MAKING A RECORD.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1924, Page 2

MAKING A RECORD.

WHEN HASTENING SLOWLY

Railway iime-tables—like most rules of the road—are made to be broken, and the travelling public suffer accordingly. There is a now famous train journey between Hokitika and Greymouth. You don’t, always leave on the tick of time, and certainly you never arrive to time—time lias ticked much past the arrival hour before the little engine hauling the big train splutters to its destination, and with many a jerk, and pulls up at or about the platform, and the weary traveller is thankful to alight. There are of course many stations by the way. Near some of the stations stands licensed houses, and these decoys often play their little part in adding to the lingering moments of the train journey. At every sawmill siding there is much shunting—and the bumping is thrown in—of toil-times there is a crash | But the delays all add to the record—caused by hastening slowly. Perhaps the engine is old fashioned—many of the carriages are. It (the engine) approximates the early Stephenson type and is not necessarily a thing of beauty, nor does it exude the pant of the Westingliou.se pull. It lias not any magnificent lines to admire, and one cannot add that handsome is as bandsome does, for its record is done so badly.

Tim delays along the line might, make a new beginner mad. But the ancient traveller who has grown old with this stereotyped service, knows time is not the esK'iiee of the contract, and however prolonged the slops may have been heretofore on Hie journey of longdrawn out (link-od, Shakespeare might dub it) sweetness, the traffic must halt at half-way while a process of change over of engines and guards takes place. This was adopted in the year B.C. of the inauguration of the liokitika-Greymouth service, and the Rip Van Winkle traffic manager has not woke up yet to authorise the alteration of the practice of the daik ages, so a lew more minutes are added to the length of the record.

The passengers have a difficulty in putting in the time on this tortoise journey. Here and there they may alight 'and stretch their limbs while shunting operations proceed with many a hump Sometimes there is just the suggestion that the journey is going to be done on time. Then the tram manages to overtake a sawmill riding, and the authorities appear to take a delight, in whiling away the precious minutes, which add to the m gatin' item'll. The passenger who lias already, during the day, travelled by the express from Canterbury, considers the last 24 miles of the journey a nightmare of a trip. Tf he doses (as he must necessarily do, lulled into oblivion bv the slow motion of the train), lio dreams strange dreams of being hurled through space to the destination whore he would be. only to wake (from no extra severe jolt) and discover lie is still bumpteen miles from the end of the journey to wind up the imperfect dnv. Eventually lie lands at his hotel, to he told by the suave proprietor that ho is very sorry but dinner is off—the labour laws do not permit tlie stall' remaining on duty beyond a con-ain hour. Rut. adds the obliging hotol-ki'oper. the traveller may obtain a hot pie at the restaurant along the street! So that traveller niters maledictions, not strange to say against the rail wav authorities responsible for the prolonged delay and the dinnerless prospect ahead, but at the town and the people who endure such an iuHiciitiii as the train service which permits these indignities to happen and disgust travellers. In ike B.C. years of the local railwav it should be noted too railwat did tiie journey in smarter time than il does now, when there is a better laid line, more powerful engines available, and the need l'or faster traffic to liui; up with the through connection ol the South ltiagd traffic.

In South Africa express goods trains are ititi. New Zealand which is not leading tlie world these times, cannot manage express passenger trains ior its Midi,i cl service destined to lift the South 1 -.land ahead. What- wonderful records our Railway Department is not in the v.ay oi making.

Newcomers lo Hokitika are cordially invited to join the “NO-RUBBING' Laundry Help Club. (Full particulars from your grocer).—Advt.

20 only Ladies woollen knitted frocks mole, fawn, blue, grey, while, putty etc., shades. Special bargain price for one week 29s lid at McKay's. 'Hie Lea ding Dra p ers. Advt.

Just arrived:—Large consignment of choice dessert and cooking apples.

Cox’s Orange, Jonathans, Mmini’s etc. J.owest prices. M. Houston ami Co.—Advt.

Ladies new winter coats with fur collars, astraclmn collars and braided, 25 only in nigger, mole, lawn, electric and navy. Special bargain price G9s (id at McKay's, tho Leading Drapers.--Advt.

Sale of Men’s Shirts! —Not an accumulation of old stock. Gut a genuine sale of Hie very latest and best shirts or? the market. Inspection invited. \V. H. Stopforth, Revel] Street—Advt

Neglected chilis bring Doctor’s bills. Let "NAZOL'" put you right. Unexcelled for obstinate coughs and colds, Is (id bins (ill doses.