HUTT RIVER BOARD AND MR. WILFORD, M.P.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 143, 16 December 1908, Page 8

HUTT RIVER BOARD AND MR. WILFORD, M.P.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Some months ago you were good enoujfh to doyolo a considerable portion of youi- space in describing the interesting and attractive schemo of Air. Laing Measan, the Hutt River Board engineer, for the utilisation of Gear Island, for industrial purposes. That scheme, as you pointed out. provides a deep water basin in tho shut ofF westorn channel of the river, find also a canal into a sufficient depth of water in the harbour to accommodate vessels of moderate size. When that scheme is completed — and I do not doubt in the least that it will be in the near future — there will be cheap and easy access to that largo and valuable industrial area, Gear Island, but in the raeantimo there is the Hult Park railway leading only to within a few chains of the island, which is at present in private hands, but is open for salo at a reasonable price, it is understood. Well, sir, the Hutt River Board being anxious to make the best use of that valuable area for- the ratepayers of the river district, have had it surveyed into 6uiiablo sections; and already thoy have 'received several applications for considcrablo areas of it, conditional, of coarse, on thoir being given access, tsome \iow, to their sections. That being so, the River Board, four months ago, passed a resolution to interview the Premier and Minister of Railways re the of the Hutt Park railway, at "the samo time inviting the other local bodies in tho Valley, viz., the Hutt County Council, Petone Borough Council, and Hutt Borough Council to join them in that deputation to Ministers. These local bodies have all agreed to _ join in said deputation, and to urge Ministers to_ make that purchase, as they all realise the great importance to the district of Government access to Gear Island I should say hero that the derk to the River Board wrote to Mr. Wilford, M.P. for the Hutt, at tho same titno, requesting him to arrange with Ministers a date to receive the deputation ; but for two months thereafter the board heard nothing further about tho deputation, and thon only when tho clerk applied to Mr. Wilford again did ho say that 119 had been unable to arvanga an interview. I may also say that repeated appeals have been made since to Mr. Wilford re this matter, but so far these have been fruitless, and lost night, the 10th inst., the River Board became tired of waiting, and resolved to write direct to Ministers on tho matter. It is inconceivable that Ministers should refuse to receive a deputation of public men on an important matter like; this, which is a sound business proposition for the Government, and which affects the prosperity of perhaps 25,000 people, and that being co, Mr. Wilford has the difficult task of explaining and justifying to his constituents _ his inaction — these constituents having just again re-olectod him M.P. I am not writing this letter in any spirit of hostility to Mr. Wilford, either personal or political , but during a very lengthened residence in this be3i of all Wellington suburbs, I have not met a more flagrant instance of ineptitude or "l\ow not to do it." — J m, etc., ROBERT STEVENS. Lowor Hutt, 11th December, 1908. [Wo have referred Mr. Stevens's communication to Mr. Wilford, who states, in reply, that he approached the Premior with the object of arranging for a deputation. He informed Mr. Cuff (Rivor Board's clerk), by telephone, that he was unable to make the arrangement, as at that time Ministers, and ho himself, were busy over election matters. It was not yet a month since the date of the election, and in the interim Ministers had been almost continually absent from Wellington. He had tried to arrange appointments by telephone, and had also wnUon, but on account of tho Premier's many engagements he wps unablo to achieve hi? object. He also tried to make an appointment for an evening, thinking that perhaps that might suit Ministers, and the River Board, but so far ho had been unsuccessful. "I don't know what more I could do," added Mr. Wilford. "Being daily in the city, whero Ministers reside, with a constituency nearly at their doora, I make more personal representations to Ministers and heads of departments than any ten other members of Parliament. This fact Ministers admit. While Parliament is in session, I am called out of the Chamber sometimes fifteen times in one day by constituents. Between election day, 17th November, and 9th December this year, 01 constituents, and members of local bodies besides, made representations tome, requiring in many cases personal interviews with Ministers and heads of depart*ionts, necessitating besides tho writing ot over 100 letters. Opposition members I have little or none of this."] I 1. »— »j^— — m

I Messrs. Harcourt and Co. announce in | our advertising columns that they will [•sell by public auction, in their rooms, I Lambton-quay. on Monday, tho 21st inst., at 2.30 p.m., the equity of redemption in the residue of the term of twenty-one years created by deed of lease, registered No. 91452, from the Ist day of December, 1897, at a rental of £70 per annum, that piece of land, being eastern- half of section ! 760, city, of Wellington, with a right-of-I way giving access to tho said land from Elevans-street, known as the Star Foundry, also the equity of redemption in all -the chattels, machinery, and plant used and being upon the premises abovementioned as per schedule ; a business site in Mansneld-streot,_ Newtown, having a J frontage of 48ft 9in to MansGeld-street, by a depth of 90ft ; also a Qve-roorned *illa residence, having a frontage of 44ft to Vera-street, Karori, by a depth of 160 ft, containing five rooms; terms, £50 deposit, balance as rent. _ Messrs. Harcourt and Co. also advertise for private sale 90 building allotments on the Conlin Estate. Northland. Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co. will continue the sale of furniture in 'their rooms, to-morrov», at 1.30 o'clock. The same firm will sell English electro-plated Roods on Friday, at 2 o'clock. Articles suitable for Christmas gifts fcrm the subject of a business announcement in this issue by Messrs. D. S. Patrick and Co., of Cuba-street and Courte-nay-place. Inspection of tho goods is invited. Tho management _of the Otago Meat Company's shop notify in our advertising columns that all kinds of poultry can bo obtained for Christmas. Messrs. Dickinson Bros., butchers, corner Cuba and Vivian streets, announce a special purchase of poultry and spring I lamb for the Christmas trade.