THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 224, 7 November 1916, Page 3

THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

At Tuakau. In compliance with a request made by tike Tuakau Town Board for the removal of the stationmaster's house and other obstacles in the way of a clear view of the level crossing on Harrisville Eoad, the Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister of Railway?, visited Tuakau this morning. Arriving by the 11.35 am. express he was met at the station by members of the Town Board and business people who were introduced by Mr Bollard, M.P., to Mr Herries as a deputation and an inspection was made of the matter under consideration.

Mr Dynes Fulton impressed on the Minister how dangerous the crossing was and emphasised the necessity of removing the stationmaster's house and drew the Minister's attention to the fact that from neither side of the crossing could a person approaching it see whether the signal was down or up. This was particularly dangerous as in twelve months 28,081 cattle that went out of the district and 10,722 that came in passed over it, while in addition thousands of cattle passed over it en route to Westfield. The vehicular traffic was also very heavy and very often large herds of cattle jammed on the crossing when being driven into the road leading to the loading yards. In reply to Mr Herries, Mr Fulton said that there had been some miraculous escapes on the crossing, and several prosecutions had followed. Mr Fulton further pointed out that a driver could not hear a train approaching when driving down the hill to the crossing, and it was a very difficult hill to pull horses to a standstill on without a fair warning was given. He understood that the stationmaster's house was to be reerected. If this was so, he suggested

that it should be shifted to another site adjacent to the Post Office, which could be filled in.

An inspection was made of the site, and while he acknowledged that it would make an admirable site for purpose suggested, Mr Herries intimated that the Department could not undertake to do anything before the war was over, as they were endeavouring to curtail expenditure as

An inspection was next made of a site at the southern end of the station, between the goods-shed and the cattle-loading yards, where Mr Fulton requested a traffic bridge should be erected. He said that provided the Department would erect the bridge the district would find the approaches thereto. Apart from the fact that it was the natural route for stock to pass to the loading yards, Mr Fulton pointed out that the Town Board had authority to compel the traffic to pass over the bridge. —Mr Free said that the cost of a bridge at this site had been estimated at one-third of a bridge at the level crossing.—Mr Fulton informed Mr Hemes thai the Department had promised to give a grant of £750 for a bridge in the cutting further south, but as a bridge thereon would be useless it had not been taken up. On Mr Fulton suggesting that the district might offer a subsidy towards the proposal, Mr Herries said that it would be gratefully received, and with a view of ascertaining the amount the district would be prepared to subscribe Mr Herries promised to obtain an estimate for the bridge and to report to the Board. The necessity for the provision of further accommodation at the cattleloading yards was urged by Mr R. Mcßae Peacock, who said that while twice as many cattle were handled in the yards compared with the next busiest station between Auckland and Frankton Junction", the yards were small, and with-only one entrance it made it almost impossible for cattle to be driven in and out at the same time.

Mr Herries tuggested a way out of the difficulty would be to extend the holding yards, adjoining the loading yards, but Mr Fulton said that that would not overcome the difficulty, as the holding yards were too narrow. Mr Peacock could only see one way to meet the position, for the Department to acquire a strip of land to permit of the holding yards being made wider. Sheep and cattle could- then be loaded separately. Mr Herries promised to report to the Board on the matter. A claim for. the " express " to stop daily at Tuakau was the subject of another plea put forward by Mr Dynes Fulton. He understood that the General Manager of Railways had intimated that the express would stop in future at either Pukekohe or Tuakau and he claimed that a larger district would be served if Tuakau was made a stopping place instead of Pukekohe, and further, a copious supply of water was available at the station. Mr Herries laughed at the suggestion that the express Was going to stop at either of the stations mentioned. Mr Craig referred to the vast back country that the railway line served at Tuakau and expressed the opinion that the railway traffic at Pukekohe would fluctuate when the Waiuku line is opened. Mr Herries pointed out that there were two contending parties that had to be considered. While the Auckland and Wellington people aimed at the express being speeded up there were other people at intermediate stations who were anxious for the express to be stopped there. If the express was really going to stop as suggested, however, he would consider the merits of both districts and try and serve the most people. Mr Cooney, representing the farmers of Whangarata, asked for a shed to be erected at the Whangarata railway station so that manures and seeds, in particular, and ether goods could be stored therein.—Mr Herries promised to look into the matter, but said that he could not promise that anything would be done before next season.

Mr Fulton brought under Mr Herries' notice the desire of the district to secure that portion of the old railway line between Buckland and Tuakau for the purposes of a level and shortari route between Tuakau and Pukekohe.—Mr Herries said that the Department could not make a preeent of it to the local bodies concerned therein, but that he would be prepared to consider an offer from them.—Mr Fulton agreed to go into the matter and to advise Mr Herries of the result.