(Evening Post.) SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1879.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 548, 28 June 1879, Page 2

(Evening Post.) SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1879.

THB WELLINGTON RAILWAY STATION SITE. «

A few days ago we directed pointed at. tention to the faot, not generally known, I that a small number of persons interested in retaining the railway terminus in its present most inconvenient position, had secretly organised a movement for getting a petition against its removal to a more central site, signed by a number of those eaßy-going people who will affix their autograph to almost any document placed before them. We stated also that there was good reason to believe that the Government were materially influenced by this petition in taking no steps for the removal of the station, and urged the necessity of an immediate counteragitation in favor* of the removal. Of this suggestion, yesterday's deputation to the Government was the outcome ; and we were glad to see that the members of that_ deputation— with one notable exception — were earnest and unanimous in impressing upon the Government the deairableneas of carrying out the distinct promise made by Ministers that the railway should be continued as far as practicable towards the head of the city, and that the passenger Btation should be placed somewhere near the Lion Foundry. The "one notable exception" alluded to was no less a person than his Worship the Mayor. After the deputation, which was an influential one, representing all sections of the community, had most emphatically expressed their opinion that the station should be removed as proposed, Mr. Hutchison did his best to impair the effect of their arguments by officiously intruding his private views and wishes on t the subject. Utterly regardless of the ¦ fact that the great majority of the Wellington citizens, whom as a body he is supposed to represent, were strongly in favor of the proposal, and had expressed that feeling alike through the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce, and a large public meeting, Mr. Hutchison took it on himself to say that he did not see any particular necessity for removing the station unless it could be taken to Te Aro. A more gross and flagrant piece of narrow-minded selfishness never was pleaded guilty to by a publio man. Surely Mr. Hvtchison must be aware that he was elected to represent the whole city, and not merely the immediate neighborhood of hia own residence. One thing is quite clear, that by opposing the removal of the railway station to a more central and convenient position confessedly for the sole reason that as it could not be brought to his end of the town he did not think it worth while to move it at all, he was more than justifying the opinion of those who deemed him a most unsuitable person to fill hif present office. He has confessed that he would sacrifice the attainment of an object for which the Wellington citizens have striven so long and so ardently, merely because he cannot have the railway brought to the end of the town where he happens to live. He did not hesitate thus to insult the deputation, of which in his mayoral capacity he was a member, by coolly stating that he considered the object of their request quite unimportant, and really not worth serious consideration unless he could obtain what nobody had dreamed of asking for. It is very evident that tho interests of this city will be but poorly looked after so long as it is so unfortunate as to have Mr. Hutchison for its mayor.