THE NEW TIME TABLE. Public Meetings at Te Awamutu and Kihikihi.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2132, 9 March 1886, Page 2

THE NEW TIME TABLE. Public Meetings at Te Awamutu and Kihikihi.

Our Te Awamutu correspondent writes :— A largely attended meeting was held here on Friday evening to protest against the action of the Railway Department in altering the present time-table. As it is a subject of public interest, people from all paits of the district were present, although the time for notifying the meeting was short. Mr Walton was voted to the chair, and read the notice in The Waikato Times convening the meeting. He spoke shortly on the object in view. It meant, he said, that it would deprive us of the evening train, and it was not likely that persons coming up by the afternoon train would care about stopping in Hamilton for the night. The people in Cambridge objected to it, and it affected us in common with them. The railway buildings, such as cottages, &c, would have to be moved to Frankton, or else be left empty here. He then called upon tho*e present to move any resolutions. Mr Taylor moved and Mr J. \V. Bridgman seconded "That in the opinion of this meeting (Te Awamutu being the present terminus of the line) it is an act of great injustice to deprive so important and extensive a district of its daily service from Auckland by stopping the present evening train at Frankton overnight." This was carried unanimously. Mr Teasdale, in moving the next resolution, said that before the present evening service was inaugurated, Mr Hudson met the people here, and consulted them on the matter, and was of opinion that the evening train was required, else why did he recommend it ? It simply meant that people wishing to come by tho evening train must of necessity stop at Hamilton for the night. That meant the spending of a certain amount of money there. It looked as if pressure were brought to bear upon the department to forward so desirable an and. desirable at least for Hamilton. He quite concurred with the opening remarks of the chairman with reference to the buildings at the station. He would move the following resolution. " That the railway authorities be lequested to delay the proposed alteration.till the Ist April, as originally intended* so as to (five the public an opportunity ot thoroughly considering the matter and of giving full expression to their opinion ; and that in the meantime nothing be done in reference to the removal of engine sheds and other buildings and the resident work men, which if carried out would bo a, permanent injury to the district." This was seconded by Mr Andrew, who spoke at some length to the motion, pointing out the great incuiivonience it would cause to the district. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr J. Cunningham proposed nnd Mr C J. Storey seconded " That copies of these resolution be wired to tho Minister for Public Works, Mr Hudson, the Traffic Manager, and Mr Lake, the member for the district, requesting their earnest consideration and assistance." Canied unamuiou-,ly. During a discussion which ensued, Mr Moss spoko of the expense and loss incut red in running the extra tram. Mr Gresham reminded the meeting that when lecturing here Mr Vaile stated that the annual loss incurred on tho New Zealand railways was £.">OO,OOO and this was going on in an increasing ratio, and as the train was to be run as far as Frankton in the evening, and had in any case to come on here next morning it was nonsence to talk about expense. If the railways wore to be run at a loss we might as well have public convenience studied as much as possible. The usual vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close. A meeting was held on Saturday evening in Kihikihi when the resolutions passed at the meeting here were endorsed and the chairman, Mr Farrell, was requested to telegraph the endorsement to the same quarters as the Te Awamutut resolutions.