A TURAKINA CRIEVANCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14307, 1 June 1914, Page 4

A TURAKINA CRIEVANCE.

Timvry-six years ago the settlers of Turakina . petitioned the Government to construct a railway platform at the southern end ,of the district, a request which was agreed to conditionally on the settlers giving the land and forming the road to the-platform. , This w.as done, some .£6O being subscribed for the purpose, and up'to quite recently the residents of that district have had the advantage of the railway facilities granted, almost from the time the line was first opened. .Alterations have' recently been effected to the .line, which has been deviated about 10ft from the old route, and the Department has closed the 'flag station and taken away the building. Naturally the good people of Turakina were much annoyed at the lack of consideration shown them, for no public notification was made of the closing of the flag station; simply a verbal notice was given that after a week the platform would be non-existent. A deputation, thereupon went to Wellington and waited upon the Minister for Railways with the request that the flag station be re-opened.‘ ' The deputation pointed out that it was more convenient for more than half the population than the main Turakina station, and that it would be an unexpensive matter to shift the platform another J.oft: about a day’s work for a couple of men. Not only so, but the deviation lessened the curves, thereby enabling tie train to pull up more easily than formerly. Mr Herries promised to give the request of the deputation consideration, and reply later on, but up to the present no further intimation has been received.. The settlors do not ask that all trains should stop at the .flag station, but that provision should be made for the slow trains stopping, which might easily be arranged in view of the long stops' made by some of the trains at the Turakina station.. The matter is one that might well -receive reconsideration at. the hands of the Department. S