Visit of the Hon. Minister of Public Works.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 348, 8 January 1903, Page 4

Visit of the Hon. Minister of Public Works.

The Hon W. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, accompanied by Mr E. R. Ussher,. of the Public Works Department, reached Alexandra at mid day yesterday,, after having visited the Otago Central railway works. Reporters from the " Dai'y Times " and " Lyttelton Times " accompanied the party. The Minister was met and welcomed on arrival by His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Kelman). After lunch the Mayor and borough councillors, and a number of leading citizens, waited on the Minister and brought under bis notice a number of questions affecting the town and district. The Mayor brought up the question of the Otago Central railway, and explained to the Minister the urgent necessity that existed for the early completion of the line. ' The Minister said he had just inispected the works. He was anxious to have the line completed to Ophir ajs early as possible, and with this object in view an additional 40 men had just been put on the works;' There were now between 250 and 300 men at work, which was as many as coirid be conveniently employed. Double shifts were being worked on the unfinished tunnel and on portion of the cuttings, and the formation between the Ophir station and the gorge was being pushed on. The building of the bridge over the Manuherikia was proceeding at a satisfactory rate, and he hoped to have the line opened to Ophir, at any rate, before the epd of pext summer. The viaduct over the Poolburn was a difficult piece of work, and every effort was being made to have the girders in position befor the beginning of wintef". If this could be done, the line should be finished to Ophir within the time J»e mentioned. ; ■ Mr Ryan asked if the Minister would be in favor of proceeding with tbe, bridges between Alexandra, and ©pifr

jat once; also if he would favorably consider the question of making tlie bridges so that they could be used' for ordinary traffic, as bridges were badly required over the river. Mr Theyers also spoke on the same question. The Minister said his idea was to complete each section as the line proceeded. If they were to go on with the construction of jjbridges far ahead of the completed portion, it would mean that a heavy expenditure would be entailed in cartage of material. Such a proceeding would be detrimental to the progress of the linej. and he would sooner spend that money in laying rails, His intention was to complete the line to Ophir as speedily as possible, and then take in hand the next section. If a sufficient sum were voted next year, he would proceed with the bridges on the next section. Regarding the question of building a railway bridge to take ordinary traffic as well, it would be for the Lands Department to say if they would grant his Department the difference in the cost of such a structure, as compared with a purely railway traffic bridge. This has been done in other places, and there was no reason why it should not be done here. He advised them to consult the Minister for Lands in the matter, and if that Department were agreeable a bridge such as suggested would be built. The Mayor brought up the question of water conservation, and asked if any assistance would be given by Government in this direction. The Minister suggested that they should form a Water Conservation Board, as provided by the Act, and he said that in that case there would be no difficulty in getting advances from Government, in the same way as loans to losal bodies. It was simply a question of satisfactory security. Mr James Rivers brought up the question of the differential rates ruling on the Otago Central as compared with the Lawrence line, and pointed out the hardship to w*hich the mining community in Central Otago was thereby subjected. The Minister promised to bring the matter before his colleagues. Mr Richards asked if there was no possibility of obtaining a reduction in the carriage of pipes for the Alexandra waterworks scheme on the Otago Central Railway. There would be about 200 tons of pipes. The Minister recognised that, at the rates charged, this would be a heavy expenditure; but he could not see that any such concession could be granted, as if one were granted there would be no end to such demands. He did not know of any case where any 6uch concession had been granted, and a line had to Fe drawn somewhere. The Mayor brought under the Minister's notice the inadequacy of the Alexandra Courthouse, and an adjournment was made to allow the, Minister to inspect the building. The Minister was apparently satisfied that the present structure was quite inadequate for the requirements of the town, and he promised to consider the question of having the building enlarged. A deputation from the Alexandra Jockey Club waited on the Minister, and asked if the Government would favorably consider an application asking that an area comprised in the Alexandra racecourse be offered for sale. . After some discussion on this matter, the Minister said that he though there would be no difficulty in having the area declared a reserve, and on his return to Wellington he said he would do what he could to have this done. The Minister visited the Public Library, and expressed himself as being well pleased with the plans of the new structure which it is intended to build. The Mayor thanked the Minister for the courteous heariag he had given 'to the various ; deputationists, and the party left by the 3 o'clock coach for Roxburgh, , It is the Minister's intention to inspect the.Heriot limv- . AT d9fSM j

Whilst at Ophir, a deputation asked the Minister if the Government would grant a sum of money towards improving the grade of the road On the road leading over the hill to Ida Valley. The Minister said he would bring the matter under the notice: of t the Lands Department, Another deputation waited on the Ministerj and pointed: out the inconvenience that would be caused to residents of the township when the railway was opened to the Ophir station, which is on the,opposite side of the river. They asked that a light bridge should be constructed across the river direct from the town to the station. The Minister promised to have an estimate prepared of such a bridge, and he. would then see what he could do in the matter.: •-. ; --fJk*<