RAILWAY TO DARGAVILLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 485, 15 October 1928, Page 16

RAILWAY TO DARGAVILLE

GENERAL MANAGER ANNOUNCES ROUTE SITE FOR NEW STATION (From Our Own Correspondent) DARGAVILLE, Saturday. Expresisng the hope that within a year or two Mr. Sterling would be present to declare the railway open to Dargaville, Mr. F. A. Jones, Mayor of Dargaville, brought to a conclusion a most satisfactory and representative meeting of businessmen and railway officials last evening. The meeting had been called to discuss the Dargaville station site and to consider the elimination of levelcrossings—this being the chief purpose of a visit to the district by Mr. H. H. Sterling, general manager of railways. He was accompanied by Messrs. E. Casey, division superintendent; S. C. Widupp, chief engineer; J. K. Lowe, district engineer; H. Duckworth, secretary to the general manager; G. Wellsted, business agent; J. McEnnis, district engineer to Public Works Department, and C. A. Jenikns, engineer-in-charge at Pukehuia. The Hon. C. J. Carrington, M.L.C., and Mr. J. A. Mackenzie, local stationmaster, were also in attendance. The Mayor presided, and extended a cordial welcome to Mr. Sterling and his officers. The Mayor said the line had been procalimed to Tangowahine. They appreciated the near approach of the railway and looked forward with confidence to the future when Dargaville would be connected by rail with the city. It would be a detriment to the town if they used the line indicated by them, as some of the crossings would be very dangerous. As the town grew and the occasion arose for the elimination of level-crossings, overhead bridges would entail heavy expenses on the railway and the local bodies; but the sum involved was not, in his opinion, an insurmountable barrier. They would leave the site of the railway station to the department, and whatever decision was arrived at they were desirous of seeing the work completed. Mr. F. J. Dargaville, as president of the Racing Club, asked that a station or siding be put in near the racecourse at Awakino Point, stating that in th< near future he hoped the showgrounds would also be the raceourse. Mr. T. Bassett, representing dairy suppliers, favoured the most direct route with few level-crossings. The Hon. C. J. Carrington said their thanks were due to their member for arranging the visit. In his opinion the paramount question was that of safety of the public. Mr. Sterling’s suggestion that the whole meeting consitute a round-table conference was carried unanimously. Mr. Sterling said he had noticed the progress the district was making. Where there were two alternative routes he had to determine first whether any advantage or disadvantage to the public attached to either route. The first route passed over the Whangarei Road, across the bridge head, into the existing station. The alternative route crossed Awakino Road, through the brick yards. The tragedy of to-day

was railway stations out of towns—people would not tolerate it. The The station must be as near as possible to the business centre. The proposed Parore Street station would be in a very wet basin, requiring some £ 40,000 more than the Valley Road station. After careful consnderation and on the advice of his engineers he could not recommend the Parore Street site. As it was recognised that the station could not remain where it was, the Valley Road site, very close to the post office, was advantageous for the residential area, and handy to Mangawhare. There were no engineering difficulties at all. Tt was quite right to eliminate levelcrossings, but they could not have absolute immunity from accidents. By taking a large section at Finlayson's, so that the £iew could not be built on, and the erection of an up-to-date flashing signal, they would have nearly 100 per cent, safety. At the bridgehead there would be an overhead bridge. Trains would be piloted at four miles an hour over these crossings, thus reducing the risk. In preference to a gamble at Parore Street, at an increased cost of £40,000, he had come to the conclusion that he could not commit the country to an expenditure of £40,000 to eliminate a very negligible residue of risk.