AUCKLAND TO INVERCARGILL.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 168, 21 July 1908, Page 7

AUCKLAND TO INVERCARGILL.

THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS

THE PROPOSED TIME-TABLE

WELLINGTON, July 14. The policy of the Government m regard to the North Island Main Trunk Railway is outlined m. the annual report of the Minister, of Railways. "Tn view of the early completion of the North Island Main Trunk line," he says, "the all-important question of train service has been engaging my close attention for some time past. Many important issues are involved, but after mature consideration I have come to the conclusion that the rail-way time-table must be framed on lines that will furnish the people of the Dominion with the most convenient and Tapid means of transport between Auckland, the Bluff*, and the important business centres of both islands lying between those points. 'The commercial interest of the country demands that' mails should receive qtfick despatch, and those engaged m business pursuits m the various important centres be given reasonable facilities for replying .promptly to oversea communications. The distance intervening between Auckland and Invereargill renders night Wvelling by land' and sea unavoidable ; it also makes the curtailment of the stopping places of the through trains, which mugb 'be regarded as essentially fast passenger and '■ mail trains, an imperative necessity. It follows, therefore, that a satisfactory service between, the north and south portions of the Dominion can be given only by limiting the number of stopping places for the through trains, and this will be done accordingly. The through trains m the North Island will consist of 50ft cars, convertible into sleeping .cars at night, and the time-table will be approximately : South bound : Leave 'Auckland 8.30 p.m. Monday, arrive Wellington 3.30 p.m. Tuesday ; leave by steamer for Lyttelton 8 p.m. same evening ; connect witih first express at Christcmurch . Wednesday ; arrive Invereargill 9.30 p.m. same night. North bound : . Leave Invereargill 7.10 a.m. Monday, Lyttelton by steamer 10 p.m. same night; arrive Wellington 9 a.m. Tuesday ; leave 12 noon ; arrive Auckland 7.15 a.m. Wednesday. Similarly on other days daily connection will be provided between Napier, New Plymouth, and Auckland. The success of the operations of the North Island Main Trunk Railway will be materially assisted by the acquisition of t'he Manawatu Company's line. It is desirable that the company's line be taken over at the earliest possible date. Plans for the necessary increased accommodation are being prepared.