TE KUITI STATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 299, 1 October 1910, Page 5

TE KUITI STATION.

Chamber of Commerce Protests Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce met last night in the "Chronicle" office to consider the letter and plan from U)e Minister of Railways dealing with the proposed alterations at Te Kuiti station, as given in Wednseday's issue. There was a crowded attendance, Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., being also there. The 'president (Mr F. H. Sims) said whatever was done would last for ten years to come. His own idea was that the station should be shifted to the east side of the line and the yards removed right out of the town. The department had a reserve a mile out of the town on the other side of the railway bridge of five acres let on a year-to-year lease. Major Lusk agreed. When the present station was built it was intended to move it over. Nine-tenths of the business was done on the east side and they should get the station moved over. They knew a plan had been made whereby all the alterations required were laid down by the officials at a cost of £4OOO to £SOOO. That was as good as promised last year. Why were they told now it was too expensive? He failed to see the reason. He thought they should protest strongly against having the cattle yards about the town. They were a menace to the public health and to everyone concerned. The site suggested by the president would be convenient to the saleyards and to farmers. He did not like to condemn the overhead bridge, but saw no reason why they could not have a subway. The additional line of rails on what was our main street raised a very peculiar question and they should go into it very strongly. The borough council had the matter under consideration and a legal opinion had been given which established their claim to the half chain. The department had plenty of room on the other side. He was entirely disgusted with the situation. Mr W. S. King said that the figures quoted in the "Chronicle" were quite, enough in themselves to justify them in asking to have the station enlarged. As for the stock-yards—surely the department would not be so shortsighted as to believe that the people in the township will tolerate an eye-sore Mr Jennings said that four months ago the most pressing thing that was laid before him was the removal of the cattle-yards. As to whether the new place selected was suitable, he expressed no opinion, but he did say the present place was not suitable. For passengers arriving at 2 a.m. the decent was most dangerous and inconvenient. The overhead bridge would largely remove the present difficulties. A subway would cost almost as much as the whole sum to be spent. It was possible that ultimately a line of rails might run on the other side of the station buildings to let the expresses pass through, and the proposal not to shift the station might be part and parcel of that idea. It was intended to spend £2OOO to £4OOO to do away with some of the difficulties. He would certainly urge them not to condemn the proposals wholesale, as some appeared to have good points about them. As the town grew, in five or ten years' time the larger propositions must come. There were so many demands from Taihape to Te Awamutu for new and improved stations that it was only possible to go a certain length. He urged the Chamber of Commerce to take what was good, and urge the Minister to shift the yards further away as he was shifting them. Dr Fullerton said the only points of advantage in the scheme were the bridge, the goods shed and platform extensions. If the department had an idea of putting in a loop-iine, why not have said it openly. That would be a good scheme. A subway was not practicable. It was absolutely ridicu lous to move the cattle-yards from one place to another on the main street. The chief danger was when the two trains came in. Mr D. Young said the wheel traffic at the goods shed caused the most congestion. The shed should be moved to the other side of the line. Mr Forsyth said years ago the department talked of shifting the station to the east side. If the cattleyards were shifted to the position on the plan there would be as many complaints as ever. Mr Jones protested against the siding running on the main street. Major Lusk moved: "That the Chamber of Commerce, while learning with pleasure it is contemplated to erect an overhead bridge and lengthen the platform, does not consider that the proposal re a new site for trucking yards and additional shunting rails are at ail satisfactory, especially as that scheme contemplates taking half a-ehain off Rora street the principal thoroughfare in Te Kuiti." Mr Young seconded.-Carried unanimously. Mr W. S. King moved, and Mr Darrow seconded:—" That in the opinion of this Chamber, the goodsshed should be moved to the west side of the line, with access to Carroll street, and that the trucking yards be moved quite away from the main street or centre of the town." Carried