OUR DREADNOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 309, 22 May 1913, Page 5

OUR DREADNOUGHT

I HOSPITABLE 'CIIRISTCHURCH. ' By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The Dunedin children who came up to visit the New Zealand returned by special train to-day. In the afternoon "at homes" were given on the ship by the officers and men, each function being largely attended. To-morrow evening a ball will be given on board, and on Friday morning early the ship will leave for Akaroa for coaling and gun practice. Over 130,000 people have visited her while she lias been at Lytteltoi. NEW PLYMOUTH ARRANGEMENTS. TALK WITH THE DISTRICT TRAFFIC ! MANAGER. The members of the sub-committee appointed at Tuesday's meeting of the Dreadnought Entertainment Committee waited upon Mr. J. E. Armstrong,. District Railway Traflic Manager, yesterday afternoon at New Plymouth regarding the railway arrangements. The subcommittee consists of Mr. G. W. Browne (Mayor), Mr. F. S. Johns (president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce) and Mr. T. C. List (chairman of the Expansion and Tourist League), all of whom were present. Mr. Day, the local stationmaster, was also present. The whole question was gone into thoroughly, all the details being carefully threshed out, and the outline of a scheme decided upon that was'regarded as practicable and satisfactory by both parties. At the outset, Mr. Armstrong gave the committee clearly to understand that there was no ground for the feeling expressed at the fleeting of the committee on the previous evening that the Department, in suggesting that the public from Normanby southwards desirous of visiting the warship would require to go to Wanganui had been influenced'by Wanganui people. He had consulted no one outside the Department on the matter. I It was a case of Departmental necessity. When it was announced that the warship was to stop in New Plymouth only the one day, he had immediately got into touch with the authorities to extend the visit by another day, simply because he felt the Department could not deal with the traffic of the province on the one day. As they knew, the authorities could not grant the request, and there was nothing left for him to do but to divert some of the traffic southwards. It had been suggested that there would be somewhere like 30,000 people in New Plymouth on the occasion—(a member of the committee: 20,000) —but though he felt that was an exaggerated estimate, to deal with only 10,000 was as much as the Department could possibly manage on the one day. Conveying the traffic into the town was not everything; it was getting the people backin reasonable time that presented the difficulty. Wanganui was an easier to work, from a railway standpoint, than New Plymouth. They could work both sides of the former place, besides having the advantage of junctions at Marton and Palmerston North. New Plymouth was a terminal; it had a "dead end," and they could therefore but work the one way. He was satisfied it would be impossible to deal with the traffic south of Te Roti, so far as New Plymouth was concerned. For one thing, they had not the rolling stock. As it was, the Department would require to obtain extra rolling stock from Auckland and Wellington. Then ffiev would be unable to deal with the traffic of the whole province at the Breakwater, though, of course, that was not his business. The ordinary time-table would have to be suspended, and only the mail train, and probably another train either way. would be run that day. As for dealing with the cargo at the wharf, that would be out of the question. The Department would run in all about six trains, the first arriving at about 0 o'clock, and the rest arriving at intervals of half an hour. The trains would disembark near the Freezing Works. The return trains would start at three o'clock, and he hoped the last would get away by six o'clock. Mr. Armstrong explained that it would be impossible to deal with adult traffic at New Plymouth until the last train from the country was in, which would be after noon. The school children, however, could be got away from New Plymonth before the arrival of the excursion trains. The Fitzrov children would be required to entrain at New Plymouth. Mr. Armstrong enquired as to the niture of the plans for billeting the school children off the railway. It was oxplained that the committee were obtaining particulars of the numbers like.lv to come in, and he would be subsequently advised.

Tn reply to a question, Mr. Armstrong said there would be no objection to contingents of children coming in the (lav lipforp. but lie though tliis would not materially relieve the pressure on the day of the visit so far as the railway was concerned. Adults could come in on the Monday, too, but hp was afraid the town would not be able to accommodate a:p" appreciable number. It was explained (hat efforts were being made tn provide accommodation for a considerable influxof "stnv-ovcr" visitors. The question of controlling th" children when. they arrived was gone into ft length. It was thought that it would he n mistake for thiVxltildjien to leave the*beach, unless, of ctMse, rMiIW was unnropitiAfis. and attend the sports at iW Park, for it misrht be found impossible to - assemble them in time to catch their respective trains. The suggestion was made tliat sports should lie held on the iieneh for the children. Tt was mentioned the East and West End beach committees we re sure to arrange a programme for the delectation of tile children.

Afioi' further discussion, l!r. Armstrong said that before finally doeidins' upon (lie arrangement* lie would noain consult the committee. The Mayor thanlcd him for lus consideration, and the interview ended.