NORTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2668, 25 November 1909, Page 5

NORTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

THE TIME-TABLE ALTERATIONS

TELEGRAMS FROM MAYOR OF GISBORNE. 1

Some dissatisfaction has been expressed local.y regarding the published alteration in tihoi railway time-table, ills Worship the Mayor yesterday despatched following telegrams to Welling- “ Minister of Railways, Wellington^ — In the suggested, alteration of the Na-pier-Wellington time-table the interests of Gisborne have been' apparently entirely overlooked, and the alteration will debar travellers to and from G.sborne connection with the express, which for many years past has been largelv used both for mails as well as passenger service. I. had this matter brought under y.our notice some time back through Hon. J. Carroll, and then liad assurance given that no alteration would be allowed which interfered with Gisborne service'. I now desire to point out to you the alteration of outward express from Napier to leave at 7.1,10 a.m., instead of 8.45, and return at 9.20 p.m., instead of 6.45, means that under ordinary circumstances Gisborne passengers must wait over a whole day at Napier, which is not right. I have the assurance of Mr. McLean, president of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, that the Napier people disapprove of suggested alteration of through express. 1 understand this alteration of through express is made to suit New Plymouth through service. I would ask you to kindly see Gisborne’s isolated position has first consideration and that the train he run to suit the Gisborne boats as heretofore. There is no objection from the Gisborne point of view to the alteration of the second train leaving Napier for Palmerston and back. All we ask is do not let the through express leave Napier earlier or arrive later than at present, which necessitates a scramble to connect. Will be glad of. your assurance that you will sse matter readjusted.—Lysnar, Mayor.” “The Honorable the Premier, Wellington.—The, suggested alteration of time-table for the Napier-Wellington through express will deprive Gisborne passengers from connection with boat ■without waiting whole day at Napier. I have wired both the Minister of Railways and Hon. Carroll in the matter, and will esteem it a favor if you will give matter your personal attention and use your good offices in protecting Gisborne from the loss of an important connection both for passenger and mail service, which it greatly values.” “Hon. James Cart oil, Wellington,— The suggested alteration of the through express from Napier to Wellington, leaving at 7.30 instead of 8.45_ as at present, and returning at 9.20. instead of 6.45, will entirely disorganise connection Gisborne boat traffic, and is contrary to assurance given some time back that nothing would be done to affect Gisborne. Have wired fuhy to Minister of Railways, also to Premier. Please wire me promptly as matter very serious to Gisborne. Understand alteration is made to suit New Plymouth through connection. Why should* Gisborne, which has larger population, and already suffering isolation, be put at disadvantage!, to suit New Plymouth through service, which enjoys privilege of connection with whole system, which Gisborne has not got.” REPLY FROM MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS. Late last evening the Mayor received the following reply from the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways:— “W. D. Lysnar, Esq., Mayor, Gisborne. —In reply to your telegram re alteration of express train from Napier, I desire to point out to you that I never said there would be no alteration. What I did say was that there would be no alteration tliat would affect Gisborne travellers to tlic extent of preventing their catching the train, and before framing the time-table I consulted tiho general manager of the Union Steamship Company as to how the proposed hour of leaving, when he informed me that his company’s boats could easily be in time except in such weather as would prevent them catching the train, even at the present hour of starting; in other words, in nine trips out of ten the boats would reach Napier in plenty of time to connect with the morning train at 7.30. The proposed time of arrival of the evening train at Napier gives ample, opportunity to catch the northern steamer. The time-table is now fixed and published, and ought to get a fair trial. I feel satisfied that experience will show that it is one that suits the convenience of the large majority of people throughout the districts affected.—J. A. Millar.” PROTEST FROM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was he’d yesterday. There was a full attendance of the executive, and the following resolution was passed unanimously:— “The Gisborne Chamber of Commerce stronglv urge reconsideration of the new railway time-table, which will prejudicially affect facilities for connecting steamer passengers with Napier railway, especially in the winter months, when the margin of time left for transferring passengers and mails will he bound frequently to prove too small. .The-Chamber desires to point out that an extension of half-an-hour would bo beneficial, or your Department might grant a station to wharf service.” It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution tostlie Minister for Railways.