THE PREMIER AT HOKITIKA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 59

THE PREMIER AT HOKITIKA.

INTENTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. HOKITIKA, January 7. The Premier-, replying to a deputation last night, stated that it was necessary for him to return to Wellington at once owing to important- duties, including the setting up of the land and other commissions. The Government intended to ask Parliament next session for a special grant to carry telephones to the back blocks. The Agent-General had been instructed to select an additional submarine mining engineer for the colony. Speaking on the Midland railway, Mr Seddon said it should have been completed five or six years ago, and the colony had been retarded for years through the delays arising from the contract. He spoke of the indifference of the Canterbury people in the great work. The line would be a great service to the East Coast and to the Avholo of. the colony. In fact, it stood on an equal footing with the North Island trunk line*. His view was that the Midland line had not had proper attention. and lie had no hesitation in expressing that opinion. He hoped lor the early completion of the Staircase Gully section, but at the present rate'

of progress it would take four years to complete that section. He hoped Parliament would provide funds to complete that portion of the line within two- years at the most. He added that th-e flow of traffic between the tivo coasts would surprise the public. Dealing with the question of prospecting, he urged the local bodies to setaside a portion of the goldfields revenue each year for the specific work of prospecting, and asked the local bodies to suggest alterations in the mining regulations to facilitate prospecting generally. Westland had a great future in store with the unearthing of its mineral deposits.