AUCKLAND TO INVERCARGILL

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14701, 4 June 1908, Page 8

AUCKLAND TO INVERCARGILL

THE PROPOSED NEW SERVICE. [From Our Cokkesfondent.] INVERCARGILL, Juno 1. In order tn get some idea as to how the proposals have been received, by Invercargill commercial men, a representative of the "Southland Times" had a conversation with Mr J. E. Watson, chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board. Mr Watson was strongly of opinion that a through service would be best for business people and for travellers generally.' As far ias mails wero concerned, he was' not sure whether the few hours' difference in the two schemes would be a matter of very much' importance. There was not much doubt, however, that a new quick service would be of great assistance to business men in that it would enable them to make the journey to Auckland more easily. At present it was something of an undertaking to visit Auckland, owing to the very considerable loss of time involved in the journey. Nothing was of greater assistance in facilitating business than such easy communication as would make it possible for persons concerned to meet each other, and there was ©very possibility that the new service would be the means of assisting towards a greater volume of business being dono between Invorcargill and suoh of the North Island towns as would be brought within much easier reach. As to making a comparison between the two proposals, ho thought that that was more a matter which might he left to the Railway Department, as the chief question involved was one of ways and means. However, the Government had, he understood, boon building sleeping cans for tills service and if they could make it pay, or even if they would not be very heavy losers by it, he thought they should go in lor the more complote scheme. He preferred this service (Auckland-Invercargill service) for other reasons also. The two nights spent in travelling would bo more or less comfortably spent, one on tho steamer and the other in a, sleeper on the Main Trunk. This would permit passengers to arrive in Auokland reasonably fresh and tit to start on tho return journey ou the same evening, ii necessary. Uitder the other scheme, the steamer would arrive at Wellington at about 5 a.m., a most uncomfortable hour, and then, after cighteau hours of train travelling, the traveller would arrive in Auckland at midnight. These discomforts would not, h& thought be compensated from the passengers' point of.view by tbo advantage of traversing a portion of the/Main Trunk by daylight.

INTENTIONS OF THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER [FbOJI Oca, CdIIRESPONDENT.] • INVERCARGILL, June 3.

Sir Joseph Ward made an important announcement to a representative' of the '.'Lyttelton Times," touching the through service. He said that the matter had been occupying tho Railway Department for some time, and it is the intention of the Department to have a through service, Auckland to Bluff, with proper connections and without delay. The South Island service will remain practically as at present. The North Island service must, of necessity, be partly a night service. The Railway Department has to face the difficulty of making provision, for intermediate services at stations not touched by the express service. The express must necessarily leave Auckland at night to allow the people or Auckland to get their mailß right through. For the train to leave there in the morning means that mails would remain there all day. which was not up-to-date business. Scenery was not a consideration, as intermediate services fully provided for that, and business must not bo sacrificed to scenery.