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Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 1009, 10 December 1878, Page 2

Cfxsiderable anxiety and annoj" ance has been felt by the settlors resident m the Pukete district at attempts which h <ye been recontly madt! to remove the railway station from where it is at present placed, to a site known as Washer's Crossing. We have made some little enquiry info the matter and find that the proposed change, made apparently m the interest of one jet-' tier, who has energetically busied himself m the matter, is opposed to the general wishes of the others. The applications for the removal was repeatedly made, and was referred to the District Engineer, the luspeator of Permanent Way, nnd the General Manager, Mr A. V. MacdotVd, for their reports. These gentlemen visited the locality at different times, and that their report was unfavorable would appear from the fact, that each application made was refused. It would seem, however, that what could not be effected through the regular official departmental channel was assailable from another point, and about the last week of the session the settler who had agitated the" removal, and who bad enlisted the sympathy of the sitting member, received a telegram from "Wellington, to the effect that the Government would remote the station, if three acres of land were provided at the new site. A petition, asking for the removal of the station, was then taken round the district for signature, praying for the removal of tho station, but settlers refused to sign, as did also the Highway Board. On the other hand, the following petition to the 'Waipa County Council wts signed by twelve resident settlors, a small number m itself, but comparatively a large one for Pukete.

Pukete, November 28, 1878. Gxktlbmbv, —We the undersigned reaidents m the district of Pakete Station have heard with surprise that the Government purpose removing the station from its present site to a distance of over a mile nearer to NgaraawahU withoat the knowledge, and against the with of the residents and 'property holders m the immedi its locality. We have been informed that a proposition for the objeot was brought before the Highway Botrd for this dictriob some time back, bat tbafc body refussd to entertain it, they being of opiuion such removal would be an injustice, but they were willing to support an application for a Biding being put m at the yoint known as Washer's Crossing. The settlers were also informed that this was the view suggested and supported by A. V. McDonald, Esq , the General Manager of the Railway. We, therefore,Jlesire respeotfully that your Council take steps to prevent this injustice being done to the district, as we believe the Government have been wrongly informed as to the wishes and requirements of the settlers and property holders m the locality, as shown by the fact that they, one and all, refused to sigh a petition which had been prepared for the purpose of asking for such removal.

We are of opinion that it would be to the interest, both of the railway and the settlers, that the Government should place a siding at Mr Washer's crossing. Trusting your Uounoil will tate immediate action to stay the removal suggested, and to carry out the wishes of the whole of the settlers interested. — We remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servants, ..'-.■•

(Signed by twelve petfclers and property holders.) The Chairman and Councillors for the County of Waipa.

The argument adduced m favor of the removal was that settlers from the Waipa si i!e of the country would come to the station if removed to WasHer's Crossing, and hence the new station is to be called the Waipa Station. On the other hand it is urged that the present station is paying as well as most signal stations are expected to do, one settler alone paying 1 from to £30 annually for freight, and scarcely a day passes but one or two trains up and down have occasion to stop at the present station.

It seeing to us that the matter might be got over m such a manner as to meet the reasonable views of either party, and that is, by leaving the station where it is, and makiug a siding at Washer's Crossing. The settlera are willing to guarantee to the Government the payment of £50, the cost of the siding. This, we maintain, would, be far better than removing the station, to the inconvenience of certain persons to benefit certain others, even if the latter, which they are not, were even m majority. In the way we propose, all parties would be satisfied, or ought to be, and the Government would be put to no cost m carrying out the compromise.