KAIKOURA'S NEEDo

Press, Volume L, Issue 14916, 14 March 1914, Page 15

KAIKOURA'S NEEDo

DEPUTATIONS TO THE POST-

MASTEiWi£NERAL

(FBOM orß SPECIAL KKPOBTER.)

KAIKOCRA, Slarch 13,

This evening an influential and representative deputation, introduced, by Mr G. XX. Forbes, 31.P., waited upon tho Hon. R. Keaton Rhodes, Post-master-General, to discuss with him various matters ot importance to Kaikoura residents. • The deputation consisted of members of tho County Council, other local bodies, and residents of the district.

The first matter that carao up was tho consideration of what should be done with ono of tho domin that had been handed over to tho Kaikoura County Council. The reserve was '22 miles irom Kaikoura. and at an altitude of 4000 feet, and the place was quite unsuitable for planting on account of tho wild pigs, ft was, in fact, useless for- anything. The deputation wanted authority to spend the revenue from this domain on somo other domain as might be thought necessary. This action could not be taken at present, as tho law compelled revenue from a domain to be spent on fihat domain.

The Minister suggested that steps be taken to bring down a private Bill to ompower the Council to spend the revenue on any domain that might be considered suitable.

Tho deputation also brought beforo the Minister the matter of the delay in tbo authorisation of grants ior the carrying out of public works, which did not give tho Council sufficient time to expend the grants. Concrete examples of delayed authorisations ■were given, and the Minister promised to bring the matter before tho Minister of Public Works.

ilr Forbes then brought up tho matter of bettering the road between Parnassus and Kaikoura, and also the bridging of the rivers. The Kaikoura residents thought that every effort should be made on the part of the Government to make satisfactory connexion with tho railhead and Kaikoura. Ho hoped that tho Minister would make strong representations to his colleagues, as he must recognise the necessity for tho bridging or the Conway river.

Mr James Boyd, 'chairman of the County Council, hoped that the Government would put a sufficient sum on the Estimates to ensure the ouilding of the bridge by next year. Mr II! T. Pope, Mr J. Norrie, ana Mr S. Andrew spoke as to the necessity of bettor communication between' tho railheads at Parnassus and Ward, so as to give the. settlers better mail and passenger communication. The Hon. Mr Rhodes said he believed tho Hon. XX. Fraser had already given them a sympathetic answer. The Minister had to do the best he could for all districts, but he believed that tenders had been let lor the Hapuka bndge and that plans had been prepared for the Oniway bridge. Tho next matter brought up was the matter of telephone connexion. A request was mado for the installation of the metallic circuit in the town as soon as possible. Another request was tor the extension of the telephone from Oaro on to Kaikoura. as it already ran from Ilundaleo to Oaro. Tho deputation also asked that the Clarence bridge should bo connected with Kekerangu. as messages had to be sent over a private wire at present. •

In reply, Mr Rhodes said the changing of an earth to a metallic circuit would be done in due course, and Kaikouru «ou'd ccne in its tu;n. Thc Clarence bridge and Kekerangn connexion he would enquire into. As tor the connecting up of Oaro with Kaikoura, ho would try to bring that about as soon as possible.

Mr Nome complained that though Messrs A. W. Rutherford, senior and junior, and others, were connected up by telephoi.e, vet the Department had refused a connexion to Mr I'ow, of Feraihurss, who was far more isolated than many other settlers who were connected up. Mr Monk then asked for a connexion from the Conway river to his house, so that automobilists could ring tip for assUxan -c when the river wns up.

Jhe Minister promised to have all these matters looked into.