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Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1925, Page 2

it is some considerable time imw since same improvement in the local train servile was promised, by way of speeding up. The journey still takes the best part of two hours or mole to come the twenty-four miles separating Hokitika and ('lrc-yntotith. By a special effort mire a week the journey is accomplished in one hour and thirty-live minutes, thereby saving nearly half an hour mi the trip. 1 Ims ■ who have (ravelled by the “express” would not realises very readily I lint special ellort I- being made. The ilsilal stops are observed and the speed at no time seems to lie above the normal. Act the saving i> contrived, and travellers are thankful aerordinglv. Ii should please the travelling public as a whole il the journey enuhl he accomplished at the express rale which is adopted lor the particular Saturday only. I here is no doubt that the ordinary trains Inse nnieb time by lie- protracted delays at lie- side stations, while the procedure of e' aiigiug engines at Kumara .I unction often iieciillul - lor a very lengthy slop. At one lime ii was staled that the exchange of engines was due to the alleged weakness of the Him below Kumara Jiinetion. but this has Keen remedied lor long past, and (heie habeen no fresh excuse ulieivd. The journey under present conditions is oti.-n verv wearying and the Department in it-, new found zeal ol meeting the wishes of i lie public, might well attempt to improve the local service that the present reproach against it will he muddied at least. The public have been long suffering and patient where iln- railways are emu erned. and the authorities might well recognise that virtue ami give it its reward of an improved service, ft it cannot !;■* accomplished in one ell or t. perhaps the Department will bring about rcliei b\ degrees. The accelerated Saturday .services might lie extended al least to the Tuesday and Thursday < mi mat ions. What is being accomplished so satisfactorily oil Sin unlays, would be appreciated very great ly as si almeiit on Tm-'davs and Tliur-day-. and a- all onnie-t ol i In- good intentions ol the Railway management to gi\c the disI rift a fair deal. Tlmse u la. make i lie Irip at all freipietilly 11110-1 led that without risk or danger the time mi upied in the journey ran l.e lediu ed as has been -nege-ied. and. puhln "|u»j.,,1 would be well -Iti-lied II the Department would make the ellmt. it only in part. 1 n the extra two days ,1a begiuiiing.