THE HONS. MESSRS. MACANDREW AND FISHER IN OAMARU.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 826, 6 December 1878, Page 2

THE HONS. MESSRS. MACANDREW AND FISHER IN OAMARU.

These gentlemen arrived in Oamaru last evening by special train. Since then the Hon. Mr. Macandrew has busied himself in inspecting most of the sights to be seen in the town. This morning he paid a visit to the Breakwater, and expressed his pleasure and delight at what he had seen. The hon. gentleman was waited upon by deputations from several bodies, and left for the north by the express train at noon. The Hon. Mr. Fisher, we regret to say, is likely through ill-health to be forced to remain in Oamaru for some days. He was so bad this morning that Dr. De Lautour had to be called in, and that gentleman deems it necessary for Mr. Fisher to desist from work or any excitement for some days. We give below reports of the deputations which waited on the Hon. Mr. Macandrew.

MUNICIPAL MATTERS. The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. James Macandrew) received a deputation from the Municipal Council at the Council Chambers this morning. The deputation, which consisted of his Worship the Mayor and Councillors Liddle and Spencc, was formally introduced by Mr. Shriiuski, 31.H.1i. The Mayor .stared that as he had several matters to bring under Mr. Macandrew's notice, he would state them as concisely as possible. The first point was the desirability of at oiuv taking steps, under the powers of the Public Reserves Act, to transfer to the Corporation the Crown grants for endowment sections and other reserves originally made to the Superintendent in trust, and now vesting in the Governor rnr the Superintendent under the same trusts, in terms of the Abolition of Provinces Act. Power was given by the- Public Reserves Act, 1877, for the vesting of all these properties direct, in the municipalities, and he (Mr. Steward) submitted that it was desirable that this should be effected by the actual Crown grants being endorsed over to the municipality by the Governor as the present holder. He suggested that a transfer form should be printed on the back of the grants, which the simple signature of the Governor would complete. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that the matter should have immediate attention, and that if the Mayor would apply in writing he would endeavor to put the matter in train.

The Mayor said the next subject was that of the endowment in the Maerewhenua District and those small parcels of land in Oamaru, gazetted prior to last session as intended to be granted to the Municipality. Thero having been no resolution of disapproval in either House, he (the Mayor) had written a few days ago applying for the Crown Grants for the land ill question, and now asked that the necessary instructions for the preparations of such grants might at once be issued.

The Hon. Mr. Macandrew stated that the matter should have attention immediately on his return to Wellington. The Mayor said - that there 'was another matter which he wished to bring under the notice of Mr. Macandrew, as one of the members of the Cabinet, although not strictly in his department. It was this : It had been held that the covenants for renewal under certain circumstances con. tained in the Oamaru Municipal leases were ultra vires of the Otago Corporations Act, 18G5, although by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, power was given to grant leases for 66 years,, and the Government had been asked to introduce a Bill to remove the doubt as to the validity of the covenants referred to. This was a matter of more than OaiViaru interest, as he believed several other Otagq Municipalities were in like case. Towards the close of last session the Hon. the At-torney-General promised that a Bill should be introduced at the next session to effect the object in view, and he (the Mayor) now desired that Mr. Macandrew would bring the matter under the notice of the Cabinet, with a view to such a Bill being introduced at an early stage of the next session.

The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said he would take a note of the matter, -with a view to the request being attended to. The Mayor said that last season a vote of LSOO was passed for public domains, and he had now the honor to apply, on behalf of the town of Oamaru, for its fair share of such vote. The Hon, Mr, Macandrew said that the sum voted was a very small one in comparison with the number of claimants. He, however, thought that Oamaru was entitled to a share, and if the Municipality would send in a -written application, it should have due consideration.

The Mayor said that he had written to Dunedin during Mr. Macandrew's stay there, applying that the bush reserve on the Cape might, under the 148 th section of the Act, 1877, be dedicated as a recreation reserve, i.nd under the 11th section of the P blic Reserves Act, 1877, be vested in the' management of' the Municipal Council. The May<3r explained that a road was. now being made to the reserve in question, which was almost the only available Bpot for pic-nics, school treats, &c., within an easy distance of the town. -]

The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that the letter, having been addressed to the Minister for Lands, had not reached him, but would have gone to Mr. Stout, who now held that portfolio. Mr. Stout would be in Oamaru in a few days, and the matter might be brought under his notice. He might say, however, that the request appeared to be a reasonable one. The Mayor said the next matter was that of the proposal contained in the Public Works Act Amendment Act, 1878, as introduced to convey to Messrs. Lees and Moore, in exchange for lands taken from them for raiiway purposes, certain areas of land, including a portion of the waterway of the Oamaru Creek. The Council was consulted by the members for the district when the Bill was before the House, and replied that the question of the area of the land to be given for the land taken might be left to the Public 'Works Department, but that it was inadvisable to transfer the freehold of the waterway to any private persons, unless sufficient guarantees were given against the water being diverted, or polluted, or its flow interfered with in any way. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that he had already inspected the locality referred to, and agreed that the water way should not be alienated. He thought the best way would be to pay Messrs. Lees and Moore any compensation that might be due to them, if any. He could promise that the matter should have careful attention.

The Mayor said that during the past few days letters had passed between himself, the Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, and Mr. Lowe (Resident Engineer), with reference to the street line to be given and formed in lieu of the portion of Isis-street taken up by the railway. A plan suggested by Mr. Lowe had been approved by the Council, and only required the endorsement of the Minister for Public Works to enable it to be at once carried out. As the matter had been pending since June, 1875, it was hoped that the necessary instructions would be at once given.

The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that he would see Mr. Lowe in Christchurch on his way North, with a view to the work being put in hand. The Mayor said that as bearing upon a question which he had presently to bring forward, he had to ask Mr. Macandrew, as Minister for Railways, whether the new site for the new passenger station had been determined upon. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew replied that though for himself he would have been glad, had it been possible, to select a more central position, in consequence of the expense which would be ingolved in placing the station on another site which would otherwise have been preferred, it had been decided to select a site on the Esplanade nearly opposite the Scotch Church.

The Mayor said that that being the case, the last objection which could possibly be urged as against granting to the Municipality the vacant space in Thames-street beyond the gaol, now used as a police paddock, was done away with ; and it was hoped that the Government would raise no opposition to a Bill which it was proposed to introduce next session, to vest in the Municipality the land referred to, and Block XXXI., set apart some 16 years ago for a sheep-landing reserve, but which had never been used for that purpose. Power would also be sought in the Bill to enable the Corporation to exchange a section with the Education Board for a school site. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that Oamaru was already largely endowed.

The Mayor said ho admitted that, "but stated that the "Waterworks and a system uf drainage, which were absolutely necessary, would involve a very heavy expenditure, and for that reason it was necessary every source of revenue should he made the most of. The Government had. last year intimated that there was no objection tn the granting of block XXXI., and a Bill actually passed the Lower House, and its second reading in the Upper Uou.se, in 187(5, to grant the portion of block OS referred to. It was tin-own out mainly because of certain proposals with regard to the Market Reserve ; but as the latter had been dealt with last year by special legislation, he (tlie Mayor) thought that no further opposition should be made to the transfer of the police paddock. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that it was necessary for the Government to retain areas in all the principal centres of population for public buildings ; but the proposal now brought forward should have careful consideration.

The Mayor said that the Bill would be placed in the hands of the members for the district, who would doubtless take an early opportunity next session of conferring with Ministers on the subject. The Mayor then thanked Mr. Macandrew for his courteous attention to the various matters brought forward, and the deputation withdrew.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A deputation consisting of Messrs. Evans (Chairman), Sumpter, Connell, Meek, and Smith (Secretary), introduced by Messrs. HislopandShrimski, M.H.R.'s, introduced the Hon. Mr. Macandrew at the Harbor Board Chambers immediately after the conclusion of the Council's deputation. The Chairman (Mr. J. T. Evans) said that the first matter the deputation wished to bring under the notice of the Minister for Public Works was the unsuitablcness of the present passenger station. Owing to the great number of trains running the goods traffic was greatly interfered with. They found that there were only four working hours a day for goods traffic. The same matter caused great, detention of trucks, and in view of the smallness of trucks this was a serious subject. The deputation hoped that steps would speedily be taken to have the passenger station placed in a more suitable place. The next matter which he wished to bring under his (the Minister's) notice was the necessity for having all railway accidents inquired into publicly. He also urged that a spare engine should be kept in Oamaru. The engine on the breakwater line was frequently taken away for other purposes, and traffic on the line was frequently interrupted for hours, more especially on the occurrence of accidents on the lines. The deputation wished to know if the special tariff for grain on the Timaru line had been cancelled, and desired to have printed tariff lists supplied to them. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said with re ference to the matter of the passenger station, he might say the opinions which had been expressed were those which must strike everyone. He would say that the Government proposed to erect a new passenger station at the end of Coquet-street. The plans were being prepared, and the work of erecting the station would be gone on with at once. Several other sites had been suggested, but to all of them objections were raised on the score of expense. He himself would like to have had a different station site, but the funds were not available, and the best obtainable had been selected. "With reference to the matter of inquiring publicly into railway accidents had occurred. He was decidedly in favor of having all such accidents publicly inquired into. With re-

ference to the placing of a spare engine in Oamaru, he would see what could be done. The desire of the Government was in every way possible to facilitate the carrying out of the work in the best manner possible. As to the tariff, he believed the Gazette of yesterday contained a new tarift, which was to be an uniform one for the whole Colony. Referring again to the matter of a spare engine, he said the Government were getting a supply from Home.

Mr. Steward said that the Railway Department appeared to be working in a hand to mouth manner, having only sufficient engines for ordinary purposes. When anything of a special nature occurred, the shipping of the port was greatly inconvenienced. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that the Government were having the railway stations connected with each other by telegraph. The management had been placed in the hands of a first-class man, and they will have the block system in force in a very short time. This meant great expense, but he thought the Government were justified in adopting the system, as it would be in the interests of the public.

Mr. Sumpter drew attention to the necessity of adopting some means of easing the traffic at the present station until the new passenger station was erected, and suggested that a continuation of the siding in Harbor-street should be made, so as to meet the main line near the goods shed, and thus facilitate the despatch of business at the port. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew consulted with Mr. Conyers, who had entered the room during the discussion, upon the matter.

Mr. Conyers said he could see no objection to it being adopted as a temporary measure.

Mr. Macandrew then said he would leave the matter in the hands of Mr. Conyers. Some further discussion then took place with reference to the holding of public inquiries into railway accidents, in which Messrs. Macandrew, Coiners, Coimell, Hislop, and Steward took part. Eventually the Hon Mr. Macandrew said the question was a very lai-ge one, and required careful consideration.

Mr. Connell brought under the notice of Mr. Macandrew the necessity for keeping the Telegraph Office open between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m., and referred to the fact of the Oamaru Telegraph Oftiee being the third office in the Colony in point of the amount of receipts. He was< sure that 11*13 cost of keeping the office open during those hours would only amount to LSO per annum. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said that the matter properly came within Mr. Fisher's Department. That gentleman had been prevented from being present through indisposition, but as lie would be remaining in Oamaru for some days, the deputation would have an opportunity of interviewing him before lie left.

The deputation then thanked Mr. Mac andrew, and the interview terminated.

RAILWAY TO LIVINGSTONE.

A deputation from the Oamaru-Naseby Railway Committee, consisting of his "Worship the Mayor, Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski, M.H.R.'s, and several other gentlemen next waited upon the Hon. Mr. Macandrew.

The Mayor, as Chairman of the Committee, having related what had already been done in regard to the railway to Livingstone, said that the deputation waited upon Mr. Macandrew for the purpose of urging that the working survey of the line should be made without delay, the centre line defined, and the necessary notice given as to the land to be taken. The line had already been surveyed and favorably reported upon, and its construction was favored by a petition bearing a larger number of signatures than could be obtained for any counter petition, though he was aware that a small number of people had petitioned in favor of a' different route from either of those already surveyed. He argued that the leases of a quantity of Crown Lands would fall in. shortly, and that sufficient money would be obtained from their sale to cover the cost of the work. The Hon. Mr. Macendrew said that the Government had LSOOO to expend before next session, and were anxious to spend the money, and make a commencement with the work ; but there appeared to be some difference of opinion as to the route for the railway, two different petitions on the subject having been received. He would not- pretend to say which was the best route, for he was not aware of the merits of the different lilies. He had instructed Mr. Blair to report upon the whole matter, and he might be expected in Oanuu'u in a few days. So soon as possible the work would be commenced. The Mayor asked that Mr. Blair {.might be instructed to place himself in communication with the Committee, saying that they would be glad to afford him every information possible.

The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said this should be done, and the deputation thanked him and withdrew.

HARBOR BOARD DEPUTATION. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew was next waited upon by a deputation from the Harbor Board, consisting of Messrs. Sumpter (Chairman), Steward, Shrimski, Menlove, Meek, and Forester (Secretary), who were introduced by Mr. Hislop, M.H.R.

The matters submitted by the Chairman were that the Government should undertake to lower the grade on the breakwater line to the new wharf, and undertake the maintenance of the line, and that a rcduc-. tion should be made in tlic present charge of 3d per bale for unloading wool from railway trucks at the breakwater. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew said, with reference to lowering the grade, he had spoken to Mr. Conyers on the subject, and that gentleman had promised to report upon it. If the cost was not too great he had no doubt the Department would undertake the work. With reference to the Government keeping the line in repair, he would look carefully into the matter and sec what could be done. As to the unloading of wool from trucks, he thought 2d a bale might be a fair charge ; but the subject should receive careful consideration.

Several other matters having been talked over, the deputation thanked the Hon. Mr. Macandrevr, and the interview closed.

IMMIGRATION MATTERS. A deputation from the Benevolent Society, consisting of Messrs. Milligan (Vice-President), C. S. Allen (Hon. Treasurer), N. Fleming, and Hesketh (Barrack-master), was introduced to Mr, Macandrew by his "Worship the Mayor. Mr. Allen, as spokesman, pointed out that in several oases persons arriving in the Colony as immigrants, left the barracks to go to service, to return to the barracks after the expiry of a few days, or a week or two, they being in such a state of health as to be unfit for work, It was claimed by the Immigration Department that, if they had gone out to service at all, such persons had ceased to be under the control of the department, and thus their maintenanc was thrown upon die Benevolent Society. That organisation was established for the relief of distress occurring among the resident population, anditseemed unfair that any local organisation should be made to bear the brunt of the importation by the Immigration Department of persons in an unfit con* dition for work. What should really be a Colonial charge thus being made a local one.

The question of sending immigrants direct to Oamaru was also discussed, and The Hon. Mr. Macandrew, in reference to the first matter brought forward, said

it did not come in his own department, but at the same time he would give it consideration. He would, however, suggest to the deputation that they »hould bring it under the notice of the Minister for Immigration, who would be in Oamaru in a few days. As regarded the question of direct immigration to Oamaru, he suggested that some of the Oamaru merchants should arrange for direct shipments of timber from Canada, from which colony a most desirable class of immigrants might be obtained, and if freight was thus guaranteed for vessels carrying them he would be happy to assist in arranging for immigrants to come by such vessels direct.

The deputation then thanked Mr. Macandrew and withdrew.