Levin Borough Council

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 September 1915, Page 2

Levin Borough Council

The Levin .Borough Council's fortnightly meeting was helu in the Borough chambers last evening. There were present:—The Mayor (Mr 13. li. Gardener), Councillors 11. B. France, J. Harvey, E. M. Herrick, T. G. Vincent, S. Jones, A. Dempsey, C. Blenkliorn and J. Robertson.

A letter 'was received from Mr W. 11. Field, M.JL\, stating that when the Railway Estimates were before the ■House he had taken the opportunity of asking the -Minister of Railways to improve the service on the Manawatu lino The Minister replied that his Department was at present considering the question of improving the service on the various lines throughout the Duminion. Therefore, in Mr Field's opinion, now appears to be an opportune time to make any representations on the matter that .might be thought lit. He (Mr Field) considered that tlu chief need was a passenger train that would reach Wellington at such a time as would enable passengers to; do their business and return the same evening. Under the present system they have only four hours at their disposal in town. It was true that Levin passengers could travel by the night Auckland express, but this was not suitable ior women and children. He asked the Minister that the present trains be speeded up to the extent of gaining one hour each wiay—arriving in Wellington one nour earlier and leaving one hour later, the time of departure and arrival at i'almerston N.. remaining as at present, lie also asked that the Railway Department consider the question ol carrying Manawatu passengers right on to the Lambton station; there was room at the northern end of the present Lambton station to accommodate the Manawatu trains. Mr Field thought that under the present service passenger traffic was subordinated entirely to the goods traffic, and the progress ol the district was being retarded because of this. In conclusion .lie drew the Minister's attention to the fact th.it Levin was not yet recognised by the Railway Department as ;i booking station in tho full sense ol the term, and i!ie Department still tried to extract the (full 'Wellington-Palmerstion fare iroin passengers from Wellington to Levin by the Auckland express.

The Mayor said the last deputation that waited on the Department in connection with the matter succeeded n getting the night Auckland train

stop at Levin, and had succeeded in getting the morning train speeded up to the extent of two minutes, but to make up for this the evening' train left Wellington two minutes earlier, At present Auckland passengem to Levin had to wait at Palnierston for the ordinary train or else pay the full Pal-merston-Wellington fare. This was not right. H wa.s disgracelul to have tlie.se stopping places and then put til these charges. Another matter that required attention was the fact that 011 the Thorndon station just prior to lho departure of the Auckland night express, a notice board was put up bearing the sign "First stop, I'almer.sLon North." This was misleading and should lie rectified. A further instance of the Department's methods was the I act that a young lady from Wellington with a ticket oil the Auckland express for Palmerston lnufdifiiculty in getting the Ticket back from the guard who had collected all tickets for Levin and Palmerston North. i'he guard told her that sho had 110 right to get off at Levin and break the journey. Councillor Bleiikhorn thought the matter could be left in the hands of tlie Mayor Councillor France considered that a .Sunday milk train to Wellington would be a good thing. Wellington wanted more milk, and it could tap this district. His idea was a train in the morning to collect the milk. Councillor Herrick said that an evening train would not suit dairy lanners ill this district; they would have to get their cows in 100 early; it would be alright for people further down the line. Councillor Dempsey considered that a Sunday train for passengers should be run to Levin; at present one was run as far as Otaki, and there was 110 reason why the service should not bo extended to Levin. 011 the motion ol Councillor Bleiikhorn, seconded by Councillor Dempsey, the matters referred to in Mr Field's letter were left in the hands of Mr Field and the Mayor, who will interview the Minister of Hail ways and the General Manager of Railways. The Mayor reported that the chairman of the streets committee, after consultation with the road overseer, lwid authorised the grading of Bartholomew road, as the Horowhenua County Council was grading the Fairfield road alongside Bartholomew road, and it was considered an economical step to get the ujse of the grader while it was so handy. The distance was oO chains which would tost I'2o, and of this amount the County Council would pay half. Councillor Dempsey said that itwas too much tor the chairman of the streets committee to authorise without calling a meeting of the committee. This sort of thing would lead to joband in future at least a meeting should be called. He admitted that it was a necessary work to repair the road. He also drew the council's attention to the removal of the culvert across tlio water-race 011 the road.

Councillor France (chairman of the streets committee) said lie was pleased lo we the council taking an interest in the question. He could appreciate Councillor Dempse.v's feelings in the matter, and lie' was quite within his rights. He (Councillor France) had considered it a good chance to get the ■work done and had consented to ;t. However, it had not been done in the

past, and it "would not obtain in the future. Councillor Vincent said tliat the culvert referred to by Councillor Deuipsey was one of the most ridiculous things iu the borough. some gravel had been tipped into the race at the suggestion of Councillor France and later on some planks laid across, then a culvert was put in right off the road, and now it was put in again ill the old place. The trouble with Bartholomew road was that no meeting of the streets committee had been called to consider the matter. There had been no meeting of the committee for months. Councillor France said that the gravel was not tipped in at his suggestion. Councillor Vincent wanted a. culvert right across the road. Regarding tiie meeting* ~i the streets committee he did not know who vas responsible for calling them. 'J ho Mayor: The chairman of the committee. Councillor agreed that a meeting ol the ' e\ .1: -iM havo Oeen called and u.'K would be called shortly. j The Mayor f.-alu that the work was done with the best intention. it was the first time any such work had been done without calling a meeting of tJio committee; he thonight, however, tlrit ■some responsibility should be given to the chairman of the committee. Councillor Blenkhorn was of opinion that if executive ollicers in consultation Avit.h the chairman of the committee could not spend UIU it was a pity, a.ud it seemed as it they had not the wiilidence ol the council, lie .saw no ior any apology lor what had been >10110 Councillor llenick said that he wars quite satisfied with the action of the -Mayor and chairman of the streets committee. The Town Clerk explained that it was olten dillicult to get the grader at any time. if they could got the grader at any time their action would have boon wrong. The grader was near at hand in the present instance, and it was a matter of urgency. Councillor Vincent said that he had spoken of the state of Bartholomew road for months pa.st. and only now it had become a matter of urgency. Councillor Dempsey said that f.o thought there was plenty of time + o have called a mooting. He was not objecting to the work being done hut Id the manner in which it wa.s authorised. TTe hoped that it would not'lie done again in that manner. The matter then dropped.