MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2414, 1 February 1909, Page 3

MAIN TRUNK LINE.

DISCOMFORTS OF TRAVEL. A NIGHT AT TAUMABDNUI. , A resident who arrived in Wellington by the Main Trunk line the other day, informed a “Dominion” representative that he would ho very unwilling to make tho journey again under present, conditions. The Railway Department was apparently doing its best, but a good doal was luckking. Tthe train, carrying about 350 passengers, arrived three-quarters of an hour late,at Tail mar unui, where ’ the traveller had hooked accommodation la week beforehand at a boardinghouse. On arrival ho was told that ' owing to the excessive demand for | rooms it had been found impossible |to make better provision for him s than a bed in an improvised bed | chamber. This proved to bo a gal- | vanisod iron shed, about 3(M'fc by 20ft. | with a table running down tho length | of tho tooth. | On the table were four beds, und at tho end of tho table woro~a couple of basins and two or three jugs. Tho rest of tho room was filled with stretchers, so closo together that one could not movo between them. In ; this room 26 men spent the night. I Half the beds were without pillows, l and only ono blanket was provided for each guest. As some of the early birds confiscated tho blankets of' other’s a number of the sleepers had no covering beyond their clothes, laud the night was bitterly cold. The two wash basins had to do duty for 2(5 persons. The travellers were informed in the morning that the charge was 7s Cd with or without breakfast.