PASSENGER SERVICE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2433, 6 January 1931, Page 5

PASSENGER SERVICE

v CAMBRIDGE-HAMILTON. BLUE BUSES BUY KIWI SERVICE. .; During the last decade and a half the" means of transport between Cambridge and Hamilton has seen a vast improvement and many changes. Many district residents remember the time Avhen a motor run to Hamilton and back cost at least £l. It was regarded as a wonderful concession when Mr Galbraith Wratton, who still plies a service car between Tauranga and Hamilton, inaugurated his passenger service between Cambridge and Hamilton at a charge of 7/6 single and 12/6 return. Since those days the growth and advancement of motor transport has been really staggering. Few people residing here ten years ago would have agreed with anyone who had predicted that the return fare to Hamilton and Frankton Junction would drop down to the sum of 2/-. However, it has come true, and to-day buses are plying to and from Cambridge making several trips a day at this remarkably low cost. This can be appreciated when it is compared with the rate ten years ago. The cost then was more than five times as much.

To-day Cambridge and Hamilton are served with a fine, smooth bitumen road for the greater portion of the way, the only exception being the stretch between the Cambridge end of the Tamalicre Gully and Hillcrcst. However, the time is not far distant when there will be a bitumen surface over the entire length. A striking word picture in support of the foregoing was given the writer a day or two ago by an old gentleman who was revisiting the scenes of his early labours. "Yes," he said, "the scenes have certainly changed since I last travelled along this road forty years ago. It was only a waggon track and there was no Tamaiierc Gully route. We had to travel over a rough track and along to the Narrows Road. There was no bitumen and no motor or service ears.''

Another Change. Since the original motor service was inaugurated there have been many Changes and the latestJs the acquiring of the Kiwi Motors passenger service by Buses Ltd., of Hamilton. Elsewhere in this issue Buses Ltd. announce that they have purchased the Kiwi service until recently run by Mr Howard Lines-Jones. Buses Ltd., with their big fleet of Blue Buses operating in Hamilton and to other parts of the Wai■• kato, advertise their new time-table today and, along with low prices, they promise the district residents a regular and reliable service. Official time-table cards will be available from "drivers and shops in the town immediately. All inquiries or bookings made with tliu firm's Cambridge phone. (242) will be promptly attended to.