SOCKBURN-STYX RAILWAY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27368, 5 June 1954, Page 6

SOCKBURN-STYX RAILWAY

Further Properties Acquired

NOTED TROTTING ESTABLISHMENT The trotting training establishment of Mr Maurice Holmes at Yaldhurst has been bought by the Government. The land has been acquired for use when the Sockburn-Styx railway deviation is made. On the property of 40 acres 3 roods 27, perches at the corner of Yaldhurst and Russley roads Mr Holmes has his stables ana private training track, on which many good winners have been prepared. Noted among them are Vedette (an Australasian championship winner), Chamfer (a New Zealand Trotting Cup winner), and Globe Direct. The corner section of land, on which stands a modern bungalow, was sold some years ago by Mr Holmes, whose home is now in Clyde road.

The present intentions of Mr Holmes are to continue to train there until the land is required for railway purposes or he purchases a Yaldhurst property on which new stables can be built. The purchase is the second of trotting properties on Russley road in recent months. Mr L. M. Denton’s stud farm, “Russley Lodge,” of 36 acres, was the other.

The purchase has also been completed by the Goverriment of a property adjoining Mr Holmes’s stables. It was sold by Mr E. A. LangdaleHunt. The area is of 4 acres 2 roods 31 perches, with a small frontage to Russley road. Another block of land purchased for the future railway was 10 acres 33 perches at the rear of Mr D. Spence’s holding in Carmen road, opposite the members’ car entrance to the Riccarton racecourse.

Land aggregating 220 acres has now been purchased for the railway deviation at both ends and along the route. When the deviation will be opened is indefinite, but a possibility is that the first half-mile from Hornby may be begun soon.