HOW PUBLIC WORKS ARE MANAGED.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 82, 7 April 1894, Page 3

HOW PUBLIC WORKS ARE MANAGED.

• TO THE EDITOR. Sir— Ah there appears to be no other redress, might I ask you to publish the enoloaed correspondence wuh the Railway Commissioners. You will notioo that it is admitted that jow, 11 months after the railway was handed over and opened for traffic, there is still no goods shed available at this torminal station. Thin failnre to originally provide and continund to negleot to erect station buildings discloses a surprising inoffioienoy in tlio Publio Work 8 system, and it i* surely deplorable that settlers' goods should, for so long, be destroyed with seeming indifference by a branch of the Pablie Sorvioe. I am, Ac, 7th April, 1891. Jno. Duthie. 17th March. The Railway Commissioners, Wellington ■ Sirs — I bog to brine nndor your notice the urgent complaint i f cortain storekeepers and others of Ohingniti and Moawhanga, made to me as a member of the House of Representatives on a visit a few days ago to that district. It appears that the extension of the railway to Mangaonoho was opened for traffic on Ist May, 1893, at which date, although that station will evidently bo tho terminus of tho lino for many years, no goods shed or othor station buildings were proridod. This extraordinary omission could surely, if overlooked on the eonHtruction of the railway, have been providod within, say, two months, but up to dato no such abed is available. The result is that consignees scattered ovor a wide distriot beyond cannot postibly be in attendance to receive their goods, and in their absence, it is represented that tho goods are thrown out on tho platform indiscriminately, the railway disclaiming all responsibility. Goods accordingly aTo often stolen, or destroyed by tho woather. No care is exercised, as instance— I was told of lime being stacked on top of general goods, destroying, in instance mentioned, over £20 in value to one consignee. It is almost incredible that things can be so bad as represented ; surely even a few tarpaulins might be provided to partially save this destruction of property. I would now respectfully ask your attontion to tho matter. I am, i'o., Jno. Duthie. New Zealand Government Railways, Head Office, Wellington, 4th April, 1891. • Sir— With referenco to your letter of .tho 17th March, reooipt of whioh I had the honour to acknowledge on the 19th idem, in rogard to goods traffic at Mangaonoho «tatjon, I am directed by the Railway Commissioners to express their regret that oomplaints have been made as to the manner in which goods are dealt with at Mangaonoho, and to inform you that they hay« been unable to Fatiifaotorily undertake the onstody of goods at that station owing to tho non-completion of tho offioes and bnildings A man w»b tome time ago placed at Mangaonoho to look after tho goods despatched from and received at tho station, but without proper sholter and accommodation it has been impossible for him to maintain satisfactory supervision. The Publio Works Department is being urged to push on with the buildings, and as soon as the offioo is finished a stationmaster will be plaoed in charge of the station. I havo, (So , E. G. Pilchkb, vSoarotarv. John Duthie, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington.