LATE TRAINS TO THE PORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6238, 8 February 1882, Page 2

LATE TRAINS TO THE PORT.

A deputation of residents at Port Chalmers and intermediate places on the Port Chalmers line of railway waited upon Mr Hannay, the traffic superintendent, yesterday with reference to late trains to Port Chalmers. Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R., who introduced the deputation, explained that a train to the Port, leaving Dunedin at 11 p.m. daily, was very much desired. The train at 9 p.m. was practically useless, as it did not enable people who lived down the line to attend meetings or entertainments in Dnnedin. He "supposed the Government would look at the'proposition from a monetary ppintof view, but the opinion of the deputation was that the question whether a late train nightly would pay or not should not enter into the matter at all. They held that they were justified in asking for what they did, from the large contribution they already made to the revenue of the line. • The new arrangement would be sure to pay_ at last; for, as Mr Hannay doubtless knew, increased facilities made an increase in public travelling; and even if there were not any immediate profits they felt that they were justified in making, and the Government in conceding, their request. He would point out that there was great room for settlement along the country traversed by the line; but the question that an intending settler took very much into consideration was the facilities for reaching town. The Government should remember this, and also the fact, that every settler along, the Jine ■ contributedv£4o-or £50 .a-year.to the revenue without extra cost to the -country.

Messrs Hart, M'Neil, Lyons, Mot/at, and Hunter spoke in support of the concession which was asked for being made. X Mr Hannay, in reply, said that he did not wish the deputation to feel that he was opposed to the granting of their request; but the experience of the department in other places had been that increasing the number of trains did not give the increased traffic which the deputation looked for in their case. He did not say it would be the same in their case. He knew that there was a large suburban traffic from Dunedin,' and that it should be carefully watched over and every facility given for its accommodation. He was not yet prepared to say that he would, positively recommend that their request be granted, but it was possible that the district was open to still greater facilities than it now possessed. He would place the matter before the head of the department, and it would have to go before the Minister of Public Works. The deputation had admitted that the nightly train might not pay for some time, so that.it became part of the large question whether the Government should run nonpayingtrains in order to promote traffic. . Mr Fish remarked that another subject on which they would probably interview Mr Hannay before long was the excessive fares charged along the line, but they would not go into that matter now.

_ A member of the deputation asked that a siding might be formed near Rothesay. Mr Hannay admitted that the station arrangements along the line were not what they should be, and promised to give the matter consideration.