; this is another frimd. Well, if he is anything like, the other chap perhaps he had better be left alone. I can only add this : that a few days ago I had occasion to take a dog on the train, but the guard informed me that he could not put in the van without a chain on its neck ; I am afraid that there is something of this sort in the present case. Then, as for the dishonesty, all I can say is this : The railway officials don't allow me to travel without paying, nor are there any that I know of who go free. I have aeard it said that such is the case, but such assertions are invariably made by gentlemen who would not hesitate to leave their card. I feel sorry for this "Waikato Settler" man; he must have been very much cut up when he heard of these railway irregularities, because he is a great man. Some time ago, a certain distinguished English philosopher went about with a candle to look for the man, and another, although of a more recent date, still of no less celebrity, demonstrated that the head-light of a locomotive would be required in this age ; but I am afraid that before long Tiri '1 iri lighthouse will not be sufficientfjfor the requirements of this province.—l am, etc., Maungatautabt.