THE NEW RAILWAY TIME TABLE. TRI-WEEKLY SERVICE FOR TE AROHA. PUBLIC MEETING TO PROTEST.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 223, 8 October 1887, Page 2

THE NEW RAILWAY TIME TABLE. TRI-WEEKLY SERVICE FOR TE AROH A. PUBLIC MEETING TO PROTEST.

On it becoming known that that a new time table had been issued, whereby To Aroha was to have only a tri-weekly train service on an after October luth, much indignation was Felt and expressed amongst local residents, and it was at once decided to hold a public meeting to protest against so great an injustice. With this object in view a requisition was got up on Monday last, and speedily signed by a number of local residents, addressed to the chairman of the Town Board, pro tern, Mr J. A. Dohson ; and in compliance therewith Mr Dobson arranged for holding the meeting in Te Aroha Public Hall th*» same evening. The attendance on the occasion was a large and representative one, the greatest interest being shown respecting the matter Mr Dobgon was unanimously voted to the chair, nnd opened the proceedings by referring to the injury the new time table, if adhered to, was likely to be tho means of doing Te Aroha, and the district generally ; after which he called upon Mr Frazer to move the first resolution of the evening, which was as follows: I. "That this meeting is of opinion that the arrangement of the new railway time table, whereby only threo trains in the week will be run to Te Aroha, will prove most prejndicul to the interests of this township and surrounding; districts, and will be productive of great inconvenience to invalids and travellers from all pnrts of the colony." In moving the resolution Mr Frazersaid: He was sur^ all present'would agree with him as to the necessity for some such resolution being passed, and that local residents should vigorously protest airairnt such an injustice being done them, as would result from tho alterations c-intuinod in th* new time table. Tho win tor months bein^ just past, and with it tho slack sojißon as regards passenger traffic to To Aroha, to make this change just at the commencement of summer was an extraordinary proceeding. The resolution was seconded by Or Alf. Wright, who said : He had only recently come to reside at Te Arohu, and mitrht therefora by some present be looked upon as a new chum.' But this matter interested him personally, and would seriously affect him in the practice of hit profession. When he came to New Zealand and first heard of Te Aroha,and its wonderful thermal springs, it (Te Aroha) appeared to him to be possessed of so many attractions, and its mineral waters so invaluable in the treatment of diseases which were rife in the Australasian Colonies, that, in preference to all other places, he determined to settle there ; seeing also thafc it possessed very great facilities for transit, such asdailjr direct train communication with Auckland ; had he known howg ever, Government purposed taking a retrogade step and instead •of increasing, would diminiih by one half the facilities existing, he should probably not have come to To Aroha to reside. Instead of curtailing the service ho was of opinion the revenue of the line would have been benefitted by the putting on of say ono fast train n w<?ok. Tho Domain Board wero just about to publish a guide book for the boneflt of invalids »nd visitors to the district, and one point in that book to VThich great prominence had been given was tho railway facilities enjoyed by Te Aroha-); and ware they now to bo quietly told the place- should no longer possess such facilities? He believed Te Aroha possessed attractions [ for invalids surpassing any other place in the Colonies, and this was not a time for Government to step in and retard the progress of the district in the manner proposed. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr J. Heathcote next said : He had just had handed to him the following resolution, which he now heJiyd to propose s'\7j , (2) u r hiat in tho interests , of the people of this district, and of other purU of the Colony, it is considered adviaeablo that a train should run to Te Aroha daily, and that a petition bo forwarded to the Minister " of Public Works (and a copy to Mr Hudson, District' Traffic Manager), requesting that this may be done/ The resolution was seconded by Rev. Jas. Marshall; who said : He did not often attend public meetings, but never-

(li.M.'i- ho fully identified iiim-cif will the informs of Te Atolm and eon.sidere« tiio action of fhi 1 Government now undei consideration was calculated to sermnsh injure the progress of the place. Th<>\ were asked to' make a retiognde move went and be in a >u>rsc position thai they were two years ngo, as it was pro posed to substitute a tii weekly Jo a daily service. He had heard u stated Government had done tintiling on purpose; being ashamed oi the iimount of money they had ln\islsod on Kotorua, ami at' the rapid piogies* Te Aioha wns making in public favour, in *pite of all their endeavoms to pu? 1 Koioi ua so much to the fore. There \\«' a w«y f()l'f ()l ' retrcnclnnent, but this w»> not reasonable letrenchnuMit whilst the income? of those holding hi^h places were permitted to remain tli.> s.unens m 1 ho more prosperous days of the Colony The very gentlemen who planned thisnew arrangement for Te At oha, were very careful to sec that their own salaries were not retrenched. It was tlin dut) of Government to forward the inteu-sis of the place not do that which woul 1 tend to retard the flow of victor*. (8) Proposed by Mr J. barrel 1 seconded by Mr W*. Hethrinyton, "Tb«t the members for Taurauga, Wniknto, Coromanilel, and Thames be communicated with requesting them to loud then assistance, in having the wishes o? the inhabitants carried into effect. Tho meeting terminated willi a vote of thauks to tho chair.