DEPUTATIONS TO THE HON. MR. BRYCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 44, 11 September 1880, Page 2

DEPUTATIONS TO THE HON. MR. BRYCE.

BRIDGING THE WAINGONGOEO.— DISTRICT LAND OFFICE.

A deputation of Normanby settlers — consisting of Messrs. C. E. Gibson, D. McGregor, F. H.Brett, and F. Finlayson — waited upon the Hon. Mr. Bryce on Thursday, in reference to building a bridge over the Waingongoro River, to connect with the new line of road which is about to be made betwgen Manaia and Normanby, and also to urge the claims of the_ latter place for the District Land Office, as being the most centrally situated and the nearest place to the land to be sold. Mr. Gibson acted as spokesman of the deputation, and read from a written memorandum, which he afterwards handed to the Hon. Mr, Bryce, to the following effect: — "In the opinion of this deputation, the Government should proceed with the construction of the road leading from Normanby to Manaia without delay, for the following reasons : — Ist. In view of the approaching settlement of the Plains, and the unsettled aspect of native affairs on this coast, it is highly desirable, from a military point of view, that diree* an<3 easy communication should be established with Normanby, as being the nearest settled district, and with the A.C. station at Waihi. 2nd. Were it known at once that the Government were about to undertake the construction of this road, an increased feeling of security would be given to intending settlers, and greatly increased prices for the land would be the result, this road running through the finest portion of the Plains. 3rd. In view of the early completion of the railway to Normanby, .this road would become one of the main feeders of the railway, and would greatly increase the' returns. For years back the whole of the produce of the Plains, such as grass-seed, fungus, potatoes, maize, &c, has found its way to Normanby by this route, and as the Normanby station will shortly be the nearest to the Plains, every facility should be aftorded for intending settlers to make use of it. 4th. A line of passenger and mailcarrying coaches will doubtless be re?uired to run between Normanby and Ipunake, and this would be the most direct road, and the road most likely to pay a line of coaches to run on. sth. The construction of the road was recommended by the Royal Commission on Native Affairs, in their interim report, and would be a vast stride towards settling the native difficulty on this coast." Mr. Gibson then read the following copy of a letter — signed by C. E. Gibson, F. Finlayson, F. H. Brett, J, Robson, G. Inkster, C. H. Beresfovd, D. McGregor, and F. Hunger — which had been sent to the Hon. Major Atkinson, in July, bearing on the same subject: — " We, the undersigned, beg respectfully to bring before your notice the necessity which exists for the construction of the road, which has been laid off between the township of Normanby and the township of Manaia, on the Waimate Plains, begun as soon as possible. It often happens that, owing to the flooded state of the Waingongoro river,' all communication with the Plains is cut off, except by a long detour of six or seven miles to the bridge on the main road, near the mouth of the river. This bridge also, having been built a number of years, is now showing signs of decay, and might become temporarily useless at any time. What we wish to suggest is, that a detachment of the A.C. Force now stationed at Waihi and Normanby might be usefully employed on the formation of this road, and that the bridging of the Waingongoro, and the formation of the approaches thereto, should receive attention first. In view of the approaching settlement of the Plains, this work is rendered a necessity. Hoping our suggestions will meet with your approval, and that you will represent the matter in the proper quarter, we have, &c." The Hon. Mr» Bryce said he fully admitted the desirability of building the bridge, but still he could not promise to have the work done.

Mr. Gibson— Will -.you use your best endeavors to have it done ?

The Hon. Mr. Bryce — I cannot make a promise. That would mean that the work should be done within a month. Mr. McGregor— Could not some of the * A.C. Force at Waihi be employed in building the bridge ? The Hon. Mr. Bryce— No. The cheap^ est way of doing the work would be by tender. I fully admit the desirability of everything you have stated, but it is entirely a question of money. The district is a very large one, and work requires to be done in many places. Mr. Finlayson pointed out that the bridge could be built very- cbeaplyr.as , timber was quite convenient. He thought £500 would be enough to build it. . Mr. Gibson urged that the railway to Normanby would soon be completed, and the settlers would require to get their. - produce to market. Mr. Gibson said he had another matter to bring under the Hon., Mr. Bryce's notice, and that wasi with reference to the claims that Normanby had to have the District Land Office in that place. •He said : — " In the opinion of this depu- - tation, Normanby, has equal claims- with Hawera to have the .District Land Office established there, and would respectfully ask the Government to consider well the' claims of both places, before fixing the office. If it is to be a question of centrality; Normanby is equally central .with Hawera. If a question of the nearest ( > place to the land to be sold, then Nor* ~ manby has the advantage. If a question " of convenience and expense to purchasers, Normanby has the advantage again, as it } would be more convenient and less' expensive for a purohaser having business to transact with the Land Office to visit Normanby than Hawera. The time is at' hand when the railway will be opened to Normanby, and this, with the- probable opening of the road to Manaia and) the settlement of the Plains, together with the large increase of settlement in the Ngaire district, must give Normanby 'the premier position. If the above questions are to have any weight with the Government in deciding where the District' Land Office is to be established, then this deputation would respectfully urge upon the Government the claims of Normanby for consideration." „. - ' The Hon. 'Mr. Bryce said, it was jnota _ matter that belonged to his department. It belonged to Mr. Bolleston, the Minister" of Lands. He might state, however,- that .-- that gentleman was quite prepared' to have every small town urging its claim to have the District Land Office there. If there were a few people in the township of Manaia, they too, doubtless, would make a claim to have the office there. The whole matter was under the: consideration of the Hon. Mr. Bolleston, and he would forward the views of th'e'deputation to him.

Mr. Gibson— We 'saw that 1 the'deputa-i" tion from Hawera. urged that that was the most central place, and we thought Normanby was just as central.- Therefore, we consider it only right/ to bring the matter under your notices ■ • ' <h-n y

The Hon. Mr. Bryce-r-The Government, are prepared for every locality urging its claim, and I am' not at all .surprised ;to hear that Normanby is doing the same/ ' Mr. Gibson said, with regard to accom- ■ modation, the contract for a large Town . Hall had just been let at Normanby, so that in a very short time they, would have every convenience there. . ■'>. ' The Hon. Mr. Bryce said he had. no doubt the Hon. Mr. Bolleston would be able to find a suitable place at whichever town he decided to have the District, Land Office. The matter of ,a building would not, he thought, affect the question.

Mr. McGregor — The most important thing, however; is the building of- the hrldgei I will lend the Government £500 to build it.

The Hon. Mr. Bryce— That shows you have a strong interest in it. What interest would you require for the money ? Mr. McGregor— The tolls. - . The Hon. Mr. Bryce — I haye .no doubt the Government will be prepared to consider the offer; hut I. have generally found that most of these offers* fall to the ground. I have known a number of similar ones made, but the parties, generally speaking, invariably managed 'to get out of them, somehow or other. Mr. Finlayson said the traffic always came along that road. The natives never availed themselves of the coast load; If the river was bridged^ the road would act as a good feeder to the railway. The Hon. Mr. Bryce — That proves that the traffic will still come that way,; whether the bridge is built or not. Mr. Gibson — Yes-; but it cannot always come, for there are high floods sometimes in the river. . . ! Mr. Brett said that if the bridge was built, a large quantity of grass seed and other produce would- -come that way, which would benefit the. railway .traffic considerably. The Hon. Mr. Bryce— That would be a good source to get tolls from. I shall be quite prepared to consider Mr. McGregor's offer, if he will allow the Government to fix the tolls. The deputation, having thanked the Hon. Mr. Bryce, then withdrew.