MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO MANUREWA.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 705, 10 February 1922, Page 7

MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE TO MANUREWA.

“WEARY WILLIE ”

IRREGULAR TRAIN SERVICE.

99 MINUTES TO TRAVEL 25 MILES.

The advisability of speeding up the railway trains in Hie suburban area, of the) Main-Waikato railway, hasbeen urged upon the Auckland branch of the Railway Department from time to time, but instead of a vast improvement being the result the trains continue the “slow as a snail” speed, in fact they appear to be getting slower. At Monday’s meeting of the Manurewa Town Board, Mr E. S. Pegler reported that the Department intended to give a trial, the extension of the train leaving Auckland at 5,.7 p.m. for Papatoetoe, to be run to Papakura.

Mr Pegler again drew attention to the very unsatisfactory running of the 5.17 p.m. Auckland-Papakura train. That (Monday) evening this train left Auckland at the schedule time and did not arrive at Manurewa until 10 minutes to 7 o’clock. This was a very unsatisfactory state of affairs.,

The chairman corroborated Mr Peg.ler’s remarks, but corrected him as to the time of arival at Manurewa. “It was 4 minutes to 7 o’clock, not 10 to 7,” said the chairman. It thus took “Weary Willie” 99 minutes to travel the distance from Auckland to Manurewa which is just on 15 miles.

MANUREWA HILL ROAD. EARLY COMPLETION NECESSARY.. RESIDENTS MAROONED. IN WET WEATHER. For some time past work in connection with the re-grading of the lower portion of Hill Road has been in hand., but the contractors are making very slow progress. The road at the present time is in a very unsatisfactory state, it being particularly so during last week when heavy rains were experienced. As a result of the rain the road became very muddy and almost impassable for all kinds of traffic.. The formation work was cut up somewhat, and female users of the road were marooned, while the position was very unsatisfactory for male users of the road. At : Monday’s meeting of the Board a complaint was made by a resident of “The Hill’” who urged that immediate steps be taken to expedite the work, so that residents could obtain access to their properties. Tho chairman reported that he had authorised the clerk to order metal from the gaol, for the purpose .of metalling the Hill Road. On the motion of Messrs Lupton and Pegler the chairman’s action was approved. On the motion of Messrs King and Gallagher, it w r as decided to place some fine scoria on the Hill Road footpath..

ELECTRIC ENERGY.

QUESTION OF RETICULATION

OF MANUREWA DISTRICT.

DEFINITE INFORMATION REQUIRED.

The question of the reticulation of the Manurewa Town District, which area forms part of the Auckland and District Electric Power District, was introduced at Monday’s meeting of the Manurewa Town Board, when it was stated that Electric Power Board Bill had been passed and signed, and that within 30 days of the signing of the Bill local authorities had to deceide whether they would do their own reticulation or would require it to be done by the Power Board,

The chairman (Mr T., J.. Corin) said that there would be one advantage if the Board did its own reticulation and it was this’ that they would be in readiness to receive power when it was available.

■Mr Smith said that if they knew when power would be available they would have something to guide them. If they did the reticulation work and had it completed it might be a considerable thne before they could get power. In This case a large sum of money would be lying idle. He thought the Board should be in receipt of information as to when power would be available.

The chairman said from what he gathered from Mr J. H. Gunson’s remarks, there was a very remote chance of Manurewa getting rower for some years unless th"v '’id the reticulation work themselves.. Eventually the chairman and Mr C. H. Lupton were appointed a sober,• mmit + ee with a vie™ of ascertaining when electric would be avadable for tbe district.