The Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1880.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3899, 15 October 1880, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1880.

Last week, we referred in our local columns to the fact that the appointment of Mr Hannay as first assistant Manager of the Middle Island railways had been received with unmixed sausfnction, both by the officials in the Department and by the public out of doore. Doubtless, if Mr HAXNAY had been tie recipient of the position bestowed upon Mr Maxwell, the satisfaction would have been much greater, whilst the confidence of the public would not have been so shaken. When, two years ago, an accident befell the Commissioner for the Middle Island Railways, the discharge of toe duties of that officer fell upon Mr Hannay, and his administration gave tbo most unqualified satisfaction. Upon the restoration of the Commissioner to the exerciee of authority, Mr Hannay — probably as a slight acknowledgment of the popularity he had vr >n — was banished to Oamaru, but, it would appear fro?n expression of public opinion called forth by his present appointment that the courtesy and capacity he formerly displayed have not been entirely forgotten. In connection with tbo fulfilment of the duties of his new position, a question of some importance may bo expected to at once arise, if indeed it baa not already '

arisen. We refer, of course, to the location of the residence and station of the l Assistant Manager. Otago, aa a matter of ; "certainty; will demand the presence of Mr Hannay in the busy metropolitan i -city of tbe Jouth. Notwithstanding < the advantage of the possession of ' •the/ vast administrative ability of ] *Mr Confers and the presence of his aßle Btaff Ireeently removed from Ohristohnroh, the Eailway Department in ■ Otago and- Southland, it will be asserted, ] is still in a shockingly disorganised con- | dition, and the constant supervision of Mr Bannay will be affirmed as an absolute necessity. Ifc will be well for the people of Canterbury to be prepared for this, and to become somewhat keenly conscious of the needs of this Province in the matter of administrative reform in the Railway Department. It is perhaps somewhat notorious that there are at present magnificent opporportunities for the display of a little sound judgment — not to say common sense — in the management of the Canterbury railways. The Railway officials at the Chri-tchurch station never seem to be aware of the existence of any special occasions when increased efforts and a little previeion upon their parfc may be necessary. They have fixed principles of supply for the public and a regulation allowance which it seems could not be departed from, even if the Heavens fell. If a warship, a new steamer— such as the Botomahana or I Te Anau — on her first trip, or a large English . vessel such as the Norfolk, visits port, and there ia in con- . sequence a rush of visitors to Lyttelton, the railway officials are, as ■ a matter of course, taken by surprise, and there is no sufficient accommodation provided. Ifc is interesting to observe how L rarely the governing genius, whoever he may be, is right in his anticipations of the busiaess to be done. Ifc will be i found that when there are few travellers the most commodious Brooking carriage is provided ; whilst, when there is a rush, a half carriage " smoking " only is available, which is consequently crammed to suffocation. These no doubt are only the fringes which conspicuously meet tho public gaze, but they are suggestive of much more important blundering in the more hidden branches of the service. The observant eye and ; steady hand ..hieh serve the governing • mind are wanted just as much in | Christchurch as in Dunedin. But we are not about to copy the selfish spirit of , the peoplo of the Scotch City, and demand the loeatien of the Assistant \ Manager in Canterbury; if Canterbury is treated to-a fair and reasonable amount of administrative attention — Buch an amounb of attention as her large traffic, and the remunerative character of her lines entitle her — no doubt our people will be well contented. Our suggestion is, that the head--1 quarters of Mr Hannay should be at 3 Oamaru, where he at present resides, which is as near as possible halfway between the Oreat Northern and Southern centres, and from which he could easily bestow equal attention upon both places. We are satisfied that the permanent establishment of Mr Hannay in Dunedin will not prove satisfactory to the . people of Canterbury ; indeed, considera ing tbe claims of our traffic, and the ■? present condition of tbo administration of our line3, it can scarcely be expected b that ifc should ,* on the other hand, the a people of Canterbury are, we feel > assured, not disposed to be unreason- * able in sucb a matter, and if they are ( allowed a fair moiety of attention will f be contented. The establishment of r Mr Hannay and his chief officers in £ Oamaru, in our opinion, would meet all , the difficulties of the position, and should give equal satisfaction to that gentle--1 man, the people of Dunedin, and tho citizens of Christchurch.