THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1916 RAILWAY SLIP LESSONS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times

PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1916 RAILWAY SLIP LESSONS.

The Official Organ ot : The Franklin County Council. The Pukekohe Borough Council. The Tuakau Town Board. The Earaka Road Board. The Manukau County Council. The Raglan County Council. The Wairoa Road Board. The Papakura Town Board. The Waikato River Board. The Mercer Town Board. The Manurewa Town Board The Manurewa Road Board.

"We nothing extenuate, nor Bel down auaht in malice."

The lessons taught by the blockage of railway traffic near Paerata last week are ot a diverse nature, but principally it was manifesto tbat Pukekohe has good reason to renew its application to tbe powers-that-be for the station to be made a stopping place tor the main trunk express trains. Every accommodation needed was found to be available at the station for dealing with tbe emergency, including copious supplies of water taken by tbe engines. Pukekohe has every right to make claim on a Government iJepartment to assist it in its forward move and tbe stopping of tbe is not only warranted by the local/and country population, but aa a means of assisting to advertise the district.

Tben again as to the public inconvenience that was brought about by the slip, the folly of not retaining the old line ot railway as a "btand-by" was revealed. On a new track the possibilities of falls and land-slides are, at least to tbe public mind, always imminent but in tbeir wisdom the railway authorities, immediately the new line was brought into use, tore up tbe old route, removed tbs sleepers and metal*, and unbndged tbe culverts, and this although tbe land still remained in the Departments possession and was not likely to be wanted for other purposes. Such hasty policy has proved a costly matter to the Department and, it is to be hope:), will not be again repeated on other sections of tbe grade easement works as they are opened. There is, in addition, another aspect of tbe alternative routes to be considered and tbat Is that sooner or later the line between Auckland and Mercer is to be duplicated. Perhaps owing to tbe attendant expense, no provision for duplication bas been made in the grade easement works carried out, but the old route if retained would have provided scope tor a double line. We are well aware tha.' the new track has been de-

wear and tear of rolling-stock through heavy loads having to be

drawn over steep grades, but whilst this WBS so in the run from Kunciman to Faerata tbe journey from Paerata to Kunciman was on the down grade and as such could have been utilised for trains procecdi g to Auckland.

"Experience teaches" is an old and true proverb and tbe Kailway Department may not be above profiting io knowledge from last week's mishap.