RAILWAY STATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 February 1928, Page 5

RAILWAY STATION.

IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME.

NEW CATTLE YARDS. AND APPROACHES.

For several years the proximity to the main read, Glover Road, of tlie . attle yards has been a burning question with the people of the town, whose representatives in the Chamber of Commerce have made many efforts to have them removed, but until now without success.

It will therefore be pleasing to learn that, as part of the larger eventual scheme of improvements in and. round the station a* commencement was today made in that- section of the plan which covers the stock yards. Some yeai-s ago, when the Railway Department acquired a large area at Turuturu, it secured as part of the big scheme the land directly opposite, the end of Wilson Street leading out to the main line north. It was inten tied to put in from that point a wide thoroughfare. That was, by force of circumstances, shelved for the time being, but now it will be used in part to form a. .stock road to go by a subway under the line, and then turning south towards the station to lead- to a part of the railway property about midway between the entrance and the station' buildings. At that- point will be erected new and commodious yards, extending on the north. side of the line for a distance of 288 ft by a- width of 55ft, divided into seven pens. They will be about 120 yards from the nearest point of Glover Road, about halfway between Wilson and Argvle Streets.

Through the courtesy of the stationmaster (Mr. E. P. Beauchamp) and the leading carpenter (Mr. Wi G. Rich) a “Hawera- Star” representative was shown the complete plans and was taken over the area to be occupied and also- the locale of the new road and subway. The yards will be made up to date, apshalted, and connected with the water and drainage, so that they may be kept scrupulously clean. At the north end there will he a space for vehicles and also holding yards. At the other, the south end, there will he made a place for unloading, the water tanks and signal box being moved for that purpose, and a new tank and siding will be erected for the oil company which lias a bulk depot across the street.

It has. been -decided also to put in a new turntable capable of holding the largest type of engine, avid for this purpose the cottage across the line will he- removed. This .will be a great convenience in every way, for that in use at present is too small for the big engines and very cumbersome to use. It is anticipated the work will occupy the. men —there- are 16 accommodated in the sme.ll houses in the railway yards—about five months, and in accordance with the policy of correlated work they will move further north towards New Plymouth when the local work is completed.