GOODS SHED AT PUKETE RAILWAY STATION.

Tuk following hater bus been received by Mr P, VV. Ling, member for Waikato, from Mr J. G. Ward, Minister for Railways, viz, ‘ With reference to the petition signed by Mr R.J. Miller and others, in respect to the erection of a goods shed at I’ukete. I have the honour to inform you that careful inquiries luve been made into the matter, and a return has been obtained showing the traffic to and from this station for six months, ending 17'h November last, the result being as follows : —Outwards traffic, (i trucks chaff, 11 tons grain, 4 h tons merchandise, inwards traffic, IS cattle, 20 tons timber, 25 tons grain, 6 tons mera total revenue of £49. The District Traffic Manager at Auckland reports that the conditions of i’ukete have not in any way changed since November last, and that the traffic at the station does not warrant the Department going to the expense of erecting a goods shed, and I regret that under these circutnstances I cannot see my way to accede to yout request. 9 This reply certainly seems to beg the question. The petitioners applied to have a goods shed erected so that they could utilise the station for general purposes instead of having to go to Ngaruuwahia or Hamilton, where accommodation is provided to despatch or receive their good?. It hardly seems fair to use the small amount of traffic at the station as an argument against granting accommodation, which, if provided, would undoubtedly lead to a large increase in the revenue for the station. We expect that the settlers will not miss the opportunity of again bringing the matter forward on Mr Ward’s visit to the district after the close of the session.’