WESTERN RAILWAYS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 October 1919, Page 3

WESTERN RAILWAYS

Improvements wanted.

A meeting, convened by Mr James Stewart, chairman of the Helensville Town. Board, was held at Waimauku last evening, in connection with railway matMfrs affecting the Kaipara and north generally. Mr Somers was in the chair, and there were about forty settlers present. . The convenor, in explaining the y objects of, the meeting, stated 5 that the restoration of the daily express service between Auck-.. land and Helensville, and the . improvement of the service north of Helensville, were the chief aims. The following resolutions, carried at a Helensville meeting on May 29th, were read :— (a) That the pre-war daily express service between Auckland and Helensville should. be re-in-stated, with extension to enable connection with the northern train, the departure from Helensville to Auckland to be delayed from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (b) That the express service between Helensville and the northern railhead be extended and run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. That the Railway Der partment take over from the P.W.D. the line from Rangariui to Haurau, the latter to be the railhead. (Note \ The tunnel at Bickerstaff was built in 1911). (c) That the present 6.50 a.m. train leaving Helensville for Auckland; be altered to 7 a.m., the pre-war time-table. (d) That the present 3.15 p.m. . train from Auckland leave at 4 p.m., and to arrive at Helensville at 6.15 p.m. .?',

(ef That the present system of Bhunting carriages on and off at Henderson, causing unnecessary delay to the Helensville train, be discontinued.

Some discussion ensued on proposal (d). It was stated by Mr S. Dark that a petition signed by 70 residents and property-holders at Waimauku and Haupai had been forwarded to responsible quarters, asking that the afternoon train be delayed leaving the city till 5 o'clock. It was explained that should this eventuate, a good number of city business men owing allotments at Haupai would build theVe.

One speaker thought that five o'clock was too late for the train's departure, on account of the large number of school children who would have to wait around in the city, and who would arrive home at a correspondingly late hour.

After further discussion and explanation, the proposals in the main were adopted unanimously.

In the event of a conference being held in connection with this matter, Mr S. Dark was appointed a delegate to represent Waimauku interests.

Votes of thanks to the speaker and the chairman concluded the meeting. .- \ - ...•■■■ '■"-