OTAGO HALLWAYS,

Evening Star, Issue 4009, 31 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

OTAGO HALLWAYS,

To the Editor.

SlB, —As one who takes an interest in matters connected with society and the State I have noticed with regret that many apparently able correspondents, often evidently with much time to spare, and an “itch for scribbling,” devote their powers and avail themselves of your indulgence and space, frequently only to abuse and rail at politicians and each other. I believe, Mr Editor, that there are many public and social questions untouched which might fairly be brought to the fore by means of your valuable paper if men with leisure and education would take them up pro homo publico. I would particularly recommend some of them to expatiate a little upon the exorbitant fares charged for railway travelling. For instance, if we take a five minutes’ ride to Pelichet Bay we have to pay fourpence (second class); if we go to Ravensbourne we must pay ninepenoa (second class). Now, Mr Edit r, surely it were better for the City and Port both if it were possible for three people to go down every day for the same sum as one tjays at present. Ijwill not hold mj self up as an authority to say that If the train to Eavensbourne and Kothsay ran for threepence, a greater number of people would settle at these townships, nor will I declare that I know of three people in the Port who—-for each one who comes at present —would avail themselves >f cheaper fares to drink tea and convivialise with Dunecin friends. No, Mr Editor, I will not aver this, I will only remind you of the increase in the number telegrams s. Nt in the Colony after the reduction of the telegraph rates some time aince; of the erreat postal system that has grown up in England since the adoption of the cheap penny postage, to say nothing of the large number of half-penny post-cards used ; and I would remind you of the increase already la the number of travellers of both sexes going to and fro between Dunedin aud Port Chalmers since the opening of the line, and consequent on the slight cheapening which then took place upon the old steamboat fares. I will leave this matter in your hands, and hope that some of your abler correspondents will agitate until railway travelling becomes more reasonable ; in lea- ing this matter, however. I would remind your readers and writers that the making of a double line must at the same time ho advocated, for the traffic, under a sixpenny fare to Port Chalmers, would probably so increase as to require trains to be run from each end at iutervals of perhaps less than half an hour during the day, making an up and down line necessary.—l am. *c., Don Carlos. Dunedin, December 30.