THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 7

THE MANAWATU RAILWAY.

r Sir,~Last night I was unfortunate to have to return to-the,city from Khandallah by tho train timed to 'leave there at IQ.IO p.m. At midnight I was .eventually enabled to do so, and reached town at 12.15 a.m., nearly two hqurs .lato. I might mention that the Khandallah- station is dirty and smelly, and far. from being the • most comfortable place in. the world for; one to spend a couple of hours in.. Before leaving Wellington I took the precaution of providng myself with the latest ."Timetable," which proved: itself to bo nothing more than a dupe. Had it been more costly I. should not have hesitated'to domimd my money back, as a-guide of .this nature is-a gross imposition upon .the public. ■ Kver sinqe,thoi »Qqui'stien of tbe Manawatu line complaint's'regarding the irregularity in the running, of . trains have been<mora"or less frequent, but, until last evening, which I am informed was no exception, I was unaware of tho extent of tha cause that the complainants had, Whether the present chaos is due to the employment of tqy engines, cheap paper, wood, ijr charcoal;fuel (for it eurely cannot be coal that is used); faulty timepieces, etc., T know net; .but certain it is'that , this maladministration is seriously retarding the dc* volopment of the. important country served by the' linte. ; ■■■ , The' Company could jnaintain' a regular service and make it pay handsomely, so if our so-called able Government is not capable of dping likewise the people should demand the reason why. We cannot afford! to wait until-; three years :hcnce, whon ; the elootions will be again at hand, and everything, no doubt, will be working smoothly-— for a time. Thsp officers and staff of the line ar© in no way \o blame: the fault evidently lies at headquarters, where immediate and drastic roforms fire necessary,—l am, etc., DISGUSTED TRAVELLER. February 19. - '