HON. P. M. B, FISHER'S TOUR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2016, 25 March 1914, Page 8

HON. P. M. B, FISHER'S TOUR.

PAHIATDA REQtqKEMEmS. VARIOUS DEPUTATIONS. (2j B-eportt-r.J " Pahialua, March 24. A number of deputatioag waited wp-b-n the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher in. Pabiatua to'day regarding.local-matters. The first deputation urged ttat a new post office should' bo erected at a mow? central site. The present post offico was situated at the sou them end of the town away from the ■ business centre. It was- suggested that the police _ station should be removed to the site, of tlio post office aesfc the Courthouse; that a new brick post office should be erected on one of several sites offering, aiid that the present pest office building should be converted to serve as a poliee station. Mr. ■ Fisher ■■ inspected the sites available and , promised to bring the request under the notice of the -BostmaetefrGeneral. Road Improvements Sought, Another deputation asked for a grant to .improve the eoitditlen of the -Pongai-Ga-Makuri Road, and about IS mites'of tlio eastward end oi» the Pongaroa-JPahiatua Head. The Minister lad iiist previously traversed the road. The rao-te-bus belonging to a company of settlerswhich- ordinarily onrrics passengers and mails had been stopped on a hillside the night previously. Unfortunately it, had stuelc in tiro mud' right in the middle of a ciftting and the co-aeh on which wo Minister and his party came oat from Pongaroa- could, not pass it. They had to wait until two draught horses removed the motor-feus, liofoiiig themselves to push the branded motor-bus out or the way. This was one of many evidences brought directly under this netioo of the Minister that tlio road badly needed attention. Ttoj depu-k----tim\ asked-tlio to remind the tWJi. Mr. Frasor of a previous proaiisii nittde to g.u-e a grant towards the cost Jof.improving the road; Mr. "Fisher 'said . .he would be only toe glad to brius the tnatter under tho notice of the Minister of Jiublip works.- He had come over the road, and lie realised that •■something would have-to be done to ianpr-ove it. ' He also- realised that this road and the Eketahuus-Pougaroa. Ikad would always 'reaaiu arterial roads, whatever miftht bo dono in tho wa3' of prsvioljiig ,an outlet for the Pongaroa district -uy way of tho coast , - "He reainded the deputation thai after Mr. Fraser had ■made his promise the- strflte had oc- ■ eurrod, and the strife had cost tho country in hard- cash about £450,000. This had made it necessary; i<3 reduceespettltturo on publio wsrks. This .year, however, fie hoped that Sir. ffra-ser would be able to provide pipte libemlly for this road to Paliiatua. T-lro Governinerit Would, he believed, shwv that they were prepared to Hndcf-rtako- a progressive, public works pdliay, ayoidi)i* the foolish policy of the past, by "which necessary public works had been delayed by niggardly grants when grants of-reasonable siiras would have allowed works to bo completed which wore very necessary. .

Pijhiatua Raqing Club's Permit. A ramest was made also for the restoration of. a permit for 'the Fahiatna Haphiß CM). Olio of the speakers suggested that Mr. Hunter's Bill of last year should be taken up by the Gdveruflimii Mr. Fisher said !ro did.'.- not think, the Govenmiont would take up tjm Bill, but & thought Jin Hiteto's ■ Bill ymiid'have a reasonable cbah.eo of getting, through this year''if it■ V'&ro' Riven, a fair run. Hβ bad never believed in the Commission, which ho had always, regarded as a iiiettapolitan Commission and .nothing else. (Hear, hear.) Personally, he thought tho Pahiatua Club and the Bulls Club had &c<si cs- : (>e.oia% Ijailly treated, and hh -own. opiuioa was that the Spttsn enght to pass Mr. Hunter's Bill. ' ' There- were oi« slaoles in the way «?f redistribiition of permits which made'the question a (liffieolt one for any G'ev-«rfthient to ta&o iro. ' • ■•'' ■

MANCAMAy RIVEFf BRIDGE.

I (By Tolc.erApli..-Si)ecial JBeperteW ; EkefafiliJia, March 24. . . Tli© Minister of Marine came out- fram Pongaroa to Pahiat-ua- to-day, partly by horso Cfijacli, end partly by motor-car, ■■arriving at Paliiatu-ft about 1 p.m. ' Efo deputations hero and then set out again by motor-ear - for Eketahan-ii,.' ■By the way Iro titrneS about,seven miles off the road id uteot. a deputation of ■sottlers who tohod to interview' ilia concerning, i> bridge over the■ JJlangahaii R-iver ai the forcj. They 'asked first tff .all for. a straight-out grant, or failing this a pound for pound subsidy for such a structure as they -ccrald have- <?f«ctej for about £2000. sTie Minister: Ad Sot think that sum would build a secwo lasting bridge, fat he jwomised te. convey tho request to the Minister of Pub* lie Works. In .the .evening Mr-. Fisher addressed a weH'attended piibljc .meeting at JS&etahiraa. He leaves for ■jjlisteirton to-morrow to address a nicetiiig tuere in tho evening, .and. he will return to Wellington on Thursday, '