THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11541, 28 November 1900, Page 5

THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

; .. PUBLIC DEPUTATIONS. [by TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL correspo

j Poro-o-tarao, Tuesday. I The Minister for Public Work* and Parliai raentary party reached' Poro-o-tarao about seven o'clock on Monday' evening, and put up for the night at the nerthern end of the tunnel. The party stacfe* in the morning for Taumaranui. At Otorohanga,; a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Ellis, Johnson, and Green, waited on the Minister, and asked for the construction of a road between Otorohanga and Te Kuiti. The deputation pointed out that there is at present a road from "Auckland to Otorohanga, and a road from Taranaki to Te Kuiti, but no road had been made between Otorohanga and Te Kuiti. The connection between Otorohanga and Te Kuiti, the deputation stated, could be made at small cost, and would be a great convenience to the residents of the district. The Minister stated that the matter would have to come under the notice of the Minister for Lands, and asked the deputation to send details of the proposal to Wellington. The" necessity for three trains a week between Te Kuiti and Poro-o-tarao, instead of two a week, as at present, was urged on the Minister by the same deputation. They pointed out that at present extra trains had occasionally to be run to carry the traffic, and that the progress of the district was being retarded by want of communication. They also stated that the workers on the railway were frequently idle, through material not reaching them in time. The Minister acknowledged that inconvenience had been caused, and said that from the point of view of the Minister for Public Works, he would desire to see the trains run more frequently. He promised to represent the matter favourably to the Minis- ' ter for Railways. At Te Kuiti, Messrs. Rountree and Bird interviewed the Minister, and asked for a grant of a piece Qf land from the Government as a site for a public library for Te Kuiti. The land requested is railway property, and the deputation represented that it would not be required for railway purposes for some time to come, and that the people of Te Kuiti were unable to get a site for the library elsewhere. The Minister stated that he would place the matter before the Minister for Railways, adding that he thought the request reasonable, providing it was understood that the building must be moved when the site is required for railway purposes. Magnificent weather favours the excursion of the Minister and party from Poro-o-tarao to Taumaranui. This morning the party walked through the tunnel, and took horses and buggy tor Taumaranui. The Minister does not expect to get back to Poro-o-tarao till Friday afternoon, reaching Te Awamutu in time for the banquet on Friday evening, and Auckland on Saturday afternoon.