RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS AND THE EXPORT OF CATTLE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1929, 15 November 1884, Page 2

RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS AND THE EXPORT OF CATTLE.

About thirty settlers, representing the agricultuial and pastoral interests of Waikato and Waipa met Air Hudson, Traffic Manager, and MM 1 * Cooin, Resident Engineer, Auckland railways on the Ohiiupo plat form on the arrival of the Auckland train on Wednesday last. The deputation proceeded to point out certain deficiencies in the construction of the cattle trucks in use on the line, and which caused great inconvenience and considerable delay in shipping cattle. The first fault pointed out was the difficulty in closing the doors of trucks "through dirt being allowed to accumulate and harden on the slides. Mr Hudson said that instructions had been issued that these trucks should be cleaned before leaving Green Lane. He was not aware th it trucks weie allowed to be used before being cleaned out. The matter should be attended to. Attention wai ne\t drawn to some trucks that had recently been altered, and which could not be utilised, the door of the truck being altogether unsmted to the entrance of the cattle race. The question as to whether the doors of cattle trucks were best in the end or in the centre was at this stage also brought forward and evoked considerable discussion. A unanimous opinion was expressed that the idea of having the doors in the end was by far the best, and most expeditious.— Mr Cooni said there were in all 73 cattle trucks in use on the line. Of this number six had been altered, a«i suggested, and as these had been approved of, he had received instructions to alter fifty more in the same way. That would make 56 out of the 75, and doubtless the others would be altered in a like manner. Some gentlemen from Te Awamutu said representations had been made to Mr Mitchelson during his visit to that district about the unsuitableness of the oattle yards iithere. They had given Mr Mitchelson a [plan of what was necessary, and they had received an encouraging promise, but nothing had as yet been done. Some gentlemen from the Cambridge side of the district complained of the construction of the yardn there. — It was understood that Mr Hudson and Mr Coom should visit these places, when the matter could be represented to them on the ground. Mr Jno. Fisher, in a few complimentary remarks, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hudson and Mr Coom for the consideration which they had shown for the settlers in these matters, and the readiness with which they had met them that day, thus showing that they were very desirous to meet the settlers in every possible way, and provide for , heir convenience. The vote was carried with acclamation. PROPOSEp CATTLE TRAIN. Mr J. S. Buckland (auctioneer) at this stage of the proceedings handed Mr Hudson the following petition :— Petition to Charlks Hudson, Esq., Traffic Manager, Auckland Railways. Sir, — We, the undersigned, petitioners and settlers of the counties of Waipa and Waikato, beg to invite yomr attention to 'the great inconvenience, unnecessary delay, and expense we are subjected to through having to leave by the Wednesday's tram to attend the cattle' sale held at Remuera on Thursday, thereby losing a whole das, which might be avoided by running a cattle train from Waikato every Thursday morning to reach Remuera about one o'clock p.m., and returning to Waikato the following Friday night, • which train to call at cattle atations , only. This arrangement would enable your petitioners to attend tha two principal markets, viz ; The fat stock wh held, at Remuer* o*| Tfcuptev, and

the horie and produce sales, &c, held in the city on Friday. We sincerely trust you will give this petition and the buggestions we most respectfully offer your kind consideration, and endeavour, if possible, to further the object we have in view, and your petitioners will ever pray. (Here follow 36 name*, representing the farming interest of Wnipa and Waikato.) Mr Hudson said he had receivod a similar request from the auctioneers at the other end. The proposed convenience meant an additional expenditure of £2000 a-year to the Department, and he therefore did not think that there was any chance of the request being acceded to at present. He had communicated with the General Manager, Mr Maxwell, on the matter, and he would forward on their petition, with his own views on the subject, and let them know as eaily as possible the re&ult of their representations. He quite agreed that the advcintages of a special cattle train as suggested would be very great to the settlers ; but as it would upset their (the Department's) present arrangements between Mercer and Auckland, where the traffic had been arranged as economically as possible, and as the additional cost was considerable he could not hold out any great hope of success. THK NEW TIME-TABLE. Mr Hudson stated to the deputation that the new time-table, which had been so extensively debated when before tho public a few weeks ago, would come into force on the 24th inst. A number of extensivelysigned petitions praying for the change had been forwarded to Wellington, and as a consequence he had been instructed to bring it into force immediately. As the summer months were now on they would have an opportunity of seeing how it worked. A number of gentlemen present spoke strongly against the change. They understood the matter had been knocked on the head, and that they were to hear nothing more about it. They knew nothing of the petitions referred to by Mr Hudson, and these must have been got up in a " hole-iind-corner" way, as none of the settlers really interested had been asked to sign them. The deputation claimed to fairly represent tho entire agricultural and pastoral districts of the country which the railway was run to benefit. Mr Hudson said a largely sigued petition had been received from Cambridge praying for the new time-table. Mr Geo. Clark and Mr W. L. C. Williams said, as belonging to Cambridge, and representing certain interests theie they had never been asked to sign this petition. Mr Clark assured Mr' Hudson that fully nine tenths of the country settlers and three fourths of the townspeople were in favour of the present time-table, and would i sign a petition to that effect. Mr Hudson was also informed by the deputation that Mr A. Y. Macdonald, his predecessor had sent circulars to all the local bodies in the country asking their opinion as to what j time-table would be most suitable, and they had all unanimously agreed in favour of tho present time-table. A number of gentleman present expressed their intention of taking immediate steps to oppose the coming into effect of rhe new time-table. After thanking Mr Hudson and Mr Coom for their courtesy and attention, the deputation withdrew.