FRANKTON'S REMARKABLE GROWTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 8

FRANKTON'S REMARKABLE GROWTH.

OLD-TIME TRAVELLING.

INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS,

Chatting with Mr. H. E. Adams, stationmaster, Frankton Junction, yesterday, during the big change over (reported elsewhere) at Frankton, the "Star" representative gleaned some interesting information. Mr. Adams was the first cadet on the old Frankton station in 1890, when the junction was a very small affair and was situated near where the engine sheds now are. Old-time travellers will remember it well, especially that mid-day stop for lunch, how you had to scamper over the railway lines to Crowley's dining-rooms, rush down your food, and then scurry back because the five minutes' bell was ringing to start the old train. •

In those days on the west side there was only a swamp and a no man's land. The station staff used to do a bit of shooting there. Wheat was growing in paddocks on the site of the present sale yards, and wild ducks and quail were shot in. the main street of Frankton, which is now a populous business centre. Hamilton Station at that time was only a lean-to shanty, and the porter (now Acting Coaching Foreman Hobson, of Auckland) used to come over at mid-day

Oil his jigger to get the waybills off the train and run them back, so as to get his book made up before the train arrived at Hamilton.

In 1900 Frankton Station was about the size of Drury Station to-day; ten years later the new station was opened, and for those far-off days was a very fine piece of work. This lias been added to from time to time, till on Saturday last there were nearly fifteen miles of lines, and yesterday's change over brings the total mileage in the station area to about eighteen miles.

The stationmasters from 1890 were: Messrs. R. B. Peat, H. Williams, H. C. Burr, W. Crawley, J. W. Bowles, T. A. Aldridge, G. Barclay, I. W. Turner, C. F. Somerfield, C. Conn, D. Donald, P. H. Hartland ancl 11. E. Adams.

One never to be forgotten night on Frankton Station was when the farmers came to town during the watersiders' strike to ship their own produce. They camped alongside the station during the afternoon, and after dark entrained. They had patrols up and down the train with great big waddies, to deal with possible strike sympathisers interfering with the train. Another occasion was the Sunday night the Prince of Wales came through right after the railway strike had been declared off. Nearly a thousand railway people gathered and surrounded the Prince's car. The chairman of the railwaymen mounted the car and gave the Prince a railway welcome, and the Prince responded in his characteristic style. Then nearly the whole mob shook hands with His Royal Highness till Admiral Halsey had to get the train moving again on its journey.