HASTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3877, 20 December 1883, Page 3

HASTINGS.

[FROM OUR OAVN CORRESPONDENT.] AVednesday

I have frequently seen letters Avrittcn to the papers for the purpose of exposing tho bad management of the raihvay trains. It is a general cause of complaint on Saturdays of the lack of passenger accommodation, and last Saturday Avas no exception to the rule. The 4.20 train had not nearly enough carriages on ; they were all filled long before starting time, and a number of passengers were Avaiting on the platform. One extra carriage was then put on, and that was soon filled. Then there were from fifteen to tweuty persons still seeking for room. The guard and officials were spoken to and asked to put on another carriage, but refused to do so. The time was up, and the guard facetiously told us to take our seats. Mr M. R. Millar, Avho Avas one of tho unfortunate ones, humbly asked permission to get into a goods truck, and Aye were told to go where avc liked, so somo scrambled into tho trucks, others on to the platforms. AVhen Aye arrived at Farndon the guard told us to get out of the truck ; that Aye were not allowed there, and that there was plenty of room elsewhere. I requested him to show me where? He took mo first to one carriage, and then to another, but could find no room. Although about fifteen people got out at this station, their room was filled by thoso standing on the platforms. I got on to the platform of the smoking carriage. H Tomoana, M.H.R., ivas comfortably seated in this carriage. I explained tho case to him as well as I Avas able, and told him that I blamed him and our other representatives for not seeing that the requirements of their constituencies Avero properly attended to, and that it Avas his duty to inform the Government of the disgraceful state of affairs. He said ho was very sorry that things ivere not conducted better ; that all tho reparation he could offer mo now, on behalf of tho Government, Avas to give up his seat to me, Avhich ho kindly did, and I obtained my point. A gentleman Avho had the pleasure of standing on the platform of a first-class carriage told the guard Avhen he Avent to collect tho tickets to tako notice how many Avero in that carriage with firstclass tickets, and ho informed me that moro than half had only second-class ones. Now, if this sort of thing had happened on a race day or holiday, no notice would have been taken of it (by mo at any rate), but as it is a frequent occurrence I think it should not be passed by Avithout comment. I am afraid things AA'ill not bo much better unless there is, as there should be, a local board of management. The line could then be nude to pay better, and tilings be conducted more satisfactorily.

Thero is another thing I should like to call tho authorities' attention to—that is tho great inconvenience to several Hastings settlers by the Post Office not being opened beforo 9 a.m., and being closed at 5 p.m. The first train arrives here from Napier Avith the mail at S a.m. The P.O. clerk is thero to receivo and sort tho letters, and it Avould be a great convenience to the public, and no great hardship to him, if the office was opened at tho same time. For instance, if a person wishes to go to town by the first train, he is unable to obtain his letters before ho starts (unless he has a private letter box), and if he comes out by the last train the office is closed. Tho same case applies to the Telegraph Office. If these offices could be opened when the first train arrives from Napier, and not ctosed until the last train for Napier leaves, it Avould be conferring a great boon to the public, and give very little extra trouble to tho clerk. Since I last wrote avc had a lecture here from tho celebrated Captain Barry. lam sorry that I Avas unable to attend, but I havo had a great part of it second-hand from those ivho were there, and upon whose voracity I can depend, and I must say I think he must be a man hard to beat in his particular stylo of lecturing.

In order to supply the great and increas • ing demand for land in the neighborhood of Hastings, Mr J. N. Williams is cutting up that block of land, containing about 050 acres, bounded by the Maraekakaho road on ono side and Ngarararo river, and running up to the race course on tho other side. This valuable piece of land is being laid out in blocks of various sizes, and I believe is now open for private selection, as the owner does not intend to sell it by auction. A feAV sections haA'e already been purchased. The extraordinary Avet season avc have lately experienced, although it has retarded shearing, damaged a great quantity of potato "crops, and interfered much with hay-making, has not been altogether an unmitigated evil, as all tho hills and light lands up country have a superabundance of grass, and all tho runholders this season should have no difficulty in turning out sheep fit for freezing and boiling-doAvn.