RAILWAY TIME-TABLE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1906, Page 3

RAILWAY TIME-TABLE.

[Bv Telegraph—Press Association.] HOKITIKA, Dec. 7. Al a meeting of the liomiigh Council to-night a strong resolution was passed against |ln* Kailwuy Department altering the one da\ service over land so that Hokitika was cut out of the benefits of the service except on Saturdays. The Mayor and Councilors spoke in coiidomntory terms of the action. Kor many years I lie people had been agitating for an improved service and now it has been stopped without an adequate trial. lie pointed out that tho latest change was done in the interests of tho Greymouth Evening Star, and the whole southern districts had to suffer and explained that by simple readjustment of the time table it would be possible tip serve all interests and avoid passeli gcrs from Hokitika spending fifteen hours in Greyiimutli when only 24 miles, from their destination.

It is wet inordinary how actual facts can bo munipulatcd. Hero we have Hokitika Council, declaring that, the return I" something 11 K•—• a reasonable time table is entirely due to our efforts to suit our requirements. Well however gratifying it must, be to hold such an opinion of our power, the public are scarcely likely to believe that we control the member for the district, the councils of Grey, Brunner, Kmnara. and Inaiigaliua all of whom in the interests of the district asked for a return to the old service. Then there was the petition of the merchants of Greymouth. Was this al done to please us. The iik-a is moonshine, and the great ones of mighty Hokitika know it. The fact of the matter is this, tho new servio.' so far as Hokitika is concerned did not return enough to pay the lamp lights in the carriages, and the Department decided to return to busines methods, and risk the dreadful threats of the Mayor of Hokitika, whom the West Coast Times reports as follows : The Mayor said he felt to indignant for words. He warned the Government that thlJ residents of the district would not tamely submit to this treatment. Wo note that Mr Beare, who by the way is one of the councillors at Hokitika said that if the sen-ice was not going to pay to ltcvfton and Hokitika it could not pay to Greymouth either and had better be done away with altogether. Well wo don't really think that it pays to Greymouth notwithI standing tU? fact that Grnymottths quota is about ten passengers to Hokitikr.'s one.