SERVICES RESTORED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25052, 16 November 1944, Page 4

SERVICES RESTORED

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY GOODS TRAFFIC PROBLEM (0.c.) GREYMOUTH. Wednesday Full services were restored on the Midland railway this evening, although railcars were able to negotiate the washed-out area, between Cora Lynn and Arthur's Pass, last night. The Jine became affected on Sunday night and no goods or freight of any quantity have been conveyed across the breach since then, with the result that there arc heavy accumulations on both sides which will require to be handled during the next few days. In addition to the railear services and' two special trains conveying accumulated goods, a perishable goods train will run to Christchurch tonight from the West Coast, with a corresponding perishable goods service from the Canterbury side. It is anticipated that the Midland expresses tomorrow will be through trains. A railear travelling from the scene of the washout to Greymouth ploughed through a slip at Arnold Siding. The tindergear was extensively daitiaged and the car had to remain at Stillwater, where its passengers were transferf-ed to a goods train which is arriving at Greymouth about 1 a.m. The slip wassoon cleared. Because of the interruption to general traffic there has been a pressing shortage in Greymouth and other parts of the province of commodities which are usually received from Canterbury and include fish, meat and vegetables. Thousands of tons of coal consigned from the West Coast are being held at various intermediate stations, including Otira and Arthur's Pass, Almost 6000 ; tons of freight, chiefly coal'and timber, 1 were being held at various sidings. Arthur's Pass was full to capacity. Traffic on the Rewanui line was interrupted this morning by a slip between Runanga and Dunollie. The early miners' train had already passed the scene, but the early passenger train was held at Runanga. The slip was cleared by nine o'clock.

THE MOTUEKA TRAGEDY MENTALITY OF ACCUSED TRANSFER TO INSTITUTION (P.A.) KELSON, Wednesday The orchardist, Alan Stuart James, aged 38, who was charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterdav with the murder of his eldest child, Eleanor James, has been transferred to a mental institution, consent for that action having been given by the Minister of Justice, Mr Mason, on the application of the police. Four of the James children were found dead in their beds at Tasman, eight miles from Motueka, on Monday evening. The children, two boys and two girls, whose ages ranged from six months to seven years, had been shot Avith a shotgun. Mrs Marjory Eleanor James, wife of the accused, was seriously injured.

RAILWAY OFFICERS HEARING OF CLAIMS TOUR BY TRIBUNAL URGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Reference to the claims of the Railways Officers' Institute was made at today's sitting of the Railways Tribunal, when it was decided that the hearing of those claims, in respect of which no dispute as to jurisdiction existed, should commence the week after the conclusion of the Railway Tradesmen Association's case.

Mr J. W. Shepherd, advocate for the Railways Officers' Institute, made a request that the tribunal visit the various branches of the service to see institute members at work. In that way, lie said, the tribunal would gain a much better understanding of the evidence _ which the institute proposed to submit than would be possible otherwise, and much time would be saved at the actual hearing. Mr Reid, for the department, said there would be no objection to the proposal, provided the visits were undertaken with the idea of enabling the institute's case to be heard against a factual. background, and not in connection with the grading of positions. If the tribunal decided to make visits, the department would afford every opportunity and facility for doing so. Mr Shepherd said the only idea was that the tribunal should gain an insight into the ramifications and nature of the work performed by Railways Officers' Institute members.

The chairman, Mr F. W. Stihvell, S.M., said the tribunal would consider the request.

HARVESTING IN WAIKATO ASSISTANCE BY ARMY (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday A start has been made bv the Army in assisting farmers in tne Waikato to harvest their ensilage crops. A camp has been established at Snake Gully. Whitiora, and 70 men, mostly overseas personnel, are in occupation. The camp was built for the Air Force over two years ago and was later vacated by it. The camp is splendidly equipped and is ideally suited for temporary summer quarters. Parties of men are engaged in harvesting ensilage on farms near Hamilton and one party is weeding a 22-acre field of carrots at Eureka intended for dehydration. So enveloped in weeds were the carrots that had it not been for the help of the Army the owner intended to plough the vegetables in. A camp was opened at the Cambridge racecourse yesterday under the command of Captain D. Elder. With him is Lieutenant V. Sale. There are 60 men in this camp, most of them being formerly in the Third Division,