THE THROUGH TRIP. INVER CARGILL TO AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 21, 26 January 1909, Page 6

THE THROUGH TRIP. INVER CARGILL TO AUCKLAND

TIME-TABLE NOT YET DEFINITE. I It sounds easy to accomplish something on the principle of '"the greatest good for the greatest number) " but there is always the minority to be appeased, and the process may be lengthy. Thus the framers of the time-table for the Government through service "between Invercargill and Auckland have a mighty task. Much time and thought have been given to the plans, but the details are not yet definitely settled. ' FINISHING THE " MAJN TRUNK." Ihe body of the Main Trunk is out of the creator's hands, bui there is tho dressing to be done. Mbch work for busy hands remains in the wilder parts of the route. It is sincerely declared that there is no "Government stroke" about the men who are toiling to make the line worthy of being taken over completely by the Railway Department from its brother, the Public Works Department. It was not known to-day whether the last nail would be driven in the last little wooden hut by tho wayside before the middle of February, but it was anticipated that the track and its appurtenances would be in very presentable order by that time. FIEST MOVE FROM AUCKLAND. The department's intention is to begin the through service with a train from Auckland on Sunday evening, 14th February, to reach Wellington in time to connect with the steamer, for the South on Mondays. Wellington will return the compliment by despatching a train for the far North on Monday. Approximately, the trains are to leave Wellington at 11.30 a.m. (arriving at Auckland at 7 a.m. on the following day) and depart from Auckland at 8.30 p.m. (reaching Wellington at 4.30 p.m. next day). But these times are only tentative. Various factors may yet cause a slight readjustment. "THROUGH" THREE TIMES A WEEK? The Mararoa is not the Maori. The turbine can do things beyond the powers of the older "reciprocate! 1 , 1 ' and the difference between the prowess of these steamers may be noticeable on the "through" time-table. The filst express on the North Island Main Trunk nects Invercargill with Christchurch in the one run; the second express staits from Dunedin. Under the new regime it may be possible to nlart on the through run from Invercargill to Auckland on "Maori days," three times a week, leaving the Mararoa to connect with ths New Plymouth express on alternate days. However, it is not improbable eh.it the Mararoa may be run to fit in with the Auckland scheme, but in that case &he would miss the train for New Plymouth. THE SLEEPERS. All the sleeping cars are not likely to be ready by the middle of next month, but some will be on the ro^d. A fee will he charged for the privilege of lying at ease "on the wing," and the charge may be 10s. Whatever it is, it will be uniform, for the ''sleepers" will be all of one class. The ordinary fares, single, will be 21s 2d for second-class, and 39s Id for first, to which the sleeping fee will be added. Tho lnndy, able to sleep in arm-chair style, can save that fee, but even by paying it the expenses of the journey will be appreciably lower than they are tor the old train-steamer service. Moreover, that method of) travelling involves two transfers of luggage, one at New Plymouth, and another at Onehunga, which is a process little to the liking of travellers, especially if they "train ache" or "sea ache."

A Brindisi mail will come through by the express train to-night. To-day we handed over to the Italian Consul tho 'sum of £4 16s 6d, being amount collected at the Evening Post office in aid of the Italian Earthquake Fund. The Ngahere— Blackball railway, until recently run on the co-operative system, will, it is reported, in future be run by day-work. This is owing to ail the work that was dealt with on co-operative lines being now completed. The men could no longer be satisfactorily employed as they have been, as what is left to be done now is mainly trimming or finishing off, and is under tho control of a new engineer. A cruise in Queen Charlotte Sound, extending over three weeks, was completed by the Wellington yacht White Heather last Saturday. Mr. E. L. Bucholz, who purchased the little vessel m Auckland last month, left his boat at Picton, to return to Wellington on business, and will go back on Saturday to bring her over to this port. The escapee from the Terrace Gaol, M'Neil, appears to have been paying an uninvited visit to the house of a resident of Island Bay. On Sunday, Mrs. Coyne, wlio went out leaving her house closed, found on her return that a window had been forced. After retiring, she fancied she heard a noise in tho attic, and her suspicions of an unwelcome visitor were confirmed when at 3 o'clock in the morning some one left the house hurriedly, slamming the door behind. Im estigations disclosed, tho traces of bare feet, and it is surmised that M'Neil was the intruder. Captain Sealby, who commanded the ill-fated liner Republic, Was formerly in command of the White Star liner Athenic, and was well-known in New Zealand ports. A deal in rabbits between John Milesi and Joseph Ingle, on the one hand, and William Hurcomb on the other, was the cause of contention, which resulted in an appeal to Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., this morning. • All three parties are fishmongers of Wellington. The amount claimed was £64 6s 2d, alleged to be due as the result of a special partnership deal in rabbits, and being, plaintiffs claimed, the unliquidated balance of the partnership account between the plaintiffs and the defendant, and due to the plaintiffs at the time of determination of the partnership. Messrs. Fitzgilibon and Beere appeared ior plaintiffs, and Mr. Hindmarsh for the defendant. His Worship reserved decision until the 2nd I February. At the Zealandia Rifles' parade last night there was a muster of 54. The company presented a very smart, clean appearance, and section work was carried out under the various section commanders. Mr. V. M. Braund, stock and sharebroker, Fentherston-street, advertises shaves wanted and for sale. Messrs. Edward Anderson and Co., Ltd., draw sp-ucial attention to their choice collcr'ion of art china. Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co. advertise ptu'tic'iitirs in our auction i-i.n' 'ii l - > sale of household furniture, to be sold at their rooms at 1.30 to-morrow on account of Mr. Collins, who is leaving Wellington. Thcv als-o advertise particulars of their weekly sale of furniture in their rooms to bo held to-morrow. To-morrow they will also soil three pianos, particulars of which may be seen in our auction columns. Messrs. Bortenshaw and Even&en will hold their weekly sale of horses, vehicles, harnesi, ate, at Watt's Horaa Bazaar, I Dixon-street. al 2 o'olook to-morrow.