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Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1923, Page 2

The Chamber of Commerce meeting this week did not pass off without a reference to the inadequate) and inconvenient train service the district is putting up with so patiently. There is now a considerable lapse of time since the District Traffic Manager was here, and heard a catalogue of local grievances with regard to the position. So far, nothing official lias been vouchsafed in reply, and we are wondering how much longer the community is going to remain passive in regard to the matter. There is a leport current, when the local railway station is reorganised, tlio ’‘through” can ages will ho permitted to come on to Hokitika ! The organisation, however, is proceeding painfully slow, and tne wish for convenience seems to be a long way off under that contingency. Why a couple of “through” carriages cannot come through now is a mystery we are not able to solve. Tile carriages in question would not take any greater room than do the ordinary carriages in Use, Certainly on elf days we ».ave seen some of the new .secondclass carriages brought here, and why tnat cannot bo dono on Midland service dnys is the mystery which is inexplicable to the average outsider. The special inconvenience of the service is the invariable tendency for late running—a charge which applies to the service generally in respect to the local station, inward and outward, northward and southward.

Tiik traffic of late must be heavier over ibo local service. There appears to be far moro shunting done, and extra loading in timber, and tlic return of empties. Handling tbo latter here occasions great delay for tho southbound train, and suggests that a local shunting engine capable of running to the Three Mile in tbo north, and Mananui in tho south for timber haulage purposes, would be a great saving of time for the engine with the ordinary trains called upon now to do that work. These are matters well worth looking into by the railway authorities if they are notout to meet public convenience, and not to unduly penalise the community. Tbo complaint made locally with regard to the street crossings of tho towns now being torn up for the new railway tracks, seems to be "justified, and a little more consideration for the public could, with advantage, be given by tbo over-eers in the execution of the work. The town is very generously giving up to the Department- an important-thorough-fare at considerable inconvenience to tne people for all time, and a little more consideration for tne traffic during the period of transition would, we believe wo arc right in saying. be very much appreciated by both pedestrian and motor traffic. Matters will, no doubt, coma right- in time, but itis tbo difficulties which now present themselves which cause tbo irritation. According to the information disclosed at tho Chamber of Commerce meeting tbo other evening, the proposal mooted for a continuous telephone service is not- being taken up very enthusiastically. Less than a third c? tho subscribers bothered to reply or express any' wish on the subject as proposed. The remainder are indifferent and to that extent negative. The matter, dt course, <l9 one for the mibscribors to determine. In a comparatively small community the telepnone has a restricted use, but by adhering to daily hours the service l>eoomes the more restricted. Those who have the telephone at their place of business and not- at- their homes, would not find general use in the telephone being open continuously, for the ordinary hours serve fairly well most business operations. The matter, however, is one deserving a wider outlook, and more in keeping with tho times, for the reason that the town and district are expanding, and the telephone will become more and more useful. The continuous service has many advantages which will be realised when enjoyed. The town at one time thoughtit could jog along without the telephone, and it did for many dec .vies. But- when the telephone liecame established. its uses were so many and essential that it became indispensable. So with a continuous service benefits would be derived which would make the telephone more useful still, and the wonder would be t-hat the community hesitated at- at over th o matter.