Untitled

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 83, 27 July 1878, Page 2

It may be ; remembered that about four mdntHj;_ago' the Borough Coun T veil of Palmerston forwarded a very etrpng to the Public department, setting forth Hhe necessity for a platform at the terrace End. We believe that after the lapse of a couple of months some sort of intimation was received that the proposed work was under consideratiohfand that there was a probability of the resolution being carriediout. Since that time the process of incubation "has been going on, aiid we now learn that a platform is to be erected, but under such conditions as will add to, rather than decrease, the grievance complained of. The memorialists requested that a passenger platform should be placed at the intersection of Fitzroy street, and the reasons urged ior the locale were that it was the last street m the town running at right angles with the line, and that consequently it was at the y.cry extremity of population; that the Government had a reserve on the spot, and as there was a shunt to the gravel bed, it would necessitate but one stoppage. Within the last .day or, two, a ga^ng of men has arrived from'Halcbmbe to carry bujt the f 'proposed work ; but instead of removing or .erecting it nearer to the resideucesupf the: memorialists, as req nested, it is to be placed at Ness's Millj -jfr-, close 1 alongside the Cemetery. i^ln • support of the JFitzroy^ sitfojOTpthink Werha.ve:adtanced very good reasons;' but as-jt&what a,rgu..ments/can be broughl; forward for /the: prpposed one- we i are at loss to :4ispbv|r. being outside, as ■ it were, the'pale of civilisation, and adjoining the sacred resting-place of the dejadjjt is m the very bosom of a steep decline, and so close to a high cutting and sharp curve,; that it would be impossible for the driver of a tijain from. Bunnythorpe to see the p^tf orm until close upon^t* and consequently it would 4ecessitate a pullirig-up of#he engine wliim possibly there might be no passenger to JHck.up. Then, again, it Wbuld doupld the strain on the rolb'ngstocj: m causing it to start to mpunt a heavy incline from its base,^iuBtead of acquiring velocity byt#liiiilfmile ruir on the level before .tack-, ling the difficulty. But- if all those reasons we're Insufficient to condemn the site, it would be found alone m the fact that, as it would «be altogether out of the way of traffic by the townsfolk, there would be no passengers, and consequently it would be literally and practically useless for the purpose for which it

is presumed to be erected. It is ex- '■ actly ono hundred chains from ths Square Station to Fitzroy street, while from that place to the mill would be fifty chains; and' we ask, is it likely that persona travelling, to the Square would walk fifty chain's going and fifty chains returning, or one hundred m all, beside pa^ying fare, m order to ride, +a distance pf two hundred chains? The idea is perfectly absurd, and" the reason inexplicable**' Beside, by out the present ridiculous arraugeinent,. a manifest injustice would be done to the people of Terrace End, inasmuch as m applying for the station, certain statistics were given as to the return to the Bailway Department, and if it be placed m a position where it certainly cannot; nor will not, be made use of, it will, prove a lows to the railway, and the failure be attributed to its non-necessity at that end of the town. We have h^apd incideutally that this out-of-the-way site has been selected upon the the representations of a certain gentleman, accompanied by a petition from the settlers at Stoney Creek, on the ground that it- would he nearer" and;imore c^Y^ieut^i^ Sfchem ;'and without-Mowing reWy anything "about- the merits' of the case, the Public Works Department gave instructions that it should be there erected. Passing over the manifest discourtesy with which the Borough Cotincil have been treated m totally ignoring a unanimous resolution of the body, and forgetful of the fac<; the united voice of the Corporation should be a greater authority as to what was best; for those within the town, m preference to persons living miles outside , of it, we will proceed to show iHe simple absiirdity of the idea that it would be such a boon, to the Stoney » Creek settlors. There are very few— m fact we might say, none— who Visit Palmerston other than on-horse-back, and we ask what difference would it make to them to -travel the extra fifty chains, particularly as by so doing they would 'be m the ceatre of Terrace End, and ..haye accommodation while waiting f ghl' the train, and stabling for their horses ? We think this is a matter which so vitally interests the residents of the west'eiid that no time should be lost m calling ' together a meeting to take steps to have the work stopped. -His Worship the Mayor is at present m Wellington, and we feel quite sure, were he armed a^ith authority, he would lose no tiine*in laying the matter before the Minister of .Public Works. - '"- - ■.„;'■ ; ■ •