NIGHTCAPS RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Issue 18963, 9 June 1923, Page 8

NIGHTCAPS RAILWAY.

To the Editor. Sir, —I noticed in your issue of 31st ult., a reprint from the Western Star in which it states that as the Ohai railway is within a quarter of a mile from the railway station, it would not be any inconvenience to those who use the railway if it were moved. Do you not think the 270 persons who signed the petition, of whom 76 are farmers, would know better than the Western Star or its correspondent as to whether the closing of the line or removing the station to the Ohai line, a distance from the present station of three-quarters of a mile (f) not a quarter of a mile as stated, and up and down a steep hill would be not only an inconvenience but would entail extra cost in cartage over a distance of miles to and from Ohai line. Why should the line to Nightcaps be closed or the station removed seeing it has been under the control of the Railway Department for over 40 years, the Department receiving all the revenue from all goods and coal carried. It has been the means of opening up lands for settlement which will still be revenue producing when the coalfields of Ohai are worked out. It has been the best paying line in Southland and according to railway returns there has been railed from the Nightcaps Coal Company’s mine the astonishing quantity of 1,428,000 tons of coal of which the Government received in revenue £350,000. Don’t you think it is up to the Government to purchase the line and do away with a privately-owned line that might hinder development seeing there is a possibility of securing the line and all buildings for the low sum of £6OOO. I am, etc., DONALD SINCLAIR. Nightcaps, June 7.