RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT FOR WELLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 7

RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT FOR WELLINGTON.

, [BY DE. A;;K;Newjun v 'M-Pvl->"' ; -- Tho present railway accommodation 1 ' ia'' as inconvenient for. this city as it is pos-sible-to be. There are in the city and Miramar Borough 65,000 people. Thero aro three.- railway stations—Thorndon, Lambtoni and.Te Aro. All trains from the whole of the. North Island stop at Thorndon and Lambton. Some suburban trains run as fnr as Te Aro. All inland.goods, passengers, and luggage are dumped down at Thorndon and Lambton —at tho most inconyeniout spots for the bulk of the population , . Yet there is a station at To Aro, over one and a half miles nearer the bulk of tho people. Could anything be more absurdj more wasteful? Suppose Wellington had two stations, Lambton and Tβ Aro, in full use, it would be far more convenient to the public. Allowing that 10,000 persons in Thorndon and Lambton will be served by the present Lambfon Station, not ono would be inconvenienced by the trains running to Tβ Aro with goods, passengers, and luggage. Out of the 65,000 people living in Wellington and Miramar, I hold that 10,000 alone have all the present railway facilities. • I maintain that by running passengers, luggage, and goods to Te Aro—over one and a half miles nearer the centre of the city—ss,ooo would be enormously benefited.

Now, there are 18,000 people in Hawke's Bay, 51,000 in Taranaki, and 58,000 in Southland, i I ask, should not the 55,000 in Wellington have better railway facilities? The railway is made to Te Aro— there is a railway station and a stationmaster, but no goods-shed. There is room for a goods-shed at Te Aro. No less than 55,000 people would bo benefited by the erection of a goods-shed. No less than -55,000 people would be benefited by having, inland trains start from and arrive at Te Aro. All we ask is the expenditure on a goods-shed and that trains from the North Island depart from and arrive at Te Aro—to the immense convenience of 55,000 people. There i.i no reason whatever why this great boon should' not be conferred—except the obstinacy of some railway official. Population, like water, flows to tho lowest ground. When Wellington stnrts to grow again, where will it spread?— Wellington South, Island Bay, Roseneath, Hataitai, Kilbirnie, 'Lyall Bay, Miramnr. Some of us will live to see Miramar densely peopled—a sea of houses. Ultimately the Te Aro railway must extend through to Miramar, but that is not the question of the-hour. Ultimately the railway niust be extended to serve this big population. Look at the present inconvenient position. People from Te Ato, Wellington South, Island Bay, Wellington East, Mirariiar, going to Manawatu, Rangitikei, Napier, Wanganui, Taranaki, Auckland, havo to journey to the far ead cf the city to Thorndon, and yet there is a railway station over H miles n-earer. When they return they are dumped down on the edge of the water, U'miles away from their homes. Look at"the expense and trouble. Why?, Supposing any one of the 55.000 wants to go to Wairarapa, lie and his luggags have to travel to Thorndon. Yet there is a railway ptation .over ono mile nearer. No train from the country runs to Te Aro; only from the suburbs, Upper Hutt, and Petone. It may be said that it will mean many more trains running past tho Queen's Wharf. I think not—if somo of the suburban trains were stopped running to Te Aro—and the North Island express, mi nnd down, the Nnpier, Taranaki, and Wairarapn trains run to To Aro instead would replace them, and the boon bo colossal. ' HIGH COST OP IdVINC KEDUCEn. Tho Allen Street market would receive its goods cheaper at Te Aro than at Thorndon. Firewood, gravel for the cily, potatoes, cnbbnges. onion.', limber for houses, etc., would bo railed over ono milt! nearer (h<. , oily. People willi luggage going liy train would pay ono milo or ono mils and a hull' less eartoge. In ninny cth"! , ways (liero would bo a great saving. Tin; riTur.E. i Wellington rnnnot grow round Thorndon or Lambroii station?—the high hills and the de«p :-.n prevent llin for all time. Wellington's population must -expand south nnd enst of Te Aro railway. If all tho train; ran to Lambton, it 'would lj» cheaper and marc convenient for the Wadestown-Karori people who travel by tram. Thn prusunt of Wellington ileluimds good train accommodation at Te Aro; the future will demand extension to Cook Strait. The To Arn line can easily be made the most profitable milo of railway in New Zealand.