IN THE NORTH

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1921, Page 5

IN THE NORTH

MANAGER OF RAILWAYS,

. INVESTIGATES DISTRICT'S NEEDS

BIG MEETING ON MONDAY

The General Manager of Railways ■Mr R. W. McV-illy.' is paying his vvemised visit to Whangarei. When the Northern Steamship Company's .proposal to alter the timetable of (the Whangarei-Aucklarid pa&enger service wa s announced some weeks ago, it was stated that Mr McVilly intended to come North in order to 'make inquiries regarding the railway timetable. The Whangarei Chamber of Commerce, assisted 'by represer.tusivea of 'local bodies, thereupon took the matter in iha"d f and at its .invitation .delegates from local ibodies throughout 'the North met three vvoe'fcs ago to-day at Kawabawa. They ■discussed the whole question of railway facilities and 'agreed upon a programme for submi«ai | on to the General Manager w'ho-was expected to visit Whangiarei soo" after ithe*Kawakawa conference. Mr McV i'lly wa's delayed, hut he was able to leave n Auckland last night, and thi ;S morning he arrived in Whangarei. .

Mr McVi'Jly is (accompanied by Mr H. Buxton, chief traffic manager Mr F. W. MacL,ean, chief engineer and Mr E. E. Gillon, cHiief mechanical engineer, and Mr A. C. Knock } district

<j agineed for Auckland. Captain Hammond, general m'anager of the Northern Steamship Company, is also with .the party. This morning the visitors were taken to the Mail- station in order to discus with representatives .of the Whang-are,i : Agricultural and Pdstor'al Society and others interested a request .for the erection of a loading yard for cattle ait the .station. Mr McVil'ly has also been engaged with his .officer and this afternoon he will probably meet Meis-Ts J. Rutherford and E. Swann? who are to put ibefore him cer/tain requests relating, to railway facilitise for Hikurangi. At 2 o'clock ihe received representatives of 'the W'hangarei. Borough Coune.l, who rugged the Council's request for ■a strip of land ifco widen Otaika street.

The principal business of Mr Mc"Villy's vihlsit will be done on Monday. At 9 a.m. he and hi 3 party will leave Whang-arei by specal ti'adn for Kaikohe. At 2.45 p.m. Mr McVilly will ir.eet the* large deputation representing all the districts of the North, including and the party •v/ill return in the evening. The president of .the Whang-arei Chamber of Commerce, Mr W. U. Time well) has communicate d with all "the centres in the North land it i s expecited that there willl "be' a full muster of representatives. AT AIAI.K STATION. NO LOADING YARD YET. VVHANGAsKEI STATION'S PREFERENCE. A deputation of the WhangarevAgncultural and Pastoral Society consisting ■ of the president. (Mr J. A. Finlayson) and Messrs W. U. Titncwc-11 and H. W. Crawford, waited on Mr Mc-Yilly rela-

ito the •establishment oJ' a stock loading yard at Hair station.

Mr Finlayson pointed out the advantages that such a convenience would be to the Agricultural and Pa> 1 [inil Society and the Whangarei Racing ami Trotting Club?, as at present stock for the show and. horses for the races hud to unload at either Whangarei. or Ruataugata station and be driven to Kensington Park ami after the event was over back again for loading. Mv Mc Yitly said that though quite sympathetic, lie did 'not see his "way •c.leju' a.t the present time to grant the convenience, as there wore many much more urgent railway works to be considered. Tn the very near future the Railway Department would be spending a verv large sum of money on the new railway --tation in Whangarei. i',ah?r on, however, he would see if th i <'xpenditure of money in the diiectio.i ■ named -was warranted.