THE MAIN TRUNK TRIP

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 269, 6 August 1908, Page 9

THE MAIN TRUNK TRIP

PASSENGER SPACE LIMITED.

■ Many requests llavo been received by the Government for permission' to travel by thq Parliamentary "Special":to Auckland on' Friday night. In tho-House yesterday tho Prime" Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) • referred io the, matter.' He said that'woro it possible nothing would givo the Government greater plea6uro than to accede to thoso requests, which had been made' to all tho Ministers. The fact was,' that thoro existed a limited oarrying capacity 'on the train, for which running provision had beoii made, and that capacity had already* been exceeded. Tho line in parts was not properly comploted, and the capacity of the train could not, thereforb, bp exceeded,, as. tho heavy engines could not bo run. ■ Had it been possible nothing would hiivo' given the Government greater pleasure'than to.issueto.tho Mayors of various'-towns now in Wellington, an . invi-. ■tation to' travelr by the 'train. The Government had to absolutely refuse all applic.v tirms, and simply becauso moro'vcliiclos could not be'added to' the train. Had'the refusals' wot.rbeen 'mado it-'-.would-ibo necessary for so mo members to givo -up their,places- and • proceed north by steamers. Had tho lino iboein completed anothor train might have been.run;ibut as it was somo difficulty might .naturally bo expeoted in ' getting through. Ho would advise./those who wanted to got to : Auckland- v for the celebrations 1 to' proceed .there in'the' usual, way.- Thouvholo position was dominated by the, carrying capacity of the train which they, could run. Tlio applications to tho Ministers for places on tho train were increasing as tho day for'departure drow nearer

. 1 Tho timo-t.iblo of - the Parliamentary "spccial," which will convey the members of the Legislature, to" Auckland, has been slightly-revised. Tho train. will leave Weir lington at fivo, minutes to ten on' Friday eveninc;, and it'" is tinie'd to reach.'Auckland at 5.46 (14 minutes to six) on Saturday evening: Seven intermediate "stops"' arcprovided for, the' stations with the scheduled times of' departure- from each being as follows:—Longburn ' 1.25 .a.m.", Taihapo 4.40 a.m., Waiouru .' 6.15 a.m., Ohakuno 7.80 a.m., Makatoto 9.20 a.m.,' Taumarunui 11 a.m., Frank-ton Junction 2.15 p.m. The, Parliamentary train to roturn .from Auckland will leave that city on- Monday week at 10 p.m., and will arrivo at-AYelling-ton at G.lO p.m. on the following evening.