THE HON. W. HALL-JONES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11546, 4 December 1900, Page 6

THE HON. W. HALL-JONES.

DEPUTATIONS ON RAILWAY AND ! OTHER MATTERS. MAIN TRUNK AND NORTH AUCKLAND LINES. The Minister for Publio Works (the Hon. W. Hall-Jones) spent a busy day yesterday. In the morning he received deputations at the Ministers' room, Customs Buildings, upon railway construction and other matters, and in the afternoon he visited the Calliope Dock", Fort Takapuna, and the torpedo sheds. > REMUERA ELECTRIC TRAMWAY SERVICE. The first deputation was in reference to the proposed electric tramways for Remuera, and was introduced by Mr. F. Lawry, M.H.R. Mr. James Russell (chairman of the Remuera Road Board) said the Tram Company proposed to deviate the line at Victoria Avenue, over property belonging to the Golf Club, with the object of tapping the population near the Ellerslie racecourse. The inducements to run through Remuera were not sufficient unless it was connected with the racecourse. It was felt by some of the people in Remuera living beyond the point of deviation that it the trams stopped there the 'bus service would cease, and they would be left out in the cold. There was nothing in that contention, especially as the Tram Company had agreed to run an efficient 'bus service to connect with every tramcar that ran to Victoria Avenue, and those persons who at one time objected to the tram scheme now consented to it on the understanding that the company's promise would be carried out. An application had gone in to the Department asking for an inquiry to be held into the matter, so that ho thought it right that the Ministor should be placed in possession of the facts. The objection had come from an extremely small number of people, and, in fact, one man was at the bottom of the whole thing. The whole district should not be allowed to suffer because one or two persons objected to the trams. The Minister said he would go carefully into the matter. Mr. Russell asked that it might be regarded as one of urgency. NORTH AUCKLAND LINE. Mr. W. F. Mpssey, M.H.R., in the absence of Mr. R. Monk, M.H.R.. introduced a strong deputation from the North Auckland League. In doing so, he said he was glad that the Minister had had an opportunity of seeing a part of the north of the Auckland province for himself, but he might j say that that part which the Minister had seen was not nearly so good as that which he had not seen. He hoped that'before the House met Auckland would be able to prove to him (Mr. Hall-Jones) that the North Helensville line was more important, and would do more business than either the Otago Central or the Midland railways, and consequently more money should be appropriated for it. There were present the following gentlement, representing the league:—Messrs. G. j Peacocke, J. Burns, P. E. Cheal, Fisher, j Colbeck, Lester, Yates. Roberton, G. W. j S. Patterson. J. C. Macky, Robert Hill. Mesrs. W. J. Napier, M.H.R., and J. H. Witheford, M.H.R., were also present. Mr. Gerald Peacocke, who, in the absence of the chairman through indisposition, acted as spokesman, said they were all very j pleased to hear that the whole of the j £15,000 voted for the line was to be spent, J and that the Minister had gone up to view j what was being done, but at the same time j they wanted to point out that besides being j very rmich dissatisfied at the smallness of \ the amount, £4000 was simply a return from j tho previous vote not spent, and therefore j that would make it only £11,000 that had j been voted. Thev considered they had a | claim for that £4000. Part of the money I was to bo spent on the Whangarei line, j which they looked upon as a separate work, and a branch line that would never serve j the purpose of a main trunk line to open j up the resources of the country. With re- | gard to the country itself, it had been amply demonstrated that it would pay to be j opened up. There were 400,000 acres of i Crown land fit for settlement it had re- i turned for years and years £500,000 in timber, and there was besides a large sum in kauri gum—£lo,ooo,ooo, he believed, in all. Then they had 500,000 sheep and 100,000 cattle. It' was not altogether the wild desert that some people imagined it to be, and it was well worth opening up as a mere business speculation on the part of the Government. They felt that the Government looked upon the question as a side question, whereas it was one that affected not only Auckland, but the whole colony generally. The people of Auckland were not to be put off any more by soft speeches. They had got £15,000— enough to make two miles—and after all the time they bad waited, it was a very paltry instalment. The line was part of the Main Trunk line right through the colony, and should proceed at a greater speed than it was doing. He would also like to point out that tho line had never been authorised or properly surveyed, and the Government at any rate might show its earnestness by having the proper surveys made, and having it placed on the list of authorised main lines. In addition to the Crown lands he had spoken of, there was a large tract of land in the hands of the Maoris, and this should be opened up. The possibilities of raising freezing stock in the North were very great, and it was also a great fruit country. He did not think it was possible to make too strong a case as to the benefits that would accrue to the whole colony by the opening up of tie line in question. Mr. Witheford said he and the other Auckland members had lost no opportunity of "m----pressing upon the Government the necessity for this lino, and they would continue to endeavour to quicken the work of construction Mr. Robert Hill, a Northern settler, pointed out that the cattle had to be shipped to Auckland by water, and when they arrived they were so knocked about that they were useless. It was the same with dairy produce. Mr. J. C. Macky, speaking as a merchant, said they felt that they had been out of touch with the trade in the North simply for want of railway communication. They knew how the settlors had fought for the development of the North, but without Government assistance that was useless. It seemed a cruel and a terrible thing that a big city like Auckland should be so near them, and they not able to tike advantage of its markets. One point that had often struck him was that the North, being practically metalless, it would be much cheaper for the Government to make railways than to make roads. Mr. P. E. Cheal was of the opinion that the North, principally from the nature of its subtropical climate, was bound to carry a larger population than any other district in the colony. He would point out that the amount of money voted for works in (he North, but not spent, was very large. In one year £7000 was voted, and not one penny was spent at the end of March. Mr. Napier remarked that the prosperity of Auckland depended very largely on tho opening up of the North. If a system of narrow-gauge railways were adopted, the district could be opened up very cheaplv. Notwithstanding that the taxation had been enormous during the last 40 years, the settlers had had to rely almost entirely upon their own resources for tho merest communication. In fact, the moaning of the term " road*' was different in the North from what it was down here. Ho could not understand why such an agitation had not been got up in the North as would have swept everything before it. Mr. Hall-Jones, when replying, said he was very pleased to listen to their tale of woe. Mr. Peacocke had said they did not want any more soft speeches. He (the Minister) was going to speak plainly. The trouble in the North was the same trouble in a score of other parts of the colonywant of communication. The deputation knew the difficulties ! that tho people of this part of the colony had to contend with, but they did not know what other parts had to contend with. Mr. Massey had referred to the Otago Central. There was this difference between the Otago Central and the North Auckland lino, namely, that there was water carriage on either side of the North Island. Ho was inclined to think that with water carriage and a railway to the same towns a good deal of stuff would still go by water. That was one thing. Another thing that had told against the line was that the North of Auckland had always been depreciated. There had been in *l.e past an undue depreciation of the North. He hoped to travel right through the route some time after February next. He thought they could serve the districts equally well by making a junction with the Whangarei line. Air. Napier had made a suggestion, which, if it had been carried out when the line was first started, would have meant that the line would have been beyond Whangarei by this time. Mr. Peacocke had suggested that the Government should have made a survey of the line, but he (the Minister) believed that every pound he got should go to pay wages, and every pound paid for survey had to be taken ' off construction. They were taking detailed j surveys as the works proceeded. One of the ! deputation had referred to votes not bein;> expended, but that would apply to other pruts | of the colony. With regard to Mr. Pea- , cocke's remarks that there was a sum voted for ! the line unexpended last year, they must rej member that next year there would in rll , probability be an over-expenditure. I'wc £ years ago tbjare was «a over-exjjeudituio.

There were circumstances which militated against the whole vote being expended last year. It had been , the same in the past, and he did not want to see that. He was going to spend the whole this year. He wanted to disabuse their minds of the idea that the Government considered the work as being unimportant. Thoy had a Government and a Minister for Public Works who' would see that they got fair play. Mr. Massey said they might hope from the Minister's sympathetic remarks that more attention would be paid to the development of the North than had been done in the pasi. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. Mr. Napier introduced a deputation from the North Island Main Trunk Railway .League, comprising the Hon. E. Mitchelson (president), Messrs. R. R. Hunt (secretary), D. Goldie (Mayor of Auckland), Graves Aickin, A. Bell, Hugh Campbell, A. Dewar, J. C. Macky, W. B. Leyland, W. J. Beehan, and others. The Hon. E. Mitchelson said they were pleased to note, from Ministerial utterances, that it was the intention to see that the line was completed within four years. They were perfectly satisfied with that position, but at the same time felt that it was necessary they should continue to agitate and see that the promises were carried out. The league thought it would be wise if the Government would furnish it with a map showing the route from Auckland to Wellington. The league also thought it would be advisable if it; appointed an engineer to make periodicid visits to see how the work was progressing, and to furnish the information supplied by that official to the public, so that from time to time the public might bo placed in absolute possession of all the information. They wanted the Government to give their engineer a free pass, and supply him with the necessary information from the Government offices. Mr. Goldie said they were pleased that those who had gone through lately had found the route so good as it was. Mr. A. Bell pointed out a fact that had been overlooked in considering the line, and that was that the opening up of the line would greatly help the South, because the North was fed very largely by the South, and the Main Trunk lino would give greater facilities of communication. Mr. Graves Aickin said they were a little disappointed at the smallnoss of the vote, but to make up for that they hoped that the Minister would see that as much labour as possible would be employed during the coming season. Mr. Hall-Jones confessed that he was surprised that an ex-Minister for Public Works should make the request that Mr. Mitchelson had made. He understood that they wanted to appoint an engineer to look after the Minister for Public Works. Let him speak- very plainly. There was going to be one man running the work. Their engineer could run it, or the Minister for Public Works could run it, but the.v could not both run it. While he (the Minister) was running it, he could not submit to any sort of a censor. They said they were satisfied with the line being completed in four years. Why not leave it at that? They had members in the House who lost no opportunity of directing the attention of the Government to the need for the completion of the line. One member (with a smile across at Mr. Witheford) actually asked -him if he would present a petition for the speedy completion of tho line, and he did so. The sum of £130,000 was all he asked for, and all the money he could fairly and honestly spend on the line this year. With regard to what had been stated as to the Warnsrino forest being connected with Wellington first, he might say that such a thing was almost an impossibility, because they had some very heavy work to do at the southern end. Ho should say that they would connect with the northern end some nine to 12 months before the southern end. Therefore there need not be any doubt about that forest. There was good timber there, but it was mixed. He did not believe it was wholly totara, as represented. There was also kahikatea and matai, as in other forests. It was quite sufficient to pay for the cost of the line itself. He did not want them to think that he meant any discourtesy by declining the league's request. When it was found that the work was not proceeding as it should, then let them complain. He would always be pleased to give their representatives in Parliament any information necessary. Mr. Hall-Jones concluded by giving a number of details of the work to bo done. Mr. Mitchelson said that all thoy wanted to do was to keep tho Minister up to his promises, and see that all the vote was expended. Mr. Witheford pointed out that at; the last meeting of the Northern members, they decided to follow the progress of the work, and if tho Government were not keeping up to the expenditure, he had expressed his willingness to go to Wellington, if necessary, and have a special meeting of the representatives. They were determined 1 that the Government should spend the whole vote. Mr. Napier said from personal observation he was perfectly satisfied with tho Minister's bona fide 3. DEVIATION OF THE LINE AT OTAHUHU. A deputation comprising Messrs. Tom Wlutely, W. Lockhart, S. Luke, and H. Hall, was introduced by Mr. W. F. Massey, M.H.R., to bring under the attention of the Minister tho question of a deviation of the lino at Otahuhu, so as to bring it nearer to tho township. Mr. AVhitely, chairman of tho Otahuhu Road Board, said that a branoh line, as proposed by the Railways Committee, which considered a petition on the question, would be perfectly useless. Owing to political reasons, he believed the line was taken out of a straight line, and at present it was half a-mile from the township. At the present time two 'buses were running six trips daily, and two on Sundays. That "meant between £1500 and ,600 a year. The people would prefer to travel by rail. Mr. Konayno considered that a deviation would mean an increase of £700 per annum, and tho ostimated cost of tho deviation was £10,000, so that would give them 7 per cent, on the money. The deputation considered that the increased revenue would be about £1700. He (Mr. Whitely) considered that would bo a good enough investment. The fact of the lino being so far away was retarding the progress of the township. There waa no population on the western side of the line, and the population was increasing very much on the eastern side, towards which it was proposed to deviate. Mr. S. Luke quoted figures prepared by the Railway Department, showing that the maintenance of the deviation would be practically nothing, or not more than £50. A branch lino would cost £4502, and the maintenance would be £1231 10s annually. They concidered that a branch line would be of no good whatever, while a deviation would pay the Government at loast 17 per cent. Mr. Hall-Jones said they had only half-a-mi le to walk. Mr. H. Hall remarked that while the railway ran half-a-mile from the township the 'buses were taking nine-tenths of tho traffic, which seemed absurd. Mr. Hall-Jones said the position of Otahuhu was only similar to that of any number of other places. Mr. Massey considered that if they could not get tho deviation they should get the branch line. Mr. Hall-Jones promised to look into the matter, and put it before his colleaguos. ONEHUNGA PUBLIC SCHOOL. A deputation consisting of Messrs. W. Lambe, S. Luke, and Dr. McArthur was next introduced. Mr. Luke said that a grant was required for a new schoolhoiise at Onehumga, as the present one was thoroughly inadequate for the purpose. The building was old, and a very bad choice had been made in the spot. The sanitation was bad, and at present the sohool was overcrowded. Mr. W. Lambe said that owing to tho school's insanitary state three of the teachers had resigned, and the pupils would not attend. Reference was also made to the lack of the necessary fundi; by the Board of Education, and an additional grant was requested for the erection of a new building. Mr. Hall-Jones replied that he could not specify any special sum to the school, as it was for the Board of Education to oar-mark the Government grant, but ho would mako inquiries and endeavour to inspect tho school and interview his colleague (Mr. Walker) on the subject, and see if any exception could be made. VISIT TO CALLIOPE DOCK AND THE FORTS. In the afternoon Mi. Jones, in his capacity of Minister for Marine, paid a visit of inspection to the Calliope Dock, at the invitation of Mr. J. H. Witheford, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. The Minister was taken across to the dock in the launch Presto, there being also present: Col. Hume (Inspector of Prisons), Mr. J. M. Brigham (secretary of the Harbour Board), Mr. H. Metcalfe (engineer of tho works at the dock), and Mr. C. R. Vickerman (district engineer). The Minister was making his first visit to the dock, and after having been shown over the place, he was much impressed with its size and the capabilities of the huge machinery being set up. Subsequently, accompanied by Mr. Witheford, Colonel Hume, and Mr. Vickerman, he was driven to Fort Takapuna and tho torpedo sheds at North Head, where he was shown over by Captain Coyle. FUTURE MOVEMENTS. This morning tho Minister receives several deputations. He leaves Onehunga on Wednesday by the Ngapuhi for New Plymouth, }*h«ncQ he imawafet* fcfee EaM.&gad.