THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11536, 22 November 1900, Page 6

THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

{vTBIT to Auckland, PROPOSED INSPECTION OP. NORTHERN RAILWAYS. Tub Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works, arrived at Onehunga yesterday forenoon by the Mapourika, and came on to Auckland by train. Mr. Hall-Jones informs us that the special object which has brought him to Auckland eo soon after the close of the session is to start the work in connection with the formation of the light railway between Kawakawa, on the Main Trunk line, and Stratford, so as to make a connection between Auckland and Taranaki. The vote of £10,000 for tine work was obtained last session, and not in the previous year, as stated in yesterdays Heeaijj. Mr. Hall-Jones will proceed from Kawakawa along the line where the proposed light railway is to be made, and sec that the work is commenced. In going South he will go in from Stratford some 40 miles, and have a beginning made there. He anticipates that as soon as 20 miles of their light railway are made from Stratford it will pay, as the country is good, and settlement is rapidly proceeding. This light railway will be regarded with great interest in Auckland, where much importance has always been attached to a speedy connection with Taranaki. Mr Hall-Jones anticipates that he will be able to have the Main Trunk line running to Kawakawa in September next, and that the whole line will be completed within the four

years. . Ar Prior to visiting Taranaki, however, Mr. Hall-Jones intends to make a visit of inspection to the Kaipara railway, and also the as soon as 20 miles of tins light railway works at the northern end of the Main Trunk railway. He leaves tomorrow morning for Helensville, returning to Auckland probably on Saturday morning, and on Monday he leaves again for the Main Trunk railway. • In the afternoon Mr. Hall-Jones, accompanied by Mr. J. H. Witheford, M.H.R.. viewed the site of Admiralty House, and also visited Mechanics' Bay, with reference to the division of land there between the Government and the Harbour Board. Subsequently Mr. Hall-Jones and Mr. Witheford proceeded to the Colonial Ammunition Company's factory at Mount Eden, to give the Minister an opportunity of inspecting the works. The Minister had many callers at the Grand Hotel during the day, but the matters brought under his notice were mostly of a private nature. The Hon. W. T. Jennings brought under his notice the case of a Mr. Langley, who had applied foi recognition tor rescuing Captain Hewson, who tell oft a steamer in Wairoa (South) River. The Minister foi Public Works promised to bring the matter before the Humane Society of New Zealand. In the evening Mr. Hall-Jones, accompanied by Sir G. M. O'Rorke and Mr. Witheford. attended the performance of " Maritana" at the Opera House.

DREDGING THE MANUKAU. At Onehunga Mr. Hall-Jones was met by Dr W. R. Close-Erson (Mayor of Onehunga) and Mr. F. Lawry, M.H.R., when he was pleased to grant them a short interview on the question of completing the dredging of the Monukau Harbour. Dr. Erson apologised for the absence of Sir G. M. O'Rorke, M.H.R., who, he stated, had also intended being present, but had missed the train. Dr. Erson first drew Mr; Hall-Jones' attention to the fact that the wharf at the time of his arrival was completely occupied by the shipping, which showed the inadequacy of the accommodation for the increasing traffic between the Manukau and other ports of New Zealand. He said there were two more steamers to arrive during the day< and as a result the boats would have to be double-banked, endangering both their safety, and also increasing the difficulty of handling cargo. The Mavor further explained that the recent dredging of the harbour by the Westport dredge, so far as it had taken place, was of a satisfactory character, but that the removal of the dredge, when it had only accomplished the clearing of less than onehalf of the wharf accommodation on the •south side, left matters in a most unsatisfactory condition. The Mayor threw out the suggestion that a Priestman dredge might complete the work of clearing out the mud from both sides of the wharf, and that he had requested Mr. O'Connor, of Auckland, who owns a Priestman dredge, to supply an estimate of the cost of doing the work. In reply, Mr. Hall-Jones stated that he saw the essential nature of the completion of the work, and that he would take into his immediate consideration the best step? to be taken to accomplish the object in view. . In the afternoon tho manager of the Auckland branch of the Union Steamship Company (Mr. Irvine) accompanied Dr. Erson to Onehunga. and there met at the wharf Captain Neal, harbourmaster, and Captain Grant, of the Maoourika. Tho tide at the time was at dead low water, and it was clearlv manifest to all the gentlemen present that the recent dredging operations wero incomplete. They were unanimous in the opinion that the proper course which should have been taken was that suggested by Mr. Napier Bell, C.E., viz., that of a straight channel cut through the mudbank to the buov near the Bluff Point. Under the circumstances, however, it is considered by the representatives of the various shippin? companies that it is essential in order to meet the requirements of public traffic that either the present Onehunga Wnar ? hotild be considerably extended and dredged, or that, as a temporary proviso, both "ides of the wharf should bo satisfactorily dredged, so as to meet the requirement'! of the trade of the port. We understand that Dr. Erson will have a further conference with the Hon. Hall-Jones, when he will a=k him to be good enough before returning to Wellington, to revisit Onehunga, to view the position of affairs at low water, and thus enable him to come to a satisfactory conclusion as to the importance •of completing the dredging The Northern Pioamihip Company are thoroughly in accord with the steps which are being taken.