RAILWAY FACILITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1921, Page 4

RAILWAY FACILITIES

POSITION AT PALMERSTON NORTH ' DEVIATION SCHEME. (1 WELLINGTON, March 7 T The inquiry into the railway facilities ' at Palmerston North was continued to- *•' day, when evidence in support ol the Department’s proposals was called. Mr F. W. Maclean, chief engineer, said the conditions had been causing ■’ , concern for many years, and were in- / creasing as time went on. Irrespective of any deviation of the trunk line, * some alterations .were essential as the ' ’ conditions were chaotic. He put in ] plans of the various schemes proposed, i * and said that if Cook Street were 1 ' closed, the ease would not he met. He | ( | was convinced that a could j ' not he secured with the station in its present position. The scheme he to- j commended was a deviation from Long- j burn around the western side of the j borough, to some distance beyond lei-j race End. Alterations to the existing , station and yards would cost 9100,000, without ensuring that the present posi- j lion would not arise in the future. The ( l sum mentioned did not include coin- | pciisation. The deviation scheme, with J compensation, would cost .9000,000. ; From every point of view the deviation ( | scheme was the best, and it could be , i completed in four years wit Ii the use ol ,[ up-to-date appliances, q- The General Manager, Mr R. V• j M’Yilly, said the position at Palmers- 1 t _ lon North was so serious that unless j tackled in earnest, and almost immodi- | ately, the Department would he unable, in the very near future to carry on | ns business satisfactorily. The Commission meets at Palmers- , ton on Wednesday. j