THE RAILWAYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9093, 2 May 1890, Page 3

THE RAILWAYS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Can you inform the public haw the Canterbury railways are at present; worked without the oversight of a Traffic; Inspector P For some years past such an| official has been deemed indispensable to the proper working of the lines; but now, in the busiest part of the grain season,' the traffic from Timaru in the South to; Waikari in the' North, is left to take its' chance while; the said Inspector has been; fer several weeks , past devoting hia whole; attention to Lyttelton. If f the Eailway: Department can dispense with a travelling ■ Traffic Inspector at such a busy time as; the present, the question arises. Where has been the need of such an official all the years he has held the position ? The only inference to be drawn is that the Inspector-! ship, with its imaginary duties, has been created for that individual’s benefit until; a more permanent billet could be made foe i him; and it certainly requires a man of i the present Traffic Manager’s ability to’ discover that his present duties ace more• profitable to the public service than hia past has been.—lam, &c., OBSEEVEE. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Harvest festivals have been celebrated all over the country, and. so un-| usually bounteous has been, the harvest that no doubt there has beerua genuine; feeling of thankfulness and rejoicing. Bat,’ alas! New Zealand South'of Ash-! burton, at all events, are beginning tofeelthat their rejoicing was a little :pf6ma-; ture. The crops and the weather.havqiheen i: all that could be desired ;• thp harvest has been gathered in, when an important factor—the railway—fails altogether. Not ‘ only can they not find sufficient trucks, but; the goods sheds are full. At Ealing the; grain has to be left outside, as will shortly! be the case at Hinds ; and from what I hear other stations are in a similar plight.: If the Eailway Commissioners are unable: to meet the requirements of the harvest! season, they should at least give timelynotice, so that farmers might at least have, a chance of co-operating, and see if they! •could not send their grain, as people up! North have done their wool, by traction engines. I can only suggest. that if the! Eailway Managers, Directors, or those who: are responsible for this mismanagement: could only change places with the; much-; bullied, badgered, and worried railway! servants, or the worried and, harassed; farmers, they would see the necessity ol making some other arrangements.-—I am, &0., AGRICULTURIST.