CORRESPONDENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20038, 23 March 1914, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

A REQUEST TO THE RAILWAY

DEPARTMENT

(To the Editor.) Sir.—May I crave the shelter of your columns from which to ventilate a grit** • once. We are compelled to live within earshot of four level crossings and the loud and prolonged shriekings of the whistles provided by the Railway Department are a serious menace to xn<r peace and comfort of the neighbourhood. By day or by njght. and lately even on Sundays, conversation is absolutely impossible during the passing of the trains, and children and invalids are startled and aroused until, recently, a short whistle was considered to be all that was necessary to warn possible wayfarers of approaching danger. I notice that the Department has decided to dis-' pense with the ringing of a bell five minutes before the departure of a train from the station because of the annoyance the soun dcauses to the people in the neighbourhood. Can it not also see its way to return to less violent methods of warning inattentive pedestrians and drivers at the level crossings in the'quiet and little frequented lanes on the outskirts of the town.—-I am,.etc., -^ ■;':■-■'■■'■ .' v . "QUERY." ,{;'.