ROSS NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1921, Page 1

ROSS NEWS.

(Our* own correspondent.) HAIIAVAY TIMETAIJJ.E. A public meeting was held in Ho.-s last Thursday evening for the purpose of considering the proposed new railway time-table between Hokitika and Moss. The Mayor S. P. Evans, Esq.) presided over a large and representative gathering. Allot bite subject had been flieiionglily discussed from \ alien , points of \ieu the logoning icaolutioo uas lainnimouslv ea11 ied :

“That this public meeting held ill lloss do hereby enter a strong protest against the proposed alteration in the Hailway limeiablo between Hokitika and lloss, as if put into operation it u ill seriously hamper the sawiuillitig and daiiying industries, and will also pievent pupils from lloss and intermediate stations receiving secondary education at the Hokitika High School. It will also retard the progress and prosperity of that large and growing distiiel of South Westland.”

A deputation consisting ol the Mayor Town Clcik and Cr. Mineliau were ap pnintetl to proceed to Greymouth ot Snlttrtlav ami interview the Traffic Manager with regard to tin.- uusatislac torv timetable suliiuitted.

In the meantime the Traffic Manage) was communicated with, when lie vciy kindly consented to visit Ross on Saturday for the purpose of discussing the matter w ill, the residents. On niiivnl of Mr Cameron os Saittrdav nun mug lit* was met tit the Coronation Hall by a ii-presentativo number nl citizens, when it was pointed out the many ways till* tiew timetable would prove most unsatisfactory.

The suppliers ot cream to the northern factories seemed to have the most set ions grievanc e. There ate at pn-sent _*s suppliers hum this end. repiesenting about .’IIMI cows. It is necessary to: them to forward their cri-am time times a week, the most suitable days bring Mondays, Wednesdays and Satniclnys. At present all suppliers have duplicate cans and in the past have !:, t a aide to have their first can rciorued in time to pick up when forwarding the second can. ft is impossible now to do this and unless (lie service is altered it means that eacli supplier will .have to piocttic a third set of cans, about 111 in all. at an np-pn-iprinie e-osl ot Club. It also appears that cans aie very difficult to pioc-uu-at till- present lime, sc-vetal '*• tilers having orders placed two months hack which arc not yc! supplied. In addition to the above Itoulilc. the etc,mi would leave to stand lor lengthy priods on the lailuays whiea ’■ mid lend to depreciate its quality sad value. For instance- cream sent Hum lloss on Wednesday would arrive in Hokitika at 1 I a.in. and would have to Stand there till the outgoing mnilc Haiti took it on ai I 1“ p m. and then ii would only reach the tactory Per treatment the lotlowing imuiiing.

With ieg.ini hi pupil- a! tending the Hokitika High School in scond:;ry -.■ducat ion it was poillled out that it, would now lie impossible lor the c dldivu to make use ol the sen ice [or this out post- on uuv day in the- week winch will lie a serious drawback 1“ pupils v, kci arc anxious in cciintik 'e ilu-ii* education, .-Mid whose parents are no! in a position to pay the i-reseiit high cost of hoarding out.

The until service was also nicnlioiu-d. On Monday the only nain for Itci-* leaves Hokitika al I" a consequently very little mail mailer and m> dailv paper will i-ome along. On luesdas there is no service. Du Wednesday the train will arrive at Ross .'daii'd 1.311 p.m.. wln-n wc will gel our daily pap,.-is three days old. and which three days mail and pnpcis will miss lh<''oulli connection, as this le-tvcs on Weilnnsday at. mid-day. and t'-- '• v mail does not leave till Saturday. For the past forty years this district has had a daily until ncwspaiH-r set -

vice and it seems rather unfair now to ask the general public to accept their mail and newspapers once in tbreo days.

Several other less important matter were also brought under the Traffic .Manager’s notice.

Mr Cameron in reply stated his department found it necessary to make retrenchments and by adopting the new timetable some 3or 4 men could lie dispensed with at the lloss end which would represent a considerable saving. He admitted the timetable was not a good one, but he thought he could not offer any better at the piAscnt time. While sympathising with the butter factory suppliers, he thought if they gave the timetable a trial they might not find 'it as had as represented. With regard to the South mail service the Postal authorities would also have to admit a new timetable so as to lit in with the train service. As the carrying of school children was non-revenue producing lie could not consider making alterations on their account. Although the meeting made strong representations to Mr Cameron to further consider the matter. In* gave them very little encouragement to expect any further change in the near Inline. A vote of thanks to Mr Cameron Pubis kindness in coming down to meet (lie residents terminated the meeting. It is understood further steps will now lie taken with the object of remedying th® unsatisfactory state ol affairs.

FATAL ACCIDENT. I am soi ry to report a sail and fatal accident which betel Mr Michael Mulvaney on Saturday afternoon, whereby lie lost his life by being drowned in the upper reaches of the Mikonui river.

With his brother Patrick, fie had been engaged bushfalliug on the property of Nolan and .Mulvaney oil the upper Mikonui. As usual they were coining in to lloss to spend the week end. Michael decided he would come down the Mikonui river for the purpose of seeing the country. bin the brother considered his horse was not sufficiently reliable lor the rough journey ias there is no defined true k) and returned to floss by the usual route via the Tot ara. As Michael had not readied home at a late hour. his luoi'hor with Mr Solan, set out about ciodoudit via Tutuia and reached the lai in about “.30 a.in., and as soon as daylight appeared moituiued on the route down tlie Mikonui. Several hours later they discovered the horse deceased was riding. drowned in the .Mikonui. Finding no trace o! dcacased they came oil to lloss lor assistance, where in a very short space of time every available horse was pii-sst-d in to use and a huge patty ol horsemen left fot the pur|xise of making a thorough search. The body was eventually discovered by Constable Kennedy some seven or eight chains higher up than whet*' the horse was touiicl in about !■> feel ot water. Ihe lio.lv was conveyed down the river on a rough stretcher and brought in by cart to lloss.

The- deceased was 2!) vents ol age and was vet v highly esteemed by every one acqiiainted with hint, lie seived ill flulate war for a period ol three years, where he distinguished himself oil several occasions, gaining both the Distinguished Conduct Medal ami the Militaiv Medal.

Sincere sympathy is extended to his mother, live sisters .Mrs Mat Nolan, lloss, Mrs Kidd. South Hokitika. Mrs 1., Haddock. I lari Han. and Miss Margaret Mulvaney) and Hi tee brothers , Mess, s .lohn, .lames and Rat tick Mill vancy). An inquest w ill probably lie held. The Inm-ral w ill la-a military one. taking place on Pltcsday atlciunon.