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Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1923, Page 2

Tut projected visit of the General Manager of the New Zealand Railways to the Coast will lie awaited with a good deal of general -interest. .Mr Mid illy dies not move about a great deal, and bis advent to the Coast is something of an event in the round of ills < flicial duties. Taere are many m»tte:s hereabouts calling for attention and settle--1110111. The mutter jusi mentioned in the foregoing, is important, enough, for the whole district to take a day off, and try and impress the General Manager with a deputation of abnormal size, just what the community . feel about the impost which it is proposed to pass ui to the community for an indefinite period. Then there are some other matters essentially of a railway nature which will have to be brought up. The alterations about the lo f al station yards, and the adjustment of matters with regard to the streets, can no doubt be settled very promptly when put before the Heneral Manager. Also, tiiere is the subject of the branch line up Hibson's Quay to tap the available space for skid room required for timber export. This is of importance industrially, and should be brought, to a head now without delay for it has been under consideration for years rather than months. In the County there is the question of taking selected Government rolling stock over the sawmill tramway beyond Ross tor the transport of the farmers' produce and stock. This matter has been in abeyance now for ;i very long time, and 11s the local body lias offered ail iudeiunitv to cover any possible damage to the rolling stock, there should Is' no serious objection to wliat- is required being permitted. The railway tunetable is in need of a revision. Ihe Ross service is short, lamentably, ol requirements. It will ho observed by

advice received by the Chamber of Commerce from the General Alanager that the improvement to the Ross service is to stand in abeyance til! the Midland railway service is commented. The opening of the line is being deferred -o frequently and now so remotely, that it is a penalty on the district to postpme an improvement, indefinitely which the departmental reply seems to indicate. is now a necessity, ’fee point is that if the through service were to • e-eo nexi week, llio Ro.-s service would Le improved, blit ii on the other hand the opening is to ho delayed til! August or later, the very inadequate tram service to Ross is to continue. 1 his is not 11 verv logical stand H>r the Department t,, take, and tlie matter lor an immediate amendment to the time-table should be pressed for when Mr Moyjllv hero in person to consider the matter.

A HATHKit unsatisfactory phase of the reply of the General Manager to the Chandicr of Commerce in regard to the time-table for the Ross railway section, i- the remark that the traffic to Dike Alahiuapiia dees not j list if y eonsideriitioii for a suitable return service on Wednesdays. The falling iff there has been in tlie traffic to Mabinapua is no doubt caused in tlie main by the lack of train facilities to visit the resort. There is no reason why Mahinnpun should not be one of Die mist popular resorts in tlie Dominion. Immediately adjoining a railway line 1! the lake features were taken up properly. it could be more widely popularised. As it is large parties iroui the north make annually recurring visits, regarding the lake as an ideal resort for a picnic outing. It has unique attractions in its bush and lake side scenery, and in the proximity of the ocean beach, for an ideal public re-sort. It is a natural situation for a fun land resort, and with the thousands of Canterbury people brought into railway touch with the lakeside, local enterprise would l?-“ justified in taking in hand the provision cf side entertainments for visitors to add still further to local attractions. Mahinapua with its natural advantages can he made the Brighton of Westland if tlie matter were taken in hand effectively.