PALMERSTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2676, 28 June 1905, Page 16

PALMERSTON.

A deputation, consisting of_ Messrs J. ; Riley, — Isbister, A. MT<ennan, and W. i TJrquhaxt, introduced by Mr Mackenzie, ! spoke of this necessity of a daily train eer- i vice between Palmerston and -Dunback. It would be a great benefit to the whole district, especially in view of the extension of the dairy industry and the rabbit export. I At present there were two days of the week : on which the train .did not run. A tele- , ■phone bureau was also very much needed • at Glenpark.— Mr Riley said that his firm was willing to guarantee the oost of the ibureau, but as the telephone ought to be 'open (to the public it should he provided at the expense '-of the colony. There were two "wires passing G'enpark at the present time. —Sir Joseph Ward said he would look into • .fche question of train service. Where it ' -was possible to give a facility of the kind ! -he was ready to give it as long as there was j treasonable justification for it. He would j •inquire whether the small -engine at Palmer.ston could not be used on the two days in the week on which trains did not now run, and he would also get an esti- j mate of the probable traffic, and forward a reply. Regarding the telephone line, if there was,, a wire already passing and an ordinary guarantee of deficiency were given ihe would be prepared to establish a bureau ifor the benefit of the public generally. On that (matter he would also communicate rivith them in writing later on. Mr Mackenzie brought up the matter of connecting Dunback with Hyde by mail, \ and Sir Joseph Ward said he would look anto the question. It would probably mean jiublio competition for the service, and if •the Government could get a reasonable tender, and the service yrould be a convenience, he saw no objection to it. Messrs E. H. Clark, W. Robertson, and iW. B. Galloway (town clerk) urged aa improvement in the accommodation at the ■Palmerston Railway Station. At present passengers had to cross the rails to get to t-ertain trains, and it was dangerous. If there was a second platform it would be a convenience. A verandah on the station /would also be a benefit.— Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that if a double platform could be provided it would no doubt be a convenience;" but although that was so it ,was not possible to grant it. If there was a ■double line of rails from Palmerston to ©unedin- there would be a platform on each line. It was just as well that the deputa v tipn should know at onoe that he could not grant that request. The question of a verandah he would have to keep before him. He could not promise it. A railway verandah was no doubt a convenience, but at the present time he was bound to rugtird it more in the light of a luxury than a necessity, for the reason that very u."g»at demand* for rolling stock, p±c_ v.er« so

many that the department could not come within coo-ec of meeting them. It was only by degrees they could provide verandahs and such like. Verandahs were not on the urgent list. They were probably on the foiirrh list. They were no doubt useful to people, but they would be deferred for a time.

Mr Mackenzie said that the town was desirous of having a road to a reserve on the couth side of Shag Point. The road, which went by way of Bushey, would be a great convenience to the townspeople and to visitors.— Mr Clark said that the road was already surveyed, and they only wanted a grant to form it. For visitors to Palra-er-sto-n it was the nearest road to the sea coast. Tie matter was one that had been brought under the notice of the Scenery Preservation Commissioners. — Sir Joseph Ward said he would get a report on the road, and it would be considered when moneys were being allocated for roads in different parts of the colony. If it was to be a convenience fcr a scenery reserve, he thought provision might be made for it.