NORTH AUCKLAND NEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15566, 25 March 1914, Page 10

NORTH AUCKLAND NEEDS

SUNDAY TRAIN WANTED, ! TELEPHONIC FACILITIES. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING. A meeting of the council of the Kaipara Chamber of Commerce was held at Dargaville on Monday. There were present: Messrs. E. Harding (chairman), C E. Smith, W. W. Simons, F. A. Jones, F. J. •Dargaville, W. Montgomery, and G. H. Bellamy. It was decided to circulate for signatures a petition to the Minister for Railways praying that a Sunday train service be instituted between Helensville and Auckland. It was pointed out that dairymen in the Helensville district strongly supported the proposed service in order that the growing milk supplies could be forwarded daily to the city; that a Sunday service would permit of Auckland residents partaking of the benefits of the Helensville Hot Springe; that the proposed running would greatly convenience travellers from the Northern Wairoa; and that, as trains now ran on Sundays to and from Swanson, the extra distance to Helensville would not involve the Department in much expense nor extra labour, and would be a sound paying proposition. The desired installation of a direct telephonic service between Dargaville and Auckland was again discussed, and it. was decided to lay the matter before the Minister for Railways during his forthcoming visit to Dargaville. Further discussion on the long-deferred institution of. technical schools at Te Kopuru and Dargaville was deferred, and the matter was left in the hands of the executive to bo placed before the Hon. W. H. Hemes.

A communication was received from the Otamatea County Council regarding the strong desire of residents in Eastern Kaipara to have the time-table of the Helensvi!:« express trains altered to suit the convenience of travellers from Kaiwaka. The council expressed the opinion that the time for any alteration was not yet ripe, that when the line was opened to Paparoa such a course could be considered, and that to effect the change suggested would entail a conference between delegates from the Kaipara local bodies and the Railway Department. The question of the carriage of timber "shorts" by railway was the subject of a communication from the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association, and it was decided to recommend that all boards under Bft in length be carried at firewood rates.

On the motion of Mr. A. E. Harding, it was resolved that owing to the unique and varied characteristics of North Auckland territory, the Prime Minister lie asked to appoint to the Board of Agriculture a member thoroughly conversant with the northern peninsula. The secretary was instructed to forward copies of the resolution to Messrs. J. G. Cioates, V. Reed, F. Wander, A. Harris, and J. Bollard, M.P.'s, and to all the North Auckland local bodies. The proposal to acquire as a scenic reserve the historical Tauanui Lake in the Kaikohe district was supported, and the executive was empowered to act with the Hokianga and Whangarei Chambers in endeavouring to secure the territory. A telegram on the subject from the Prime Minister was read, and stated thai, the price of £10 per acre asked for by the owners was considered by the authorities to be too high. The progress of formation on the North Ayickland Main Trunk line was adversely criticised, and it was decided to issue - petition praying that the work be expedited. r