WANTS OF HUNTLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 11

WANTS OF HUNTLY.

RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS. REQUESTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] HUNTLY. Monday. Several matters affecting the running of trains at and near Huntly were brought before tha general manager of railways, Mr. H. H. Sterling, to-day, by a deputation consisting of members of the Huntly Town Board and the Miners' Union of the district. It was stated by the miners' representatives that the present system of weekly tickets is not satisfactory to the minors. A 12-trip ticket is used, the ticket being available for one week only. If the mines work short time a number of trips are lost, and the deputation urged the establishment of suburban fares. Mr. Sterling said he could not authorise the issue of suburban faro tickets but he would extend the present tickets for two weeks.

The abolition of mixed passenger and goods trains and alterations and additions to the existing services on tlie Huntly-Glen Afton branch line vas urged by the deputation. Mr. Sterling said that this would involve a big alteration to the present time-table. If, howover, all the interested parties agreed upon what was required he would detail a responsible officer of the department to investigate matters.

The chairman of the Town Board asked if an indication could be given as to when the new station at Huntly would be erected. The present station was in a most dilapidated condition and from a revenue point of view at least Huntly deserved better treatment. In addition it was understood that the erection of a new station would eliminate several dangerous level crossings. Mr. Sterling said ho had no information on the matter. He thought the present railway commitments would absorb all available money for some time to come.

It was sought to have the express from Auckland to Rotorua stopped afc Huntly, and that the south-bound Main Trunk express should also be stopped on Wednesday evenings. Mr. Sterling said he would give these requests consideration, but he did not hold out any hope of being able to grant them. The lighting of the railway bridge across tlie Waikato, and the addition of a footway to the existing bridge, was also discussed. Mr. Sterling said he did not consider the lighting of the bridge was a matter for his department, but he was prepared to. give the matter further consideration if some equitable scheme was laid before him. Regarding additions to the bridge, if tho Town Board was prepared to remove any question of cost he was prepared to consider the matter from a structural standpoint.