NAMING THE JUNCTION

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17503, 10 September 1928, Page 9

NAMING THE JUNCTION

(To the Editor.) Sir, —For many years past we have been content to allow the town of Hamilton to be looked on as a small town on the branch Rotorua line somewhere up north amongst the cows. Passengers have repeatedly landed at Frankton at 3*30 in the morning and huddled round the Are in the waitingroom awaiting the first train to Hamilton. At last, apparently due to the vision of those broad-minded gentlemen on the various public bodies concerned, we are going to have Hamilton put on the map as one of the most important towns on the Main Trunk line. Every citizen of our fair town whp is possessed of any brains at all will realise what a boost this must give our town. I noticed a letter in last night’s Times signed “Franktonite,” who appears to be very short-sighted indeed. I also am a Franktonite of over 12 years’ residence, and in that time my rates have more than doubled. But what have I got for it? Commerce Street raised from the status of a bog to a fine concrete highway; footpaths and roads paved and channelled, sanitary drainage installed and innumerable other improvements carried out. Any Franktonite looking back, say even six years* must admit that we have had a fair deal from Hamilton. Certainly we do not have lawns on our footpaths, but we must remember the chaotic state our roads and footpaths were in at the time we amalgamated with Hamilton. The lawns can come later —a very good idea, too; after all it must be cheaper to cut a lawn than maintain a full-width footpath. In years to come, when Hamilton's population reaches the 50,000 mark, we will require the full width of footpath. As one who was interested in the amalgamation proposals I regard myself as a citizen of Hamilton. It is time we dropped the “ile” stunt and get down to business —i.e-, to push the whole town along; in helping others we are also helping ourselves. Bracken the poet said, “Poor souls, with stunted vision, oft measure giants with their narrow gauge, etc.” (Jood luck to those who have taken this matter up so energetically—that of placing Hamilton on the map as one of the busiest, brightest, an|t best towns on the Main Trunk line. May their efforts be rewarded. —I am, etc., LOOKING AHEAD. f