MODERN TRANSIT

Evening Star, Issue 15308, 7 October 1913, Page 6

MODERN TRANSIT

MOTOR LORRY FOR FRUIT.

[Special to the Star.]

INVERCARGILL, October 6. The question of the transit in the Otago Central, and particularly between Roxburgh, Lawrence, and Edievale, has been the subject of discussion for many years, and the possibility of having a railway constructed from either route appears to be growing more remote every year. One reason is the decadence of the once booming mining industry. Relative to the latter, the trade from Roxburgh has considerably decreased, and is now more of an intermittent nature. The goods carried over tho_ roads now consist chiefly of fruit, which is being grown each year in increasing'quantities and has become the staple industry of the district. In the past this perishable product has suffered somewhat owing to the long time taken for the fruit to reach the consumer. This handicap to one of our most promising industries has now been removed, and owing to the modern facilities of transit which are being introduced' the fruit industry of Roxburgh and Coal Creek districts is now likely to boom. In future fruit will be taken down by motor lorry. The first to inaugurate this system is the wpll-known firm of Waigth and Sons, of Warrenheip Gardens, Roxburgh, who deal direct with the consumer. Their first motor, which was to be. seen in Invercargill streets to-day, is a 50 hj p Argyll, the body of which was manufactured here. By this up-to-date means )of transport, fruit will bo landed in Invercargill and Dunedin the day it leaves Roxburgh, instead of days after, as was previously the case. This, of course, will allow the fruit to arrive in good condition. With the. introduction of the , )notor lorry it is not improbable that there Will be less railway agitation, and a greater demand for better roads in the district referred to.