"When is the Day Lost?"

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1672, 22 April 1885, Page 2

"When is the Day Lost?"

Our Masterton] contemporary, the Daily, asserts that our argument with respect to the railway time table “ have been inspired by,Mr Coleman Phillips.” This assertion is rather a surprise. The Editor of the Standard is not in the habit of seeking “ inspiration ” either from Mr Coleman Phillips or anybody else. In truth, while entertaining a hearty personal liking for Mr Phillips, we, at the same time, as a general rule, do not believe in either his “ inspirations ” or opinions on many public questions. With respect to the matter of. the railway time table, we simply tried to put both sides of the question fairly, and to show that the majority of the Wairarapa settlers were opposed to any alteration. It would be a waste of time to repeat the arguments advanced, but on one point a further word may be said. The Daily admits that very few commercial travellers go out from Wellington to Masterton by the morning train and adds “ that they are compelled to take the 4.25 p.m. train, sleep at Masterton, and thus lose a day.” Now, the latter part of this statement is all nonsense. If a commercial traveller leaves Wellington for Masterton by tho 4 25 p.m. train, he has had all that day from 0 a.m till 4 p.m., in wuicu to transact business at the former place, business hoars are practically over in Wellington nt 1,25 p.m. Certainly, that day has not been lost. Then tho traveller gets to Masterton about 9 p.m., has some supper and a chink, with a cigar and game of billiards to follow, alter which ho goes to bed and ” sleeps tho sleep of tho just,” awaking relreshed next 1 morning for a vigorous day’s luidia s», which ho gets through comfortably iu time to return by the afternoon'“tram to Wellington. Certainly, that particular day has not been lost any more than the other. It is needless to argue tho question further. Tho pit-seal time table suits tho convenience of the great majority of the Wairarapa settlors very well aud any alteration in it would create both inconvenience and dissatisfaction.