MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

Mataura Ensign, 25 April 1913, Page 7

MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

. « VISIT TO HEDGEHOPE. The Minister for Railways (Hon. W. H. Herries), who left Invereargil] on Wednesday for Queenstown, visited Hedprehope. He was accompanied from Invercargill by Messrs J. C. Thomson and G. J. Anderson. M.P.'s. Mr Mcintosh, on behalf of the Hedgehope Railway League and the residents of the district, extended a hearty welcome to the Minister, and expressed regret that time would not permit him j to travel between Hedgehope and Gore, as there was a misconception in regard |to the quality of the land. The line had been extended from Hokonui to Hedgehope., an addition which had had a far-reaching influence, large, areas previously producing little or nothing having In-on brought into a state of productivity and closer settlement created • which would have been impossible but for the facility being provided. It was expected that the- railway would have been extended to Gore before this and settlers had taken up land along the proposed route on that understanding, but bad been disappointed'. Tiliey wished a flying survey made and felt sure the railway would pay interest, which they were so confident of that they were prepared to allow their land to be rated and so guarantee the average rate of interest paid by the railways of the Dominion. Sixty thousand acres ol good land would be owned up suitable for dairying, also 15.000 acres of bush. At present the areas held were large, some comprising 4000 aires, which would be fnibdivided wore a railway provided. There were also extensive deposits ci' coal and valuable deposits of lime, which-was urgently reeded by fanners. .. 1 r Arc!«' ba ki. McK a y mentioned that if ,i sottler wanted to g<> north ami wc;t by way of Winton he would lur.e to ravel 70 miles to Gore while, if the ex; nsion were made the distance.wouid I not exeee;] 21 miles. This was a hard-) ship. ! Ihe Minister thanked the settlers for j the cordial, reception they had accorded iliim and mentioned that the matter brought, before him was not in his Department, but was one to be attended to bv Hon. W. Eraser (Minister for Public Works), and to be considered by Cabinet. He would place it be lone Hon. W. Frasor, who probably knew the country better than any other member of the Ministry. A NATIVE KESIvRVE. ' A :kIc;v;!))5, then pointed ouii_ t> ::iru Manwrtor that tlwre were ,000 atsx« ol" a native r<«ervo at Hedgehope, wHißwting of four blocks, E3id owned by 79.1 individuals, the areas varying from four to 50 aen*. Ho knew a. man who had tried £o get possession oi a block ami tihu signatures of the pcraoiiN intwwbed covered three sheets of foolscap. Every person concerned (had to sign and an unsurmountable difficulty was .met with in every case. Mr A. McKay sa.id the reserve was covered with noxious _ weeds and rabbits and the settlers wished to know if the Government would give assistance towards fencing their properties to prevent barm, being done,. A neighbor of his. who bad 200 .seres, took 3000 rabbits off bis land last year, and it would be far better for the country if the Government coidd see its way to give the natives present value for the land and allow the sawinillers to go through it, but, at present sawmillers could, not deal w.ith the natives. Tlie Minister replied that it was a very difficult matter to deal with. Some years ago representations were made by the South Island natives that the promise of the Government made when the land' was originally purchased from, them had not lx j en fulfilled and the Government of tho day sent a Commissioner round —he thought Mr Alexander Mackie—who got tho areas of all landless natives, and certain areas were {set aside, but perhaps they were too (small. Tho whole thing would havo to |be gone into. They did not want to do an injustice to the natives, still they should not allow the land to lie idle and harbor noxious weeds and 1 rabbits. It would be for the Government to say what should be done and he would, get fuller information. If the natives got their lands apportioned by survey they could deal with them individually, so all tho signatures would not be required. The Minister then returned to Winton and alter a short stop started for the Lakes district.