New Railway Station

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 1 February 1924, Page 5

New Railway Station

District Engineer’s Visit

INSPECTION OF THE SITE.

TO REPORT TO MINISTER.

This morning, Air Jeffreys, District Engineer New Zealand Railways, accompanied by His Worship the Mayor, Mr George Maddison, visited the site of the new railway station it is proposed to erect a few hundred yards north of the present buildings and sidings. The object of the visit was to observe present conditions and gather data for a report which he is to present to the Minister showing what ulcerations and additions are necessary lo be made to the plans which were prepared for the same work in 1913.

Mr Maddison reiterated all the points in favour of the new station being established further north towards Frederick street, which he gave to the Minister when in Hastings early in Novum ber, specially stressing the need for keeping open the St. Aubyn street crossinng which, according to the old plans, was to be closed when the new station was in commission. It would be a great inconvenience to the residents, he said, if no crossing was provided between Frederick street and Heretauuga street, a distance of threequarters of a mile, and money could be much better expended than on the erection of an overhead bridge at Alexandra street, us proposed in the orginal plans. Without the street crossings Mr Maddison contended that there would be an unworkable congestion of traffic in Heretaunga street. The Mayor also stressed the financial advantage to the Department, if the shunting yards were kept well clear of the town, enabling the Department to sell or lease the large area of valuable ground at present used by them for ■that purpose. Another advantage would be gained by the Department by a gift from the Borough of all the spoil which will be made available in the work of bringing the Karamu road down to its permanent level.

Other matters brought under the engineer’s notice were the need for the installation of the electric light at the present station plaftorm, the dangerous crossing at Frederick street, and xhe utilisation of the concrete culvert un x der the permanentt way near the gas works, as a foot subway for the convenience of children attending the District High School and the Main Hastings School. Mr Jeffreys made written notes of all the matters brougfit under his notice, and he said he w r ould give them full consideration when he was preparing his report. ’