THE NEW RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2669, 26 November 1909, Page 5

THE NEW RAILWAY TIMETABLE.

FURTHER TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS.

His Worship the Mayor yesterday received the following replies to telegrams despatched by him on Wednesday in connection with the suggested alterations to the railway time-table: From Hon. J. Carroll: “On receipt of your wire re railway time-table I submitted the representations to the Hon. Mr. Millar, who now informs me that he had communicated to you in detail the position from the Department’s point of view. The proposed alteration, I am assured, is the outcome of the fullest consideration to the requirements of the general public, and having got so far I should say the Minister will have to give the new system a fair trial' to test its merits. At the' same time I know he would be very loth to unnecessarily penalise Gisborne. He arrived at his decision after consultation with the general manager of the Union Company as to how the connection with Gisborne could be carried on by them.” Last evening the following telegram was received : From the Rt. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Prime Minister: “Your telegram re the suggested alterations in the Nani er-Wellington express time-table, to hand. I note your representations, and will be glad to confer with my colleague, the Hen. 1 ’Minister for Railways, on the subject.” The following replies were forwarded yesterday by tne Mayor: “Minister of Railways, Wellington: Many thanks for wire. You are quite right; the only understanding was that there would be no alteration that would affect Gisborne travellers to the extent of preventing their catching the train, and I am pleased to note you endeavored to protect this by consulting the general manager of tne Uuion -- Com--pany, but with all due respect to him, I would venture to say that if he had to travel the journey often he would agree that it is not practical. I would point out that it takes practically an hour-to tie up the boat at Napier wharf after arrival- there, as -they hare to swing the boat round, which is an exceptional practice so far as ports generally are concerned. This is a most serious delay, and is often the cause of passengers missing trains under present conditions. The discomforts and difficulties of boat travelling to Gisborne are more than they should be, and this is adding still further discomfort and difficulty to our main route of travel, as Gisborne passengers prefer to avoid steamer travelling between. Napier and Wellington, owing to saving of time, and the sea is so very bad between Napier and Wellington. I would again ask you to have the time-table readjusted, as it will act very prejudicially to Gisborne, especially so as we only have two steamers a week each way to rely upon, and if a return train misses a boat, it means three days waiting in Napier, which is quite unreasonable, especially so when wo realise the alteration is being made to help only a few_ through passengers from Napier to New Plymouth, which is already well served by both steamer and rail service.” “Hon. James Carroll. Wellington: I have your wire, also one from Minister of Railways. It will never do to allow change. It will not work out in practice. As you know, boats take practically an hour to tie up at Napier through having to swing round. Difficulties of travel to and from Gisborne are quite bad enough now, and it will be very bad if we are to be further penalised, because of our isolation,'to suit other localities who arc already well served, and who are to be granted further facilities at our cost and discomfort. Trust you will see Minister and get him to instruct readjustment of time-table on. more equitable basis.” , , Mr John Townley, chairman of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, received the following reply last night m response to the telegraphed resolution of that body, arrived at at Wednesday’s meeting: From the Minister for Railways: “Your telegram to hand. Do not think present time-table will prejudicially affect facilities for connecting steamer passengers with Napier railway. Before framing the time-table I consulted the general manager of the Union Steamship Company as to proposed hour of departure, and he informed me that the company s boats could easilv be in time, except in very bad vweatfe': The time-table is now fixed, and published, and should have a fair trial. Experience will probably show that it is ono that , suits the convenience of- the -large_ majority of people residing in the districts affected.” • • _____ A NAPIER PROTEST. Yesterday ;the following message was received from the President of . the Napier Chamber of Commerce: “Minister replies express altered at request of associated -Ghambers of *. Commerce,and must bo given a trial. Chambers asked for better connections with west coast, but not at expense of express to Wellington, which they suggested should be accelerated, but times not otherwise altered. W'e are still pro.testing and working tvith you- —McLean.. . _ rPuii Fkebs Association.! NAPIER, Nov. 25. At a special meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce to-day a resolution was unanimously parried protesting against the alteration of the railway time-table, as regarded the express to and from "Wellington, except m the direction of accelerated speed.