THE EXPRESS SERVICE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 February 1909, Page 4

THE EXPRESS SERVICE.

WHY NOT CONNECT WITH THE WELLINGTON STEAMER? Mr G. L. Tacou, of Greymouth, in th, course of an interview at Christchurch, said thai the people of the West ('oast hoped, when the railway time table wai being readjusted in oonnection with tin North Island Main Trunk line, that the requirements of the West, Coast and ol travellers to and from the Coast would not be overlooked. It wa.s contended that it the train for Otira left Greymouth at 6.45 a.m. passengers could comfortably connect with the train from Christchurch, connecting with the ferry steamer leaving Lyttelton on the same evening. If the tlepurture of the Broken River train from Christchurch was delayed till 7.30 a.m., passengers from for the (.'oast could connect with it. He pointed nut that it was a fact that mails from the North Island for Greymouth and Hokitika, conveyed by the West Coast steamers, were sometimes over a week in transit. Mr T. E. V. Seddon. M.l\, on being interrogated on the subject, said that he had, on behalf of the Westland Railway League, asked several Questions in the House on the subject, and lie had been informed that it could not l>e managed without considerable dislocation in regard to the running of trains on the Canterbury railways between Rolleston and Christchurch. To permit of West Coast passengers connecting with the steamer at Lvtteltoii would involve the train from Hokitika leaving at 5 a.m. instead of 7.40 a.m. as at present. This would mean that people desiring to travel between Hokitika and Greymouth would have to travel by this early train: or, if the train was not altered, it would mean that passengers overland from Hokitika would have to spend a night iu Greymouth. An earlier start than at present mi eh I suit travellers from Greymouth, but would not suit those from Hokitika. Then, as to passengers connecting with the Broken River train, he pointed out that the ferry boat was not due at Lyttellon till 7 a.m.—at which time the Broken River train left and that to delay the departure of the Broken River train would mean the dislocation of traffic to and from Christchurch and Rolleston. The work of railway construction between Broken River and the Cass was being pushed on and once the distance to be covered by coach was reduced, it would then be possible to make the connections desired.