Untitled

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 8, 20 November 1878, Page 2

We are given to understand that Mr Maecus, station-master at Halcombe, has been appointed travelling inspector upon the Wanganui-Manawatu line. Those to whom Mr Mabccs is known will be pleased to hear of his wellmerited promotion, at the same time, we are not quite sure that the appointment which he has received is altogether the most fitting one. We have all along pointed out the necessity of a sub-manager resident m Foxton, and providing such an appointment is to be made, m addition to the office created for Mr Marcus, we are prepared to endorse the step. We do not for a moment wish to say a word against Mr Marcfs, of whose seal and ability we are fully cognisant, but we certainly think that if an assistant traffic manager were required — aud of that there can be no doubt — Mr Charles Batt possesses claims both by length of service and efficiency to- entitle him to promotion. He is without exception the oldest servant on the line, and m the knowledge of the traffic requirements of every place between Foxfcon and Halcombe he is far ahead of all others. If a travelling inspector be required, by all means give it to Mr Mahcus: he is well fitted for it, and no doubt will ably accomplish the duties. From the first appointment of Mr Rotheeam we have given him the credit of being an energetic, attentive, painstaking official, one whose whole mind was centred m the wish to advance the line placed m his charge. At the same time we asserted that Mr Rothekam made mistakes, grave mistakes, and allowed himself to be guided and swayed by the interest and pressure brought to bear at the Wanganui end. We think a grave mistake has been made m creating the Halcombe Station of such importance, to the almost desertion of the Foxton terminus, and why it should be so has always been a mystery to us. Surely the responsible official should be placed at the portion of the line at which there is most traffic — passenger and goods — and can anyone for one moment imagine any comparison could be made m either between Haleombe and Foxton. IE Mr Batt, be stationed m Foxton with the charge of the line as far as Halcombe, and under tho control of Mr Rotheram as General Manager, we have some hope of this end of tho line receiving that justice of which it haß been so long deprived. The idea of placing an official, other than an ordinary station master at Halcombe simply because two trains meet is preposterous m the extreme. The termini are the spots at which the heads are required, and as we have before pointed out while the General Manager is located at Wanganui his assistant should certainly reside at Foxton. We wonder our friends at the latter place have not bestirred themselves m the matter, as it certainly is one of no small importance to them. We make them a present of the hint.