THE RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 115, 16 May 1901, Page 5

THE RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS.

THE ROYAL TRAINS AND THE ROTORUA GATHERING.

The district traffic manager o| railways, Mr. Buxton, was seen by a "Star" reporter to-day in connection with the railway arrangements on the occasion of the Royal receptions in Auckland and Rotorua. Mr. Buxton states that definite arrangements have not yet been made owing to the uncertainty of the dates of the principal functions. Every effort will be made to cope with the large traffic on the day of the Duke's.arrival, and for the review, display of fireworks, etc., but the Department cannot undertake to carry on one day the great .crowd of people who will undoubtedly want to come to town, and therefore a great many will need to travel to the "city the night before. In regard to the Rotorua trip and the native welcome there, the railway authorities are making very careful and complete arrangements. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and party will be accommodated in a special train, which will be. preceded by a pilot engine. The Royal train will be followed by another train containing the suite, baggage, etc. As the Premier and other distinguished visitors will also be present arrangements will also have to be made for them. A special train containing a large force of police and detectives will be despatched for Rotorua the night before the Royal party leaves here, and will return after the visitors leave Rotorua.

As the railway authorities canttot undertake to perform the special'trip to Rotorua in less than 6* hours—the quickest time that the journey from Auckland can be done in—it becomes apparent that the Maori welcome, wardances, etc., cannot take place on the day of the Duke's arrival there. Supposing that the party leaves here as arranged, at 9.15 a.m. on the 13th of June, Rotorua will not be reached till nearly four o'clock, which would not. give "nearly enough time to see the Maori ceremonies before, dark. It is now proposed that the Maori welcome on the Rotorua racecourse shall take place on the morning of Saturday, the 15th of June, and that the Royal party shall leave there for Auckland shortly after noon the same day. This would be a much more satisfactory arrangement, and would enable mo|| time to be given to the Maori display. A suggestion has been put forth that

the Railway Department should provide sleeping- accommodation for visitors to Rotorua in the trains, owing to i the lack of accommodation in the hotels. This, Mr Buxton says, is out of the question; it is evident tha.t only j a comparatively small number could be I given sleeping accommodation, in the j trains, and for various reasons it x_annot be done.

With regard to excursions to Rotorua, the Railway Department will not be able to run any trips for the public to Rotorua on the day of the Duke's departure from here. Those persons who wish to visit Rotorua will have to go up the day before or the day after the Duke leaves Auckland b,y train. In any ease it appears that those who have not engaged rooms at Rotorua may as well stay away. Those making the excursion for tbe one day.only will have to go up in the train at night, do without sleep, run the risk of getting nothing to eat all the next day, and lose another night's sleep coming down again. The "feeding" resources of Rotorua will be greatly taxed for two or three days, and it is very probable that only those who have rooms at the hotels and boardinghouses can depend on getting meals. Added to this is the fact that the affair will take place in mid-winter, when "camping out" at Rotorua will be the reverse of agreeable. It is certain that no excursion trains will be run on the day the Duke is travelling, as all the available rolling-stock will be required for the special trains.

Definite arrangements as to timetables, etc., have not yet been received from the Government, but no doubt, will he made known in the course of a few clays.