The Woodville Railway Grievance.

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 10, 11 July 1890, Page 4

The Woodville Railway Grievance.

(Our Own Correspondent.) Woodville, 9th Jnly. Tboro was a.publio meeting held at Wood ville on the evening of tho Bth to consider several matters of interest to the town and district. One (and the moat important one) was to protest against tho action of the Railway Commissioners in proposing to remove the terminus from Woodville to Danevirke. The arguments add need went to show that Woodvillo township was Bold under the distinot understanding that it would be a railway centre, and the line was shown as running about ten chains from the Clnb Hotel. Tho Stout-Vogel Ministry, _ however, would not adhere to the original location, on the ground that ft large area would be required for all the purposes of a railway centre. The operations would be hampered if not kept dear of the centre of the town, Palmerston being quotod as an inatanoo. The people gave way, and the work proceeded. Fifty aoreB or thereabonts was reserved, and a large area was reclaimed at a great cost. A large station was built, and sidings were put in of corresponding 1 proportions ; engine sheds were erected, and ever j thing was done in a permanent, substantial manner, in. view of tho Masterton line joining very shortly. Guards and engine-drivers built their houses on the assurance of the authorities that the terminus would be permanent, and the general public were influenced in all their transactions on the beforenamed assurances. Can it bo wondered at that there was consternation at the proposed action of tho Commissioners. It may be that the Commissioners should run the linoa on commercial principles, bnt they have no right to sacrifice tho rights and interests of a portion of the oommnnity in so doing, and especially when those interests have been built up on a pledge of good faith. But tho savings wbioh the Commissioners propose to make are only mythical, and cannot mean moro than the saving of a few hours overtime for a guard, stoker, and driver. It is absurd that the 'interests of a growing oomtnnnity like this "should bo hampered by suqh folly. The mayors of Hastings and Woodville, and the chairman of the Manga-atna Road Board will wait on Commissioners, and urge their claim to have the terminus still kept at Woodville, being the most oentral position for snob, a purpose. Another resolution was passed, urging the early construction of the iketahnna Woodville Railway, and two others advocating opening up Crown lands and roads in the Mangahao Block. It was asserted in the meeting that Messrs. Nelson Bros, still had the intention of eroding meat freezing works. It is considered that a country oarrying half a million of sheep will make tho Woodville station their depot. Yet in the face of this the Commissioners still prooeed. It was the opinion of the meeting that if the Commissioners oould not be moved to alter their plans, that Woodville should join with the raaloontents in trying to remove the Commissioners through their mombera by a resolution of the House or the rescission of tho Act appointing them.