MINISTERS ON TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 9 May 1907, Page 6

MINISTERS ON TOUR.

THE WANTS OF WAIHI.

DEPUTATIONS TO MR. McGOWAN.

[BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.]

; Waihi, Wednesday. On Tuesday morning Mr. McGowan, Minister for Mines and Justice, received several deputations, which were introduced by the Mayor. First, the Mayor urged the early completion of the East Coast railway line between Waihi and Tauranga. It was feared that the line would branch off from Te Puke to connect with Mamuku at the other end, and that the connection with Waihi would hot claim attention for years. Mr. McGowan was sympathetic, and advised the people of Waihi to fight for the completion of what might be termed the main East Coast line. He would personally render all assistance in his power. .:■ '. ....

The silting problem was raised by Mr. Donaldson, who contended that the tailings deposited in the Ohineinuri River by the gold mining companies contributed little or nothing to'the blocking up of the river. The great damage complained of was due almost-"entirely to the recent abnormal floods, which carried the debris from the low-lying country. An exhaustive inquiry by the Government was asked for before the revenue of the Borough of Waihi was attacked and the borough penalised for what/, it -and the mines were not really, responsible; for. Mr. McGowan promised to look into the. matter before taking any action, with a view .to dealing fairly with all concerned. At the same time, he held that the deposit of mining tailings -the river was to some measure responsible for the blocking up of the Ohinemuri. He would have a report prepared by the chief engineer and a responsible officer of the ' Public Works Department.

_ Mr. Donaldson next mentioned the question of improving the facilities for taking up the waste lands outside the residential area of the borough. , Considerable areas might he converted to pastoral and agricultural purposes if these facilities were provided. Mr. Haszard having.' supported Mr. Donaldson, the Minister said he would look,into the whole question, but he point-ed-out that it would not be wise to grant such leases where they were likely to interfere with the growth of the mining industry, as in the event of the lands having to be resumed for mining purposes the question of compensation would crop up, and the Government was not prepared to pay compensation. The protection of the mining industry, was of paramount importance.. .; .1 ~,.::..-. .. ,/ <'.-;/■'

Mr. Turnbull then urged the Minister to do all. in his power to have the Waihi railway line extended to the east end of the township. He held that the section, would prove highly remunerative,, and would greatly assist the. mining industry by reducing the cost of carriage of coal, etc., to the mines. Mr. McGowan thought the section should be constructed, and intimated that he would place the matter before his colleague, the Minister for Railways, with his recommendation that it be carried, out. ;Mr. Power asked the Minister to use his influence to obtain a vote towards the construction of the road to the cast coast beach, to provide an outlet for recreation purposes, and at the same time assist the mining industry out towards the beach, where two or three companies were hampered owing to the cost of carriage of coal and provisions. The Minister said < that only a/ limited' amount would be available ■ during the coming year for road construction, and he thought it improbable that in the meantime a sum would be available for the purpose indicated. . . v Mr. Brown asked that an area, of 900 acres should be reserved for water supply purposes.,; He pointed out that .-as the" warden had power to grant timber-cutting rights over the area there was a fear that this would lead to the contamination of the borough supply. The Minister said he would consider the question. _Mr. W. J. 'Gray and others asked the Minister'to extend the benefits of the Advances to Workers Act to unionists upon the goldfields, Mr. McGowan drew attention to the difficulty arising from the land title being under the Mining Act, and said that he would endeavour as far as possible to meet the wishes of the deputation. ' " WAIKINO DEPUTATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] '• - • Waihi, Wednesday. Yesterday afternoon the Hon. J.. McGowan was waited upon at Waikino by a deputation in connection with the water supply question. Mr. Benner pointed, out the urgent need for a water supply for the people of Waikino, and was supported by several others. The Minister was sympathetic, and intimated that if details were furnished by the County Council he would endeavour to obtain a subsidy of a pound for each pound raised by the County Council, - The question of miners' rights being made available to purchasers at Waikino instead of having to go to Waihi for them, as at present, was also raised. The Minister promised to look into the matter with the view, if possible, of arranging for the sale of the rights at the local post office. : Mr.McGowan's party, 'which included Mr. H. Poland, M.H.R., afterwards left for Karangahake. . ' THE MINISTER AT PAEROA. [BY. TELEGRAPH.—OWN . CORRESPONDENT.] !-..-,.. Paeroa, Wednesday. The Hon. J. McGowan, Minister for Mines, drove into Paeroa from Waihi yesterday . afternoon. .. In . the evening he was waited upon .by a deputation regarding the silting .up of the river. "• The deputation was introduced by Mr. H. Poland, M. H. R., and consisted of Messrs. Porritt, Hubbard. Forrest, Moore, Priestley, Cassrels, and ■ Colclough/ After the members of the deputation hadi explained • the facts of the case, thev suggested that the best means of getting over the trouble -was for the Government to pay the mining companies compensation, and revoke the proclamation making the rivers sludge channels : by a small annual levy on the gold duty. - ; - . In reply, the 'Minister admitted that the tailings from the mines -were more* or less silting up the river, but the settlers on the banks also helped to -fill it up. Five or six years ago he had seen that, this difficulty would arise, and "he had suggested to the County Council that it should form a drainage board and . raise . a small rate, promising that if that was done the Govern-ment-would help the settlers. The local body had not, however, done as he had suggested. He was still prepared to help them if they would raise a small rate. He did not think there was the least chance of the Government revoking the proclamation, as the mining companies had a right to drain into the river, and if that right were taken away they would have to be paid compensation. This morning the Minister left for the Thames" by the early train. MR. MILLAR'S VISIT TO WHANGAREI. / LIGHT FOR BUSBY HEAD. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN correspondent.] Whancarei, Wednesday. During the Hon. J. A. Millars' visit to Whangarei the Minister said the Government was unlikely to entertain any request for making over the whole of the harbour foreshore as an endowment to the Harbour Board, but favourable consideration would be given respecting such portions of the foreshore as lay between the Town Wharf and Railway Wharf. If a private Bill were promoted for that purpose he i.believed it would receive Government support. Replying to a question in reference to the

opening of oyster-beds, Mr. Millar, thought it would be best to divide the 5. foreshore into sections, opening the sections by annual rotation, so that the whole circuit of the harbour shores would be completed every five years. > Something might be done to assist the cultivation of oysters by transferring a certain number from the beds to barren places. ■ '. Questioned regarding the placing of a light on Busby Head, at ihe - harbour entrance, he said this had been noted and would be given earlv effect to. It would bo a leading harbour light, visible within a radius of 15 miles.

Deputations waited on '. the Minister in the i Municipal Buildings during the afternoon. Mr. F. E. Roberts waited on the Minister in reference to a clock tower, .with a chiming clock, for the proposed new post office. The Department had previously offered to contribute £300 towards the cost of a chiming clock if the Whangarei people guaranteed £300, but that offer was now withdrawn. Mr. Millar said he was aware that a new post office was badly needed, as the present structure was becoming useless for coping with the increased volume of business. . The Government did not intend to go in for extensive borrowing, and thought it inadvisable to expend Urge sums on the needless' elaboration of Government buildings. The money could be used more beneficiallv in providing roads and bridges. The sum of £1000 had been placed on the Estimates towards a new post office, and it was probable the money would be revoted this year. - " ' '■ "' ::- The, Mayor drew attention to the lack of accommodation, at the Courthouse and the need of a, new police station and cells. Mr. Millar said, in reply, that even prisoners were entitled 1 to consideration, but he would not commit the Minister for Justice to any course of action. :■■'■.