THE PREMIER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13066, 4 March 1903, Page 5

THE PREMIER.

HIS SOUTHERN TOUR. [From Our Correspondent.] CHEVIOT, Alaroh 3. Air Seddon, Airs Seddon and Miss Mary Seddon and party are the guests of Air A. W. Rutherford at Alcndip Hills, and this morning Mr Rutherford drove them over to Cheviot. When crossing the Waiau River he pointed out to the Premier the urgent necessity of placing a ferryman there, as the river was very treacherous, and lately several valuable horses had been drowned and human lives endangered. The Premier, after crossing the three streams, which, although very low, were nearly into the trapf said he quite agreed with the necessity for Air Rutherford’s suggestion being carried out, and would d° his best to have a man placed there. „. x t Spotswood a halt was made while Air Seddon and his party visited the Spotswood School, in which Airs Seddon took a particular interest, the district having taken her maiden name. Before reaching Al’Kenxie the. party were entertained by Airs James Butt. The Premier was greatly interested to learn that this lady had three sons-at the front in South Africa., one of whom was in Captain Seddon’s contingent. At Al’Kenzie the party lunched at Airs Aloffett’s, and afterwards Air Rutherford introduced a deputation, consisting of Alcssts J. Vaughan, president of the Cheviot Settlers’ Association, S. Haughey and W. TV Robinson, who brought under the notice of the Premier the hardships experienced by settlers owing' to orders from headquarters precluding the postmaster from taking cheques, either for rent of lands or for deposits in the Savings Bank. Air Vaughan pointed out that, there being no bank in Cheviot,, the ready money all gravitated to the Posit Office, and was sent down to Christchurch, thus depleting the place of change. The. deputation asked that some arrangement should he come to by which at least the rents might be received by cheque, as under the present arrangement the storekeepers had to accept cheques and get the money up from Christchurch, and thus business ana settlement were disorganised. The Premier said he saw the hardship of the position, but there wore difficulties in the way of remedying it. If the Postal Department accepted cheques for rent it -had to give a clean receipt, and the same was the case with the Post Office Savings Bank, as the amount of the cheque had to be pub to the credit of the depositor in the pass-book. In the case of the cheque being dishonoured the Lands Department had no security, but could only proceed against the drawer by civil process. He would, however, see what could be done to give relief, and in addition to commnnicat-

ing ivitli th,e heads of Departments would Fee the chief officers when in Christchurch! and ask for suggestions. Out of the difficulty some arrangements might he come to with the banks to guarantee' the Cheviot County Council’s and certain business firms’ cheques, or the pressure might be relieved by some bank opening a branch at Cheviot for one day in each week. He would use his best endeavours to ameliorate the hardships of the settlers in this direction. The party afterwards visited the M’Kenzie School, and were shown round by the master, Mr W. Batch. They then went to the Mansion House, the building still showing signs of the earthquake. They returned to Mendip Hills at night. To-morrow they will visit Leslie Hills, where they will be the guests of Mr Duncan Rutherford, lunching at Waiau fen route. On Thursday Mr Seddon will be at the Culverden ‘sheep sale. The party will go on to Hanmer on Friday, where Mrs and Miss Seddon will stay for a few days. Probably the Premier will arrive at Christchurch on Monday afternoon from Hanmer, having accepted an invitation from Mr G. G. Stead to attend a function on that day.