THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 254, 25 October 1919, Page 12

THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS.

ASKI.V.; BETTER RAILWAY FACILITIES. Improvements are hinted on the south suburban railway line as well as the north. Tbe southern districts were represented yesterday afternoon by members of the local bodies at Papakura, Takanini, Manurewa, and Papatoetoe, i and these gentlemen called upon railway officers and asked for a reinstatement of the pre-war service, also the speeding up of the eight o'clock morning train and tl»' addition of one in the afternoon. The speakers were led by Mr. Watson, chairman of the Papatoetoe Town Board, and Mr. C. H. Lnpton, of the Manurewa ■Hoard, the latter gentleman asking an extension to the pre-war service to Papakura. •.Sunday trains were wanted also. A proposed new service to Papakura was submitted by "Mr. Duncan, district traffic manager, allowing two extra morning trains aiiiln one more in the afternoon, but none in the evening between -5.17 and 9.4"*. Mr. E. S. Pegler (Manurewa) advocated a train to Papa- , kura about 7 p.m., while a 4.30 p.m. train outward was also suggested. An attentive and sympathetic hearing . was <»iven the requests and views of the deputation, Mr. Duncan promising the | question* brought up would be consid- j ered by the Department. i

(Published by Arrangement.) R.M.S. NIAGARA. • • (PASSENGER LIST ALWAYS FULL. The Cnion .Steam Ship Company's iim passenger liner Niagara continues t< carry record crowds of passengers to anc • from New Zealand, bent either on p'.ea sure of business. •Hundreds of people who contemplate business or holiday trips arc hastenini to secure berths long in advance by tii i magnificent vessel, and those wiio fail ti make early application frequently themselves unable to get ac ■omnio la I tion. This, however, j;. only one of tne troubles connected with going away, and one of the matters whicli demand seriou.consideration is that of disposing o! household furniture ami effects. Some people, when going away, arrange for their furniture to be stored during their absence, but*storage and handlin. are expensive, the risk of breakage and damage by fire and rodents are considerable, and as second-hand furniture is now bringing very high prices, wise people prefer to soil outright before they de- ': part. j Mr. George Waiker, the well-known city auctioneer, states " that he lias handled quite a large volume of business .in this connection since the war ended, and the prices realised for household effects have been so high that inquiries from people about to leave Auckland are increasing daily. Mr. Walker makes a specialty of conducting ot'tdoor sales, and has this j week sold by auction the complete I furnishings of a large establishment, conI taining over iiO rooms. A special staff [is kept for employment at these sales, , antl their service is so thorough that the j owner need not enter the premises from • the time the goods are lotted up until i they are all delivered to the purchasers. ! Outdoor sales usually require about a | week's notice, so that, they can be _peci- • ally advertised, but it sometimes happen* that a. man gets very short not.cc of his transfer to another town, and the time is not sufficient for him to get h'.s sale adittrtised, the goods sold, and the net proceeds handed over before his departure. In a case like this Jhe best course is to ring up and get Mr. Walker to come and make a cash offer for everything as :t stands. Selling as he does, thousands of pounds worth "of furniture weekly, he knows at a glance exactly what each article in your house will realise at auc-" tion. He make an inventory of the furniture, estimates the cost of cartage and soiling, and then makes a spot cash offer for the complete furnishings of the house. A typical case which occurred a fortnight ago illustrates Mr. Walker's system. A lady, who had lost her husband, decided to return to her parents. She sent for Mr. Walker, who estimated that the furniture would realise between £i_o and £250 in his salerooms. He paid the lady £cJ2B cash on the spot; she handed him the key os the house, and was able to leave Auckland within 24 hours. Had she sent the goods for sale by auction, she would have received the £_50, less £25 commission, but would) have had to pay for the cartage, tako the risk of breakages, and wait for a complete settlement until all the goods; were sold. Mr. Walker is prepared at any time to value your furniture and make \ou a cash offer, which, if not accepted, places you under no liability whatever, but experience has proved that Walker's price is always a good one, and is usually accepted without delay.