OHAI RAILWAY BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 22896, 22 May 1936, Page 12

OHAI RAILWAY BOARD

The Monthly Meeting GREATER QUANTITY OF COAL HAULED

At the monthly meeting of the Ohai Railway Board the chairman (Mr L. S. Edmond) presided and Messrs W. Excell, D. D. MacDonald, E. Davis, G. Tinker, W. Crawford and G. Edie were present. The general manager (Mr A. W. Rodger) referred to the death of Mr A. W. Pittaway, of the Railways Department, and carried a motion of condolence in the usual manner.

The report of the general manager stated:—

“The output of coal from the mines has been very satisfactory and for the seven weeks since April 1, the beginning of the current financial year, there is an increase of 4184 tons in the quantity hauled compared with the corresponding period of last year. Not since 1929-30, the ‘peak’ year in the board’s history, has so much coal been hauled over the line between April 1 and the middle of May. “Between January 1 and April 30 there was an increase in the consignments of coal to consumers in Southland of 1147 waggons, compared with the same period in 1935. The greater portion of this large increase is undoubtedly due to the control of the road transport which took effect on January 1.” Traffic Manager’s Report. The traffic manager (Mr R. Donnelly) in his monthly report stated:— “The 401 b portion of Crawford’s siding has been relaid with 701 b rails, and faulty soft wood sleepers have been replaced with sound sleepers. The siding is now in a condition for handling coal traffic.

“The clutch of the Leyland engine required attention and the locomotive had to be set aside to have the parts put in order. The engine has taken up the usual passenger running again.” The general manager, in reply to an inquiry by Mr Tinker, stated that the increase of 1147 waggons as shown in his report, was from January 1 to March 31, 1936. This increase in the amount of coal consigned meant a revenue of from £3OO to £4OO. The chairman said that he had been approached with numerous complaints about the running of the Leyland service. Workers had been inconvenienced as no advice had been received when the service suddenly ceased. After hearing an explanation by the traffic manager the board decided to advise sidings when any stoppage of the service occurred in future.