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Western Star, Issue 406, 1 January 1881, Page 2

We havtr to chronicle another aggravating instance of want of enterprise on the part of the railway authorities that requires investigating into, and one which should lead to placing the matter of special trains to Riverton on holiday occasions on a better basis than that which has hitherto determined this matter. In view of the regatta to be held here on Monday, the Secretary of the Committee was instructed by that body to write to the railway authorities at Invercargill, requesting that a special train be laid on from that place to Riverton; or, in the event of that concession being too much', that a late train be dispatched from Riverton; so that visitors would bo able to witness the regatta. The letter referred to was dispatched from Riverton on Wednesday evening, and the reply from the statioumaster at Invercargill—which did not reach Riverton until midday yesterday—was as follows (omitting the formal introduction).: —“ I have to inform you that 1 fear there will not be sufficient inducement to warrant the running of such trains. On 2nd January, 1880, wo carried 25 first and’ 88 second class passengers only, and on the Ist only. 3 first and 48 second class. The ordinary times of running of trains on that day (Monday next) cannot ba departed from.” What' bearing the information that a certain number of passengers travelled on the line last year «an have on the application, is difficult to discern j if it is meant as a reason for not putting on a special or late train, that statement is easily replied to. With the existing time-table, the wonder is—not that' so few, but so many travelled on the occasion referred to Alter the present inconvenient time-table, so that the public will be allowed a .five or six bonrsstay in Riverton, and we venture to assert that the number Who will taka advantage of the trip will be such as to more than pay the department. In support of‘tins, the re- 1 suit of the special train on Mon lay l ist rnaj be referred to. On that occasion more people travelled on the Riverton line than on the whole of the other trains put together that left Invercargill on that day. In view of such management of our railways, is it any wonder that they do not pay ? Any private business worked upon similar principles would collapse in a very short time. As a matter of fact, .it was only after a pressing request from the Caledonian Society that a late train was conceded on Monday last, and yet over 500 people travelled solely on account of the extended time ! allowed. It is patent that mors consideration must be shown to the convenience of the pub-lic-on holiday occasions in the matter of,(lie

Riverton-Invercargill time table. To secure that end, similar means to those adopted by Invercargill on a recent occasion must be resorted to, other efforts having been tried and failed. There is an opinion abroad that a “set” has from first to last been made at Riverton in the matter of excursion trains—indeed with regard to the whole time table—and while the facility with which special trains are run upon other lines on every trival occasion gives color to this impression, it is one that we would reluctantly adopt; but if the present action of the department continues, no other conclusion can be comr te.