RAILWAY STATION FOR PARNELL AND DOMAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Issue XVI, 3 December 1879, Page 6

RAILWAY STATION FOR PARNELL AND DOMAIN.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —What has become of the public men of Parnell? Are they dead, blotted out, or what* ate they doing ? The old story is true, "that what is everybody's business is nobody's business," and the council, to which have beeu delegated the oversight of the borough and its affairs, appear to consider its duties fulfilled when its members make a few small by-laws, aud meet regularly to discuss the value of their very distant endowments, ever kept dangling before their imagination. There is no question but Parnell has just cause of complaint at the want of consideration shown in not providing the inhabitants with a suitable railway statiou in the district. And what astonishes me is the submissive way in which the people accept what appears their inevitable fate. Because So-aiul-so says we cannot have a station, as the gradient is too steep, or it will be too near the tunuel, or something else, the people are quiescent, pay their taxes, put up with their inconvcuiences, and go again to Bleep. There are difficulties, doubtless, but not insurmountable ones, and I would just point out that, in my opinion, a -suitable station can easily be formed at that part of the line where it abuts on the north-west corner of Hobson's Park, to which point the approach from the Manukau Road opposite Hulme Court would be a gradual and easy decline. A station at this point, or a very little lower down the line northwards, where access is easiest, would give accommodation to the inhabitants of Parnell, for going either to country or town, and also provide an easy and cheap way to thousands of pleasure seekers who would use the railway from town for goiog to the Domain to enjoy its pure air and scenery. At present the domain is closed to all but such as can afford to drive there in their carriages, or have good stout luugs and limbs to carry them. Of coursa the line, at or near the place indicated, should be spanned by a bridge, so a3 to give access to the Domain grounds without having to walk across the line. .Now sir, I have sketched out something, which if carried ont, would I think, to use the language of Sir George Grey, " beactit a very great number of persons," and [ want somebody to help to carry it out. Who shall that omebody be? Shall we wait until the Government of their own notion, give us these conveniences? If we do, I fear we shall have to wait very long indeed. Will the Borough Council take action in the matter on behalf of the residents ? Will the Mayor and Council of Auckland take action in the interett of the citizens, young and old, whose health is entrusted to their charge ? Will the Domain Board take action, in pursuance of their trust as custodians of the most beautiful natural spot in New Zealand, for the benefit of the citizens and surrounding districts of Auckland, and of the visitors to our shores in search of health, pleasure, and homes ? Will Mr. Moss, the M. U.R. for the district,take action, and emulate Mr. Tole, in Eden, in securing for his district a substantial advantage, for which the present generation and posterity will be thankful ? Or shall they all unitedly help to carry it out ? Or must the mattter lie dead or dormant until the present generation of old fogies die out, and men arise with some public spirit, and with the laudable desire of doing good to those around them ? Parxkll Domain Station,