MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16212, 15 May 1918, Page 7

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

VISIT TO OXFORD

The Hon. Sir William Frnser, Minister of Public Works, who arrived yesterday from Wellington, spent the day in visiting several districts in North , Canterbury, including Oxford. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., and Mr J, McEnnis, resident engineer, Public Works J)e- ---• partment/ accompanied tho Ministor from town and later the Hon. D. Buddo, M.P., joined the party. At Loburn, members of the Ashley County' Council waited on the Minister .in oonnexion with soverai bridges, including the Garry bridge, in the .county. . At Oxford Mr D. Hawke, chairman of the Oxford County Council, and -several others, waited on the Minister ;and placed before him- a number of district requirements. A subsidy of £300 was asked for in connexion with the Cooper's Creek and Gammon Creek bridges. The Minister, after visiting the sites of both bridges, undertook to get a report on the matter. The uesire of the residents of Oxford to have tho Lake Coleridge hydro-elec-trical system oxtendod to tho town was brought under tho notice of the Minister, who stated that he was afraid that it would not be possible for him to comply with tho request at present. The necessity for telephone communication between and Oxford was also mentioned, and it was urged in support of the request that tho majority of tho business of Bennetts was done through Oxford. Sir William promised to convey the representations of the deputation to the Postmaster- , General, tho Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald.

The Minister returned to town last evening and will leave by the express for the South to-day for Rangitata, ..where he will meet members of tlie Geraldino County Council and will inspect tho site of the proposed Rangitata bridge and will also view tho effects of erosion by the river further down stream. Sir William will stay the night at Geraldino and to-n>orrow he will visit the Mount Peel-Mcsopo-tonia road, returning to Christchurch in the evening.