The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1902. SUBURBAN RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 48, 12 February 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1902. SUBURBAN RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

On several occasions wo have called attention to the need of an alteration in the railway timetable to meet the ' growing needs of the rapidly increasing population within ten or twelve miles of New Plymouth. Experience teaches that nothing so quickly induces population to nettle in the vicinity of a large town like regular and frequent communication, This is so well recognised that in America a railway line is put down as a necessary accompaniment of the sale of suburban lots. In this colony we have numerous instances of the rapid growth of suburbs where facilities for rapid communication with the centre of population exist. The Auckland H&rald dealing with this question says: —" The city of Auckis blessed with the most beautiful suburbs that heart could desire, and the growth of some of these daring the last few years has been phenomenal. And here it would not be amiss to notice that the growth of any suburb has apparently depended entirely on the means of communication with the city, and not necessarily on the natural advantages and beauty of the district in question. We may point out how the population of Devonport has grown under tbe cheap, safe and regular traffic of the Ferry Company. It really would seem, on looking round, that th 6 only plaees that have not gone ahead as fast as the others are those suburbs whieh depend on the railway service, and one is forced to the conclusion that either in the matter of fares or timetable there must be something radically wrong with the system under which our suburban railways have been conducted." These remarks apply with equal force to Hew Plymouth. How c»a a town expect to prosper aa it ought, ' when no facilities are offered for people to get to business before 11 o'clock in tbe morning, and the latest train leave* at 4.30 at night? No suburban papulation can exist under such conditions. The growth of Bitzroy it a proof of the rapid increase in. the populition of a suburb caused by a regular and frequent 'bus service. The improvements that should be pressed for now are for the Waitara-Sentry Hill train to be run rights into town after meeting the outward nail train, returning in time to meek the morning train from Hawera, and a regular and frequent j train service to the breakwater with J a proper passenger station where the cattle wharf stands. In Wanganui, quite a town has been built up at the Heads by the Castlecliff Railway Company. This company has h«d to build and equip its three miles of line and has to maintain and run it on a purely passenger service. Yat Castlecliff has not half the attractions to be found at Moturoa. We feel sure if a regular train service were established on the breakwater line, with suitable stoppages, that an enormous increase in population would take place during tbe next few years. New Plymouth is attracting a v»ry large pepuiatioo, but tbe difficulty of getting suitable residential sites is very great. Between New Plymouth and Waitara on the one hand, and N»w Plymouth and the Breakwater on the other, there are any number of most beautiful residential sites which only require a regular and frequent train service to cause them to be occupied. It is not to be expected that people will go there on spec. Te again quote our Auckland contemporary. " The experience on all sides has shown that if there is a good service, population will soon find its way there, and on tbe other hand, that if the Railway Department expect the people to go to these suburbg that have only an apology for a railway time-table, calmly to live there until the time-table is so altered that they can go backwards and forwards at reasonable times and at reasonable rates, then we can only say that they do not grasp the situation." Tbe Honorable the Minister for Railways is to be in this district shortly, and we hope some steps will be taken to get | our suburban train service improved with the view of developing the beautiful suburbs of which New Plymouth is the centre, '

In another column will be found an announcement by the Ca»tla , Tea Company which should comcend itself to all householders as exceptional inducements arel offered to purchasers of the Company's! well-known epeoiality. j

The latest additions to the telephone \i& are:—24l Haroy and Company, cokl B|rtf chants, Liardet-street, and 242 J. C. Batterdon, private residence, Devcn-street.

The widening of the county road at Fitzroy ia now well in hand, and from what has alre-dy been done the gre»t banefit secured by this suburbau improyement is strikingly evident. The work is lielng carried out bj the Waitara Ridihg foreman, Mr. Holme*, and could not have been placed hi better bands.

Mr Bert Rusden, an old New Plymouth boy v/ho went to South Africa with the Fourth Contingent, and returned to New Zealand last year, was among the Wanganui section of the Ninth who went north last night: Rusden has now obtained his corporal's stripes: The Borough Council forwarded to the local railway aathorities a rtqtust that a man should be stationed at the Gover-atreot crossing on race days to warn passengers of the approach of trains. The danger of this j particular crossing; was emphasised, and it was further asked that engine drivers on those days should be Instraoted to blow extra Jlong whistles at all the orotsings in the borough. The local statieamaster wrote in reply that the request would be acceded to, if the District Engineer had no objection. There is a glut of plums in the Auoklsnd market, the price a week or so ago being £3 a ton. In Cambridge they are selling at Is 1 per case.

AmoDgst the estates of deceased persons finally certified to are those of Thomas Hemptoa (£3BST) and James Bellringer (£8913).

Mr. Harrison, lata licensee of the Imperial Hotel, leaves Mew Plymouth to-day for Levitt, to take over an hotel there. We are pleased to learn that that Mr (Joker's who met with mon a serious mishap while experimenting with gunpowder, is well on the way to recovery, his eyesight is fortunately unimpaired. Ttio rateable value of the borough of Klbhara i, mated by the Valuer-General to be £ 106 089 after deducting exempt properties amounting to £3599. The Eltham Borough Council has deoided unanimously in favour of a lean up to £20,000 for water supply. It is estimated that the supply can be obtained at a distance of three miles, at a cost of £I2OO per mile. -At the Napier Rupreme Court, William 9 Wood, for indecently assaulting his stepdaughter, was sentenced to five years. At the Supreme Court, Wellintou, Robert Collier stood his trial for a second time on a charge of wilfully injuring a cow by throwing a otasuiical upon it. The jury returned a verdict of "not guilty," and accused was discharged. AFTBR THE BOTAL VIBII. Apisr exciting times the health of children requires very spesial looking after. That the child is father to the man,' physically as well as mentally, is one of these truths that can never be too often insisted upon, and the thoughtful parent will be careful above all to see that her child has the proper nourishment to establish its constitution. A good constituiion is a rock on whioh alone success and strength can be built. Among the various foods that science commends in these days for this purpose, none holds a higher place than Nbavjb Food fob Inipahib and Invalids. Iccording to tne best medical testimony, and, what is perhaps better still, the grateful testimony of thousands of happy mothers, this food con- j tains all the essential elements of strength, and while it is pleasant to the taste and eagerly taken by children, it may also be used by persons of all ages with deoidfid benefit. It is a bone-building, health-sos j taining prodnct that cannot be too warmly recommended, and we gladly add ear words .of praise to that of the numerous medical journals and experts that have recommended t. Nbavh's Food should have a prominent place in the dietary of every house where there are children or invalids.—Advt.

Ai the shop for Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, High Clsis W&tchoß at moderate prices, Wedding presents, and in fact a thorough up-to-date stock of Jewellry, Bleo troptated and Silver Goodd, we recommend J. H. Parker's, nextßailway crossing, Devonstreet, New Plymouth. N.B.—Please note a few of the leading lines and prices in advertisement in page !.—Ad»*