THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11540, 27 November 1900, Page 5

THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

INSPECTION OF THE MAIN TRUNK LINE-

WAIKATO DEPUTATIONS.

[BY telegraph.—special reporter.]

Te Awamutu, Monday. The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. W. Jones) started to-day on his tour of inspection of the Main Trunk railway, and the route of the light railway from Kawakawa, on the Main Trunk line, to Stratford. He left Auckland by the ordinary half-past nine train, and reached Poro-o-tarao in the evening. Mr. Hall-Jones was accompanied by Messrs. Napier, Fowlds, Lawry, M.H.R.'s, Hon. Thomas Thompson, and Mr. Vickerman (Public Works Engineer). Mr. Lang, M.pCR., joined the party at Frankton. During the stop at FraSkton, two deputations interviewed the Minister, both being introduced by Mr. Lang, the member for the district. Messrs. J. Barugh. N. Hunt, and W. Mandeno, on behalf of the Waikato Fanners' Club, asked Mr. Hall-Jones, as Minister in charge of the Government Printing Office, to print and distribute for the information of farmers, a pamphlet written by Mr. Pond, the district analyst, which describes in plain terms the uses of various classes of manure. The Minister said he recognised the importance of the matter, and as Minister in charge of the Printing Office he would be glad to print the pamphlet, but he would require to have the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, which, from Mr. Pond's reputation, he bad no doubt would be given. A deputation from the Hamilton Borough Council, consisting of Messrs. George Edgecumbe (Mayor), Dyer, Bond, and C. Barton, laid before the Minister the importance of erecting a new bridge across the Waikato River at Hamilton. The deputation pointed out that the present bridge is in such a state that it would cost a large sum, probably £3000, to repair it, and urged that the Government should put up a new bridge. They pointed out the importance of the work to the Hamilton Borough and to the whole province, as the bridge would connect Auckland with the southern portion of the province. The time at the Minister's disposal was rather short for the full discussion of the matter, but lie stated that if the local body would lay before him the particulars of what they were prepared to do it would further the work. He would consult with the Minister for Lands, and see what could be done by the Government.