VISIT TO MARLBOROUGH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 144, 20 June 1913, Page 5

VISIT TO MARLBOROUGH.

JOURNEY TO WARD

The Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways, travelled by special train yesterday morning to Ward. He was accompanied by Mr T. Ronayne, general traffic manager, Mr Jackson, t cliief locomotive engineer, and Mr R. McCallum, M.P. Deputations waited on the Minister at Seddon. Hauwai, and Ward.

At Seddon Mr J. G. Armstrong and others brought under the Minister's notice the need for a.

bridge which would give a shorter route to the station, and urged the necessity of increasing the rolling stock on the local section and improving the haulage power. A number of settlers headed by Mr E. A. Weld interviewed the Minister at Hauwai and asked that a station platform be erected there.

At Ward also the Minister was urged to improve and quicken the railway service by equipping the s.-v.-.tion with a better class of engines and more rolling-stock and coveringshafts.

'.I'he Hon. Mr Herries replied to the various- deputations in the terms in which he spoke to the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce at Blenheim.

The Minister, whose previous visit to the Awatere district dates back 31 years, expressed himself as pleased Avith. the development that had taken place in the meantime, and as favorably impressed with the nature of the country as a field for closer settlement.

The Ministerial party returned to Blenheim at 1 p.m. '