"MELLINGS."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 501, 7 May 1909, Page 6

"MELLINGS."

AN IMPROVED RAILWAY SERVICE WANTED. - AND A NEW STATION. : ' About half (if not more than half) of the Hutt residents who travel to and from the city daily by means of the railway reside in the vicinity of Meltings Settlement (about three-quarters .of a mile beyond the Lower Hutt station), and two-thirds at least reside nearer- the new Mellings suspension bridge than the Lower Hutt station. Hitherto three down and three up trains daily have stopped near the bridge to ; pick up ,and drop passengers, but as some of these trains run to a time-table that does not ! suit the average business man or. worker in the oity, a petition signed by nearly 400 names has been presented, through Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., to the Goneral Manager.for Railways, requesting that all trains (barring expresses) to the XfpperiHutt stop at Mellings, .and that a station be erected for the convenience of the public, and more particularly the rosidents. of that neighbourhood! .-"..,'.:'.-, : In regard to the present service, it is . stated that, the early train. which leaves the Lower Hutt for town at 7.11 a.m., stops at Mellings, bat the 9.25 a.m, train (which invariably waits some ten minutes or so at the Hutt) does not. dp so; but what is more in- . oonvenient, to workers in the city is that the 6.10 pjn. train from town' (which stops at Mellings) does not suit, as it hardly gives' those people, who leave their work at 5 p.m. .enough time to reach the station, and the next train leaving Lambton- station at. 5.29. p.m. does not'stop at the now ; settlement. Under these circumstances the, 'petitioners, do not think it, out of the way to" ask that all Upper Hutt trains: (othor, than .the express trains) might make | a short stop at the. new and thriving settlement.- • ..;,■.... . The petition was lodged six weeks ago, but bo far nothing has been heard.of the matter. ' v-". ■./,' '.'-.; ~ : :■' ■ ■;"'.: ; -' ■/'■';/ ; ; ■■■■] HOW '''MELLINCB".;wISNAMEDV-i; "MelEngs Settlement",''is a sub-district of the Hutt Borough situated near the 'Hutt River; - and _is, as stated, about, three-quar-ters of a.'.mile beyond the Lower Hutt;sta-tioh.-::By-the passenger passing in the train it can' be' located'by the new bridgel—Mellings: Bridge-r-whibh spans the - Hutt: Biver thereabouts, ti For a considerable, time past several interested residents became cunons .to know'how it was', that the locality, came to. be known as-Mellings Settlement, as.nobody in that vicinity could remember the name as one having anything to do with the. district. It came out, however, at the official opening ■of the:,bridgV- some weeks ago. On;that occasion the Deputy-Mayor (Mr- W. H; Russell) explained that" tho settlement and bridge wercj named after Tom. Mellings, aimariwho had'-worked - in the same workshop '■' in Lan-. .cashiro. as,' the late Hon.. R. J. Seddon, •revisited the: Old' Country .ho had: met his old workmate, arid had said to .him, "Hullo. Tom I" and Tom had replied, "Hullo, Dick I" Thus it. came abput'tbat.the name of Tom 'Mellings, a Lancashire tradesman, who,,had . never •• seen New.. Zealand, is ■perpetuated in the/.Hutt Valley... /' '/•/'./: ' T.- ,

It is' understood that .the settlers, intend to/ make an effort; to have, the .name of; the place; changed to,one that, has a greater significance' than- the/ present one.. -Mellings suspension bridge ~was erected at a cost of ,abont £ISOO' by .contribution,,the - : Government, giving a £ for .'_ ;-1 : :':' ...