THE CARISBROOK GROUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11797, 28 July 1900, Page 8

THE CARISBROOK GROUND.

TO THE EDITOH. Sir,—Will you permit me, through you* columns, to remind the cricketers of Dunedin of the efforts now being made to drain and otherwise improve the Carisbrook ground, so that it will be fit in all ordinary weather to be used for cricket or other sports? This work realty means the saving of the ground for the cricketers, instead of letting it be cut up for building sites.

The Otago Cricket Association is fully in sympathy with the directors of Carisbrook but, unfortunately, has no funds to assist. Ihe way which is now open to cricketers generally i s to back up the efforts of the > Pirates . Football, Carisbrook Cricket, and Dunedin Amateur Athletic Clubs, and assist them to make the entertainment which they hare organised for next Wednesday night a huge success. As secretary, of the association, I would point out to members of all clubs, no matter which ground they make their headquarters, that the maintenance of Carisbrook ground is of the utmost importance, and'l would ask eveiy cricketer in Dunedin to make a point of being present at the Garrison Hall next Wednesday night.—l am, etc. C. E. Smith, Hen. Sec. @tago Cricket Association.

OTAGO CENTRAL TRAIN. TO THE EDITOE

Sin, —Mr Craig, the mail contractor, Is itt Wellington just now urging upon the autho-. rities to accelerate the passenger train, so as to reach Wedderburn at 2 o'clock, thus enabling the mail coach to reach Ophir (via St. Bathans) about 8 o'clock the same evening-, and to connect next morning at 9 o'clock with the Queenstown coach at Alexandra. The boon would be a very great one to all ooncerned. This would become the route to Queenstown, and thus take the bulk of the traffic from off the Lawrence-Roxburgh road. At the present time this is axle-deep in muck. The coach-horses have to walk a great part of the way, and are two or three hours late in reaching Roxburgh. Whereas the Wedder-burn-Alexandra road is in really good order and the coach is not delayed, except where the snow lies on the road. The mail contractor's ideas are identical with the needs of the travelling public, therefore I have no anxiety about the up-country train. The down-country: train is timed far too slow. Beyond Hyde it is all down hill, and ■yet the train travels slowly. At the two chief sidings there is generally a stoppage of five or 10 minutes. Beyond Hyde there cotild easily be an acceleration of at least half an. hour, which would enable passengers to get dinner much more conveniently at Middlemarch—and it is just this half-hour which would enable passengers to catch the Dunedin express at Mosgiel. ■

Without a doubt the Otago Central train should go right on to Mosgiol and-transfer its passengers to the express. It would be such a treat to reach Dunedin at 5 o'clock, instead of crawling in at 6 o'clock in such a wretchedly slow train after half an hour's stoppage at weary Wingatui. This double-engine train will assuredly mulct the Railway department in heavy damages. The jolting is dreadful, and I am informed that is quite unavoidable, while there are two heavy engines starting-at such stations. • ■ ■. ■

The cure is, .therefore, not to "have two engines on the train; and how can this be effectually avoided? Very simply. .By housing the Otago Central engines at Mosgiel, and arrange for passengers to change carriages at Mosgiel. Urgent trucks could be forwarded by the ordinary Mosgiel trains. Nearly all the passengers have tickets from or to Dunedin; therefore it is of no advantage to them, to stop at every wayside station. Passengers going south by the Dunedih 4.20 p.m. train would have to wait a little longer at Mosgiel, but these are very few in number. This is the only weak point in my suggestion. But on the other hand, they would have the advantage of having plenty of time to have a" proper tea at Mosgiel, and this 'is the natural place for the refreshment rooms. They would have plenty of time to go across to Knott's Hotel. ■

I am not one who would propose to th' 9 Railway department a tiling impossible to perform, and I am of opinion tiat the above arrangement would suit the department ad mirably.—l am, etc.,

Peregbinatob.