OBSTRUCTION BY TRAIN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28805, 28 January 1959, Page 12

OBSTRUCTION BY TRAIN

Lyttelton Council Complains The Railways Department is to be asked to instruct the Lyttelton staff to ensure that in making up the mail and passenger train that leaves the port about 8 a.m. it does not obstruct vehicular traffic. This decision was made by the Lyttelton Borough Council on Monday evening. It was the practice of the railways staff at Lyttelton to make up the train so that the crossing was often obstructed, said Cr. K. Sinclair. The train should be pushed back at least a length so that the crossing was kept clear for vehicular traffic, which was heavy at that time. He moved that a letter be sent to the railway authorities asking them to keep the crossing clear. In seconding the motion, Cr. R. E. • Cairns said he had often seen long lines of cars from the steamer-express held up for 10 minutes and more.

In reply to a request from the council that an extra passenger train be arranged to leave Lyttelton daily at 8 a.m., the District Traffic Manager of Railways (Mr C. J. Michin) wrote saying that it was regretted' that the request could not be granted. The letter assured the council that every endeavour would be made to dispatch the present mail train at 8 a.m.

A request for a grant towards the cost of erecting a diving board at Diamond Harbour was received in a letter from the Diamond Harbour Burgesses’ Association. The association said that the Lyttelton Harbour Board had agreed to erect the board at a cost of £144, the board to contribute £lOO. The council decided to grant £22. A total of 39,012 books was issued from the Lyttelton Public Library during 1958, according to a report received from the librarian (Mrs D. Bennett). This was an increase of 4877 on the previous year. The total membership of the library was 826, representing 23 per cent, of the population of the borough. The report added that there was a marked reaction by the public to the greatly improved selection of books available and to the very pleasing atmosphere of the library, with its new furniture and fittings.