NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16547, 23 September 1919, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

-TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln an appreciative sense I am writing to those of your readers "bo enjoy a leisure!}' jaunt through pastoral sceuerv. For such I can recommend a trip by the train leaving Hawcra for New Plymouth at 12 noon. This is tho schedule time, but punctuality is of little or no consequence to tho Now Zealand railways. Patience and longsuffering arc tho distinguishing traits of tho Now Zealander, and I’uU advantage is taken of it. On the journey the writer took the train lott Hawcra at 12.35, went on for a few miles and stopped suddenly with a violent jolt. It was shortly after that a little old lady confidently whispered to me that she was taking an experimental trip. On asking for particulars I wot the following remarkable disclosure. She wished to get a largo policy on her life, but the insurance company were perplexed, one doctor having said that her heart was affected and another doctor disagreeing. Accordingly it was arranged for her to take the trip to New Plymouth, tho doctors concurring that if she was alive after that she could stand anything in the way of shock'. From this point on as often as possible I seized-th* lady’s hand, both when we stopped and when we started. From tho insurance company’s point of view' this might have been quite regular, and I sincerely trust the publication of the facts will not prejudice her chances. She apparently had not travelled much, for she innocently inquired how it was possible to keep so many carriages on tbo line going at such a pace. I admitted it required skill, but that there was no danger. Tins was reassuring to her. At each important station wo stayed for lengthy spoils. Through the thoughtfulness of the staff ample time was given for much refreshment; those who required none watched the engine backing a half-dozen wagons down a side line and bringing the same half-dozen again to their original site. Often tho engine would go on a joy ride, n’lwuvs first of all firing a shrill blast of the whistle which enlivened by lady friend quite as much as the jolting. We also stopped at many wayside stations. All through tho journey the impression given was that wo wore entering foreign a.ud hostile country. At a little station called, I think, Durham, we stopped, possibly because of an unseen enemy round tho bend. This not being the case wo proceeded cautiously, and finally dashed into Inglewood gallantly. The Natives were friendly. It was here that I and some other gentlemen got a shock. Wo had gone up to the Inglswood Coat of Arms Hotel, and while one of our party went to have a hot bath, tho rest of us filed into the billiard room

for a game of snooker. When number one had returned from his bath it dawned on us that the tram had gone. Hurriedly reaching the .station wo found to our horror that this was the case and the statiqnmastcr informed us that it had gone five minutes. There was nothing for it but to run and catch it up, which wo did with much panting. The trouble when wo got it was to find our own particular first-class carnage. There arc no points gained travelling second-class on a, second-class ticket, and as this was what we ml hold, we had scored considerably, seated on luxurious seats at a lot less than many who were in the same carriage had paid. It was important therefore to find tins carriage. It annoyingly turned out to bo up near to the engine, and as the train was going at full speed wo congratulated ourselves when, we got aboard. The distance from Hawera to New Plymouth is -18 miles, and when the latter is reached at 4 o clock, or somewhat after, the jaded passengers feel that they have had their money s worth. There is an idea current that the Now Zealand Railways could bo unproved. This is not so. As a pantomimic railway it is the hugest success in the world.—l am, etc., in tne nonu. ’PACEMAKER.