A COMPLAINT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7936, 9 January 1906, Page 5

A COMPLAINT.

(To the Editor). Sir,—Will you please publish the following letter with a vi«w to making public something of what the people of Mauriceville and Kopuarauga liad to suffer on New Year's Day through insufficient railway accommodation? Tne first ordinary down train which ran earlier than usual on that morning booked passengers for south of Mastertoa only, so that all those who wished to visit Mastertoa on that day had to wait for the excursion train advertised to leave Mauriceville at 9.35 a.m. There were about 50 people at the station, of whom some were parents with their families who had walked three miles to catch the train, and all were ben-t on attending the Caledonian sports at Masterton. When the train arrived about 10 a.m. with only four carriages on, and those crowded in every part, there was a rush lo get on board. . Some succeeded in hanging on, and in the midst of the rush the guard blew his whistle, and the train drew away from the platform, "stopping again about three chains distant, whea the people made another rush to get on. The guard shouted: "There is another train following immediately." With that ne blew his whistle, and the train left, leaving behind about thirty people, of whom some were parents whose children had been taken ou, and who had to walk the Mauriceville platfurm whilst their ohildren did likewise in Masterton until the arrival of the next train at 1 o.m. I will leave you to judge for yourselves what anxiety those parents suffered during three hours' separation from their children in those circumstances. Others got their money back and went home thoroughly disappointed and disgusted with the railway management for that day. At Kupuaranga there wore also a number of persons waiting, but the train did nut; even stop there, those people also being "done out of" their day'a enjoyment. Now, sir, that sort of thing was not only a bitter disappointment to those left behind but was also a loss financially to both the railway department and the Caledonian Society. I think it should not be allowed to pass without the administration of a severe reprimand to those in fault.—l am, etc, LEb'T BEHIND. Muuricoville, Jauuary 8.