THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1915.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 40, 25 May 1915, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1915.

"We nothing extenuate, nor net down auaht in malice." RAILWAY AND OTHER MATTERS.

the main item of interest at last week's meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Conncil was the discussion in regard to the road approach to the Railway Stition in view of the necessary alterations sooner or later of the existing means uf access consequent on the intention tf the Department to effect at some future date a duplication of the railway line. The present road approach to the station, viz., from the railway bridge, runs on railway property, which it is intended to utilise lor the laying of the extra line. A good deal further to the east of the railway bridge, namely, some distance up East street hill, there is a public road, little used at present and in poor repair, leading past the railway station and then running alongside the new showground. Some time ago the District Engineer's office put forward a proposal to financially contribute to the cost of re-grading such road and to carry out a diversion at the station end in order that it should form the new approach to the station. From the same quarter has now come an alternative suggestion lor prop.rly to be purchased adjacent to the railway bridge and a new road to be formed to connect with the old public road, previously referred to, and the cost to be shared by the Department and the Borough Council. A motion was forthcoming from Cr Comrie, and was supported by the Mayor and one or two Councillors, that the Department's scheme should be referred to the Finance Committee lor consideration. Cr. Patterson, however, urged that tbe proper course to take was to decline to consider anything and as an amendment proposed that a protest should be forwarded to the Minister of Railways against any inconvenience being caused to the public in regard to the approach to the station. In the end the amendment was carried. The stand taken by Cr Pattorson was certainly reasonable and was founded on a solid basis. Bis argument, in effect, was that it was the Railway Department's duty to make its own auprocah to the station without saddling the town with any share of tbe expenditure. The Department has certainly a duty to perform to the public and that is to afford an I approach to the station that is both convenient and accessible, and it was quite unreasonable and illogical that there should be any idea of i responsibility being evaded by the Departmstt cummr.deering for the purpose a public read, such aB the j one previously alluded to, that is | both as regards its situation and J its undulating character mo3t un- j suited for requirements or for j asking tbe local authority to share j in the acquisition of property for a construction ol a new road. The whole scheme Bavours of red tape, j and probably has only been put forward as a "feeler" by officials at the Auckland office with a view of seeking to impress headquarters at Wellington that financial concerns arc being closely studied. As a i matter of fact the plans for duplicating the line are not of recent ilesign, but wero made prior to the statim being erected on the site on which it now stands. That being so, unless things were very much amiss, provision must also have been made in the plans for a proper and convenient loute of access to the station. The Council, in ulher ways also, last week put into an embryo stale certain nnttcrs that are of great

concern to PukekoHe. The Waterworks Committee, tor instance, were instructed to deal and report with the waterworks supply problem and the advisability of securing further expert advice thereun, whilst the Drainage Committee are to report as to the advisability of bringing forward a drainage scheme for the town. The new Council are certainly stepping well off the mark and progressive legislature sterns assured.