USE IT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1395, 22 March 1912, Page 5

USE IT.

THE TE AEO RAILWAY STATION. , Somo months ago it was pointed out in these columns the anomalous position of.tho To Aro Enihvay Station. It is situated within a stone's throw of all the principal fruit and produce markets in Wellington, and is quite near to the commercial centre of the city and the wharves, yet tho grass is permitted to grow between the rails and it is only at rare intervals that a train is seen to arrive or depart from its platforms. Tho Chamber of Commerce in its annual reports touches tho subject as follows: — "Some years ago your council moved in tho direction of urging tho Government to remove this section of railway, on the grounds that tho little use that was made of it did not warrant its continuance. Tho Minister for Railways, however, definitely refused this request. Tho position has now changed in so much as a very largo number of -warehouses and also fruit markets have now been established in the vicinity of this station, and good service could be made of the lino if an auxiliary goods depot were established there, if only for inward traffic. The objection previously raised wa9 the lack of sufficient space for this purpose, but now that the building of a dock contiguous to the station has been abandoned, it should bo a mere matter of negotiations between the Harbour Board and tho Eailway Department whereby this difficulty could bo overcome. Sinco taking over the Wellington and Manavratu Eailway alj inward goods, including perishables for tho markets, aro delivered only to tho Thomdon Station, which is at the extreme end of the city, and far removed from its business centre, and tho consequent delay and heavy cartago rates must inevitably hamper track', besides being a heavy .tax on tho city for tho upkeep of the main streets along the water-front. With a lino of railway (at present unprofitable on account of insufficient freights) running right into tho business area of Te Aro, the. necessity for the goods in that locality having to bo :arted from the other extreme end of the city does not appear to your council to bo in the best interests of the traders, the city, or tho Railway Department, particularly in viow of the fact that the scheme for a central railway station has not. yet assumed practical shape. There seems no good reason why tho To Aro Eailway Station should not thus b* brought into use for the goods yhich would make it a payable line and justify its continuance, which is now all the more desirablo in view of its poseiblo extension to Miramar at some future date. Your council hopes to furtlipi this project as soon as a favourable opportunity occurs."