NORTH ISLAND BAND CONTEST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8012, 26 December 1905, Page 2

NORTH ISLAND BAND CONTEST

TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS. The North Island Band Contest is to be held at Hawera shortly, and the committee is endeavouring to have arrangements made for special train services north and south from Hawera. The Railway Department, however, seems unwilling to meet them in this matter, urging that such a service would not be profitable. New Plymouth held record crowds when the contest was held here, and there is no reason to believe that Hawera will not be similarly flooded in'th residents from the country and neighbouring towns on tins occasion. The "Star" says the committee has asked for: (1) Excursion fares from Saturday, January 20, until the end of the month ; (2) special trains from Wangamii and Now Plymouth on Thursday (people's day),,such trains to leave in time to land the visitors at the Hawera racecourse at 1 o'clock; (3) the delay of the northern and southern trains till a suitable time in the evening to allow of the people stopping to hear tho final test selection. Their requirements are very moderate. Our contemporary, in pressing the claims on the Department, says : The guarantors advanced upon the enterprise with every confidence that if the Railway Department would respond the results would be mutually beneficial and the whole affair a big success. On the present occasion we have the hearty support of New Plymouth and Wangamii, which should be a guarantee of substantial passenger lists. We are not alone considering the responsibilities of the committee, but are taking into consideration the convenience of the public as well. In Wanganui, we notice from the Herald, a demand is already being made for tho lattj special or delayed train on Thursday. The 'past official control of this section of the railway has been carried on with a praiseworthy desire to meet the enterprise of the people, and we sincerely trust that in the present (instance the Department will see its way to accede to the requests made by the Baud Contest Committee.