RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9683, 6 January 1910, Page 5

RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES.

INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS.

IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS PASSED.

A conference of delegates from the t Chambers of Commerce in the Wairarapa arid Forty-Mile Bush district was held in Masterton, yesterday af* ternoon, to further discuss the new railway time-table. Mr J. B. Mcodie (President of the Masterton Chamber; presided, and there were present:—Messrs J. H. Richardson (Pahiatua), E. Page and J. Prendeville (Eketahuna), M. Caselberg, C. E. Daniell, C. Graham, V. £j. Donald, A. Henderson, P. W. Carey, G. C. Summerell, J. D. Cruickshank and J. Caseiberg. The chairman explained the object of tbe meeting. A deputation had waited on tbe Minister for Railways before the time-table bad come into force, but nothing had been denr. The trains had been running, and it was recognised that the service was inadequate. The Wairarapa was sacrificed for Palmerston and the Main Trunk, and this section was now practically only a branch line. The Wairarapa was a most important district, and needed an efficient service. The Napier people had also'suffered and from representations made to the Minister it was understood that the matter would receive consideration. A letter had been received from Mr Cranby, of Napier, wnich reed as follows:—''Having oeen appointed by the Napier Chamber of Commerce to diafc a time table to si;it the convenience of the Hawke's tsy publ.'c, with a view to submitti; g the same to the Minister for Railways, I am anxious to ascertain the requirements of your district, also, as I know a great deal of dissatisfaction exists with tbe prese. t arrangements. If we could together in the matter, ic woulJ greatly strengthen both our hands when making requests." secretary stated that he had written to Mr Cranby asking what steps they were taking in the matter. A further letter was received from Mr containing a suggested time-table, which was open to further amendments in the event of it not suiting the Wairarapa and Bush district He further stated that the enclosed time table only referred to mail services. South, via Manawatu, Napier depart 9.20 a.m.,'Woodville arrive 1.30 p-m., changa for Wairarapa; depart for Palmeriton at . 2.5 p.m. Palmerston arrive 3.5 p.m., connects Auckland expiess, depart 3.15, Wellington arrive 6.55; North, via Manawatu, Wellington depart 8.10 a.m., Palmerston arrive 11.58 a.m., depart 12.40 p.m M connect AucMand express, Woodville arrive 1.45 p.m. (change for Wairarapa), depart 2.10 p.m., Napier arrive 6.30 p.m. The chairman said they would have to consider and draw up a timetable that would sui: the requirements of the district. Mr Prendeville said he thought that before anything else was done they should endeavour to get the Woodville-Wellington passenger train altered to a mail train. The chairman said that they all recognised the importance of having, an efficient mail service. Mr Pendeville then moved that the passenger train from Wellington in the morning and the 1.20 p.m. train from Woodville to Wellington, should be express trains arriving at each end ten or fifteen minutes earlier than at present. Mr Henderson said he thought it would be more satisfactory if a conference was arranged with the Napier Chamber and an officer of the Department of Railways be asked to attend. Mr Daniell thought that they should deal with the south trains* first. He emphasises the importance of making the Wairarapa trains a proper through service to Wellington through the Hutt district,, so as to connect with the boats. He strongly urged the conference to adhere to the Napier Chamber. In the past they had stuck too closely to Palmerston North suggestions. He had much pleasure in seconding Mr Prende. ville's motion as applied to the Woodville—Wellington train. ' After some discussion Mr Prendeville. altered his motion to read that the train now leaving at 1.20 p.m. connecting with tne Napier express arrive in Wellington in time to connect with the ferry service and, that it be a mail train. This was carried. < Mr Richardson said that the altered service was a grsat inconvenience to Pahiatua, which was a most important centre. Under the present arrangements Pahiatua residents had to take two days over a trip to Palmerston North. If they had the old 6.30 a.m. train from Masterton back again he thought Pahiatua residents would be satisfied. Mr Prendeville further moved that the 7.50 train from Wellington be. also a mail train, and arrive at Woodville in time to connect with the 1.50 p.m. train from Palmerston North. Mr Daniell suggested that the resolution be altered to "that the morning passenger train Wellington be so run through Wairarapa

&3 to make connection with the North j mail to Auckland, leaving Palmer- j ston at 3.45 p.m. and that the train ! be made a mail train." j This was carried. j Mr Daniell brought up tha matter •■ of the Cross Creek train. Did the j running of that train justify the ex- \ penditure? M J. D. Cruickshank said that when the Cross Creek service was mooted they did not think that it would leave Masterton at the late hour it was now running. At present it was of no use to anybody. He moved that the 630 a.m. train leave Masterton for the North as before, and that a train return to Featherston or Cross Creek in the evening. Mr Carey considered that the old early morning train from Wellington should be re-established. , Mr Daniel moved—"lhat in the opinion of this meeting the new train. 5.30 a.m. Cross Creek to Woodville, is not as useful as expected, and that it is desirable to reinstate the 6 30 am. Masterton to Woodville." Mr Richardson seconded tne motion, which was carried. Mr Page said that Eketalmna was 89 miles from Wellington, and it seemed prsposterous- that it should take three days to pay a riait to Wellington under the present timetable, it was very desirable that the 8 o'clock evening train from Wellington should be continued to Eketahuna or to Woodville, and that an early morning train from the North to Masterton should be run. He moved that the present train leaving Wellington at 3.36 p.m., reaching Masterton at 8 p.m., be continued to Woodville, and return next morning, reaching Wellington not later than noon.

Mr PrendeviJle seconded the motion. Mr Carey said that he did not altogether agree with Mr Page's resolution. Half-past seven in the morning was altogether too early an hour for the train to arrive in Masterton. If it arrived in Masterton at 9.30 a.m., as it used to, it would be much more convenient for settlers. He moved as an amendment —"That the old early morning train from Woodville leaving there at 6.10 a.m. and arriving in Ma-:terton at 9.30 be reinstated." Mr Daniell seconded this. Mr Page said that the Masterton Chamber of Commerce convened a conference about several weeks ago, ! and carried the same resolution he was moving. "It seemed a little inconsistent to oppose it now. The speaker's proposition was a feasible and practicable, and he would like to see it given a trial. A good deal of discussion took place, and on the motion being put to the meeting was lost by one vote. The amendment of Mr Carey was then idu£ and declared caried. Mr Carey further moved—"That the old early morning train leaving Wellington at 4.45 a.m. and arriving in Masterton at 9.45 and leaving thence for the Bush at 10 a.m. be reinstated; this to replace the train leaving Cross Creek at 5.25 a.m. .We cannot lay too much stress on the importance of the connection asked for as from a mail point of view." Mr Page said he would support the motion but at the same time he did not think the Minister would grant it as it meant an extra trpin. Mr C. E. Daniell seconded the motion, which was carried. . Mr Page moved—"That th" resolutions passed at this meeting to-day be circulated to all of the Chambers and local bodies between Woodville and Cross- Creek, and that a further meeting be called for by this Chamber to consider and finally decide on them, the date to be on January 'l9th at 2 p.m. Mr Prendeville seconded the motion, which was lost. Mr Richardson laid stress on the great inconvenience that was being experienced in Pahiatua owing to the dislocation of the qoods traffic.

It was stated that if the old early morning train from Wellington was re-establisherl that this would greatly facilitate the goods traffic to Pahiatua. Mr Kichardson then moved the following motion—"That while appreciating the efforts of the Department to economise by putting goods through Palmeraton, attention be called to the delay consequent on the

congestion of traffic at Palmerston, goods from Wellington to Pahiatua often being delayed- five and six days." This was carried. Mr Cruickshank moved—'That the Minister's attention be called to the desirability of starting the Wairarapa trains from Wellington from under the verandah, and not from the nortnern platform as gt present, owing to the great inconvenience caused to passengers in wet weather." Mr M. Caselberg seconded the mowhich was carried. Mr Daniell moved—"That a com'mittee consisting of the president and Messrs Summerell, the mover and the secretary, be appointed to meet and put the resolutions in order before being sent away." Mr Page was added to the committee, and the motion was carried. Mr Cruickshank moved—"That a deputation in conjunction with the Napier Chamber of Commerce consisting of the Chambers of Commerce or local bodies between Woodville and Featherston go to Wellington to present the resolutions passed at the conference to-day." Mr Henderson seconded this, which was carried.