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Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 569, 27 February 1878, Page 2

A i.ettek appears in another column from Mr. Combek, in reference to the railway bye-law prohibiting smoking on the platforms at railway stations, and its administration. The writer takes what we consider to be a common-sense view of the matter. Like many other matters connected with the conduct of our railways, the prohibition of smoking- upon what are called railway platforms, but are as far removed from the real thing as certain absent railway ollicials are from angels, has caused almost as much merriment as j annoyance. We presume that for this I very valuable bye-law we arc indebted to the " recommendation " of the EngineerI in-Chief, without whom we really think | we should, perhaps, get into all sorts of bad habits. There is, for instance, the I idea that some people have picked up i somewhere, that Colonial railways should work smoothly. They never made a greater mistake than this, and the sooner the pernicious impression is eradicated from the minds of such simple people the better. There would be no necessity for siwh an arm}- of officials—we mean the ' : big bugs'* if they did not make blunders to be corrected bj- each other, and give the public a little trouble occasionally to necessitate the writing of big-enveloped letters decidedly official in tenor and appearance. For instance, Mr. Smith receives a complaint here from a

settler who has waited about a fortnight for, say a piece of machinery, but whose patience has not yet received its just reward. Mr. Smith writes an official document, in which " honor" occurs the necessary number of times, and concludes with, " I remain, sir, your most humble and obedient ser-

vant, W. J. Smith." This letter is sent post-haste to, say Mr. Lawsok, who a few days afterwards, with any number of honors and any amount of humility to conclude with, informs Mr. Smith that the letter marked so and so in the margin should have been forwarded direct to him ; and with a feeling that he has been slighted, he informs Mr. Smith that nothing can be done in the matter until he receives a direct communication from the aggrieved. The settler writes to Mr. Law.sos, and is informed, after the lapse of a few days, that the letter has been received, and that it is under consideration. This is how matters have been managed. Mr. Smith has been I deprived of the little power he at first possessed, which might have rendered him useful to the public, and has been transformed into a dummy; and while the party in Christchurch has been as obstructive as railway officials, Mr. Smith has come in for " more kicks than halfpence." It was Mr. Smith who had to perform the unpleasant duty of putting Mr. Cumbek's pipe out this morning. What harm was he doing to anybody, wc would ask ! The platform is as much exposed to the open air as the roadway leading to it, and not like that at Dunedin. The bye-law has been wisely made in order that ladies and others might not suller annoyance on platforms which are roofed, and which are more like a room than the stages at country stations arc like railway platforms. It is a pity that the person —we suppose ho lives in Wellington—who '•'recommended " the byelaw had not the intelligence to insert the words " on covered platforms," then even smokers would perfectly agree with him. No sooner is smoke ejected on an open platform than it is away and leaves but a trace of its fragrance, which the ladies all appreciate. It is really too bad to dei prive a fellow of the pleasure of his pipe, which palliates sorrow and acts as a solace . when seeing a friend oii". We would not wonder if the eating of onions wero pro--1 hibited, and the guards received instruc--1 tioiis to smell the breath of all intending I passengers, or the description of hair oil I they shall use stipulated. It is an interi ference with the liberty of the subject, ' and we shall next hear of a bye-law proj hibiting us from rubbing against these ! high functionaries, and compelling us to lift our hats to them. We are glad that Mr. CoNYEits has become a power in the ! management of our railways, because it is necessary that a little common sense should be brought to bear upon their conduct.