DOMINION RAILWAY SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2205, 1 June 1908, Page 2

DOMINION RAILWAY SERVICE.

AUCKLAND TO INVERCARGILL,

PROPOSALS BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT,

(.Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. The proposals in regard to the express service from one end of the Dominion to the other have been freely commented upon in Christchurch, and many opinions arc expressed by those who will be most closely affected by the time-table that will bo used when there is traffic over the North Island Main Trunk Line. The Government apparently ‘is considering two proposals. One deals with an express running between Auckland and Dunedin and the" other with an exxiress between Auckland and Invercargill. One will give daylight running on the Trunk Line and the other night running.' Under the first proposal, passengers will leave Auckland at G a,inland., reach Wellington at midnight, talcing about 18 hours to traverse the North Island. The ferry boat will leave Wellington at one o’clock in the morning, and reach Lyttelton at noon next day. The passengers will catch the second express from Christchurch at 1 p.m., and will reach Dunedin at about 8.30' p.m. On the upper journey they will leave Dunedin ;gt. 7, a.m, reach Christchurch about 4 p.m.. leave in the steamer for Wellington at 5 p.-in., reach Wellington 4St 4'or 5 a.m., leave Wellington for Auckland at- 6 a.m., and reach Auckland at midnight. Under the second proposal, which includes Invercargill in the time-table,passengers will leave Auckland at 10 p.m. instead of 6 a.m. They will reach Wellington at 6 p.m. the following day. They will leave Wellington in the steamer -at 7.30 p.m.' reach Lyttelton at 6.40 : a.m. next day, ea-ten tlie 8 a.m. express at Christchurch, and go on, to Dunedin and Invercargill as at present, arriving at tho latter place .at 10.30 p.m. The Government seems to have a leaning towards the first proposal, as it will give a daylight' service in the North, and it Will not necessitate the use of sleeping cars, which, will cause extra, expense. The general opinion held by commercial men in Christchurch seemed to be expressed by Mr. A. Kaye, president of the Chamber of Commerce. When he was interviewed by a reporter. -he said that he did not think that tho first proposal would be at all satisfactory. If it was carried out, the northern mails would not arrive in Christchurch until 1 p.m. or 2 p.m,which would be very inconvenient, as tho mail would leave for the North again at about 3.30 p.m. the same day-, there would not be time to reply by it-. The service would also be ;r----convenieiit for passengers'. They would arrive at Wellington at four oi five o’clock in the morning, catch a train at six, journey all diy and ge’ to Auckland at midnight, a most unreasonable hour. Tho inconv uiience would also be very marked. Coming down by that servico % passenger would reach Wellington at .uiduight, and' get on to a steamer at one o’clock in the morning. There vtould be late cab fares, hotels would have to be kept open at late hours, and everybody apparently would be put about. Sir. lvaye feels strongly that a night service through tlio North Island will be much better than the other proposal. He suggests that passengers might leave Auckland at 9 p.m., reach Wellington at 5 p.m. next day, leave Wellington at 6.30, reach Lyttelton. at 6 a.m.. leave Christchurch by the 8 a.m. express, and get to Invercargill at 10.30 p.m. Ho says that the journey between Christchurch and Dunedin could be shortened to a considerable extent by leaving out of the service many, of the small stopping places in tlie up journey. Tlie approximate time-table would be: Leave Invercargill 7 a.m., reach Lyttelton 9 p.m.; leave Lyttelton 10 p.m,, reach Wellington 10 a.m.; leave Wellington noon, -reach Auckland 6.30 a.m. the following day. By this service a person would have the whole day to attend to business in Auckland, and would be able to leave that city on the return journey the same night. All the arrivals would be at- convenient hours, and the mails would bo distributed in Christchurch -as at present, which suited the requirements of the business community. In this case the Government would have to provide sleeping cars on the Auckland and Wellington service, but lie does not fool that the expense would bo very great if the other proposal is adopted. Ho thinks observation cars will probably bo imed, and their running cost should not be any greater than that of the sleeping cal’s. In Australia extra fares are charged for sleeping cars, and no doubt the same, principle will be adopted here, and satisfactory arrangements could be made in regard to the night staffs to work the trains: Arrangements might also be made for through service with tho early trains from Wellington. In all respects, he said, the second proposal, or a- similar one, leaving the South Island express service practically as it is at- present, was the best.