The Patea Mail. Established April 14, 1875. Be Just, and Fear Not. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1885.

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 1315, 2 March 1885, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established April 14, 1875. Be Just, and Fear Not. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1885.

The Hawera Star takes exception to the New Plymouth and Patea papers writing against the proposed Railway Time-Table, and considers that the press will not have ranch effect'as against the extensive knowledge and mature deliberation bf such authorities as the GeneralManager of Railways and Mr Rotheram. So far as the deliberately-formed judgment goes, the Star is probably-.right, ; but we have always beard that “ prevention is easier than cure,” and still think that if an easily altered error can be pointed out before the time-table is fixed, it should at least receive reasonable consideration. The Star, however, is anxious to give the new time-table a trial, and says: “* * * But let us have ;a trial of the proposed time-table first; ; We repeat, however, what we have said before, that the proposal to run one train right through each way to suit the convenience of: through travellers, other arrangements being made to suit local traffic, seems to be much more reasonable than running all trains very early in the morning and very late at night in order to meet,,fancied wants. The through traffic on none of the New Zealand lines is a success, nor is it likely to be for some time. The main source of revenue is the interrelation traffic, and this must not be lost sight of in making up time-tables.” We say-most absolutely and decidedly, never Jet such a hideous specimen of gross injustice be perpetrated anywhere or under any circumstances. Wc can find no reason in the connection of this line to justify such an act. The one through train runs now and the intermediate one also, despite the coach service from Manutahi to Hawera, and passengers from Wanganui and any intermediate station can come to this (or any other intermediate) town, and stay for two hours and get back the same day, and passengers from this town can go to Manutahi and return the same day ; but when the gap is bridged and no coach service necessary, the troins are to do precisely the same jburnies only much less conveniently. How, we ask, would Hawera like “ a trial of the proposed time-table ” if she found by that time-table ihat settlers from Mokoia could not come to do business there because they could not by any possibility return the same day, or, on the other hand, how would “a trial of the proposed time-table ” suit if residents in Hawera found they could not get even ns far as Normanby extension and return the same day. It is this gross injustice that we complain of, and we think we have every right to complain, and hope our settlers will not forget the Jpower of “ the public ”, nor be slow to bring that power to bear with j

a view'of averting this proposed calamity —for we can call it little else—and as this time-table proves, if any proof were required, that the railway is not yet handed over to the management of a. non-political Board, our representative might be stirred up in the matter (and we- may be very sure he will require stirring, for though a very game runner lie runs . best under the whip, and is then very difficult to shake off in a struggle) and in a -cause of such importance to the district we have no doubt the member for New Plymouth would willingly grant his aid, and it is nOticCahle that the hon. member for Nejy Plymouth, though young in Earliamentary experience, is yet by far the most watchful, energetic,'and, above all, successful member New Plymouth has: ever had the good fortune to secure, and' from, the opportunities ws have had of noticing bis actions in the House, it is l very sale to assume that his assistance will be, readily given tp a.project in which: the welfare of any portion of the Provincial, District is at stake. We heard itsaid at the last public meeting that it was necessary to have due regard to the Wanganui stock sales. This may be true, but we may bo quite sure that Wanganui will have every attention paid to it in arranging a time-table without our interference, and we would also remind our readers that we , have regular stock sales in our own town, and are these not entitled to any consideration ? Are our : settlers to be debarred from all- possibility of attending these ? Again, there are sales held regularly at Waverley, and is no one to be allowed to visit those sales? There are regular sales held at Kaknramea, Manntahi, , and Hawera (the latter being especially important sales) and are we not to be allowed to visit any of these ? And last, but by no means least, wo have meat preserving works on the Patea and Waitnra rivers, but although only seventy miles lie between them they are yet to bo kept “ three days’ journey ’’ apart.. It is at present estimated that the Waitara works will require-to draw 2000 sheep, or equivalent in beef, each week from this district, and anyone from here wishing to deliver these must perforce take three days to do it and return, a very serious item to charge against the profit and loss account. We have now pointed out a few of the effects the proposed new time-table will have, and leave the matter in the hands of those whose interest it most concerns.