The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, JULY 31, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2505, 31 July 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, JULY 31, 1888.

K<jtial and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

We publish to-day, an abstract of the new railway time-table that will come into force on the Gth proximo, (on Monday coming). Mr Hudson, the District Traflic Manager, has been iti Wellington, in consultation

with the heads of Department there on the alterations in the train services in various parts of the colony, which have been in contemplation for some weeks past. This line of action has been taken in the interest of retrenchment, and we, ourselves, not long since strongly advocated on public grounds that greater economy should be exercised in the traffic branch of the. Department. It was apparent to all impartial o'#servers that, from the emptiness of the trains plying to and from I Waikato, a considerable reduction in the time-table was feasible, and whilst it would meet all the requirements that appeared necessary for the public convenience, wouid, at the same time, effect a considerable saving in the expenditure. If retrenchment was to be real, it had to be applied in every possible direction, and the people were quite prepared to dispense with many luxuries with which they had been regaled of late years at an extravagant cost. In and out of Parliament, in many parts of the colony, the opinion has been expressed that as regards our railways peoplo would have to make up their minds to be content with fewer trains, or sutler taxation to provide the loss incurred in running them. Taking this view of the position, and recognising the financial exigencies of the country at large, we cannot consistently refuse to accept the alterations the Government have decided te> make in tho railway system of communication between Auckland and Waikato, and between the loeal centres on the siderwal lines. On making an examination of the new time-table it will be found

that in future one train per day will arrive at Hamilton from Auckland, the second train being abolished, ft will be remembered that we suggested a tri-weekly train to Hamilton, with a bi-daily train to Huntly. We understand, however, that the District Manager could not adopt that course and at the same time work with efficiency and satisfaction the services on the other lines which form a junction at Frankton. The second daily train, however, which will now be taken from Hamilton, will bo run as far as Huntly only. Cambridge is to receive a tri-weekly service, trains leaving that place for Auckland on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, aiul arriving their from Auckland on the following days—Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Te Awainutu will receive four trains per week each way, an advantage over Cambridge it obtains fortuitiously, as being intermediate between Auckland and Te Kuiti, with which latter place there will be a service bi-weekly. Morrinsville will also receive a daily train, rendered necessary by the requirements of the two branch lines which junction there, and on which trains will run alternately every day of the week. The suggestion we previously made as to mail accommodation has received favourable consideration. It is intended to supply a special service, by trolly or jigger, for the conveyance of mails to those places which will be subject to the reduced regular weekly train supply. Thus all places alike, from Huntly south wards, will possess a daily mail service to and from Auckland. While accepting these changes in the spirit of retrenchment, as we have already said, we cannot abstain from again condemning the folly of the railway policy which has been so long pursued in this colony with such fatal results. It is a fatal policy, because it is not founded on the true principles of settlement. The original scheme was designed to promote the rapid development of the waste lands of the colony and assist their occupation by a continual flow of an agricultural class of people. This intention has never been carried out. Government after Government have come into office and have bent their energies to making the railways pay and yield revenue to fill the public chest. Settlement of the country by the help of the public railways, on which such vast sums of money have been spent, has never occupied the prominent place in the executive administration which the national aspiratious and welfare demanded. Had that attention been unremittingly bestowed towards the purposes for which the railways were wisely introduced into the colony, we would not now be lamenting over embarrassed finances, or a country denuded of its population. In place of a struggling and improverished set of country settlers, we would have had a contented husbandry; and instead of reduced train services, the reverse would have been witnessed, a demand for increased accommodation and facilities.