THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS ON TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 8

THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS ON TOUR.

. OPENING THE HERIOT-EDIEYALE LINE. (Br Our SrecuL Reporter.) lIEIUOT, February'ls. ,Tho Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, and party left Dunedin this .Homing by the south express en route for the Tuapeka County, where the Minister A-as to oper, extension of the Heriot ]in d from Heriot to Klie-rtie. ji distance of six uid- a-quarter miles. The pariv in the Ministerial carriage included Mr «T, Millar, M.H.R., Mr J. F. Arnold, M.11.11.. Mr E. R. Usslier (District Engineer), ant! Mr R, Cotton (of Waipori, chairman of the Tuapeka County Council). Mr T. K. Sidey, M.H.R., and Mr D. Iteid, M.H.R.. will join the party at Roxburgh or Lawrence. ' Die new extension has occupied four" years in const ruction, and runs throueh country that presents 110 engineering difficulties whatever; but it now opens up a vtery extensive fruit district, and a very large quantity of the fruit which formerly came through Lawrence now goes through Edievale. At Clinton the party was joined by Mr ,7. W. Thomson, M.H.R. A large parly of (lore residents had gone ovei previously by vehicle. TAPANUI REQUIREMENTS. ■ At. Waip'ahi the Minister was met by a deputation consisting of Mr W.. Quiii- (chairman of the Tapanui Hospital Provisional Committee), Dr Robertson, and Mr J. Wolferstan. Mr Quin stated that- the residents of l'apanui desired to erect a. cottage hospital in the township. When the Minister' was in England .1 deputation had waited on Sir J. G. Ward, who promised to assist the residents in every possible way. There were two sections in Tapanui reserved for an •Ulienanun site, and it had liten desired to get them for a site for the hospital. After waiting 011 Si. Joseph the deputation received word from (lie Hospital and Charitable Aid Department that the apnlication for llm sections was granted. The Hospital Committee, took possession, Put later 011 discovered that the Tuapeka Hospital Board had put in an application for these sections and tho transfer wa» granted by the Minister of Lands. Tim Tapanui district, was 100 /riiles nivav froi a hospital. There were now 175 subscribers to a hospital fund, and there was £173 in the bank. Tho committee desired to erect a small cottage hospital. It had now to defend a Supreme Court, jir-tion against the Hospital Board of riiapeka. which desired to take Ihe sections pnd the buildini thereon, and the building liad b»en by the committee. The board had declined all applications from the committee for a hospital. The Punediu Hospital authorities were prepared to reciprocate, with Tapanui; and Dunedm Hospital was really nearer than Lawrence, as less time was occupied on the journey. For 10 years there had been 110 subscribers to the' Lawrence Hospital, which drew threefiftliß of iti local revenue from Tapanui district. The building on the two eectipin would cost £350 to fit up as a small hospital, and the committee could find that easily. The Minislei, in reply, said he remembered -omc time ago there was a. commission to go into the desirableness of a hospital at Tapanui, and the renort was raider aeainst I''o oroi°ct at that time. He realised all the disadvantages people living a long wiv from a hospital hadi to labmir nnde.r. He bad been tryinsr to evolve some scheme whereby somo provision he made for the election of cottage hospitals in the outlyine districts, so that tliero might tie some of the convfir.ienrps so noc°s s avy in urgent eases. He would not desire to have them scattered all over the country, but some provi-sio'i sh-c.u!a be made to Mich - eas»s as Tapanui. Of course the local r«sidonK where eott.i<re hospitals were erected would have to assist, either by providing for the maintenance or forthe buiidim;s. W>en lie bad deeded upon his proposals be would submit them to cabinet, and' be hoped the matter wou'd be brought up next session. He wou'd 'eok into Iho matter of the reserves and h.'ve a report made. At Tapanui the Mayor (Mr T). Murray) and -the cmuicil of the borough brouffH the same matter under tho notice of the Minister. OPENING OF TitK EXTENSION. At- Keho and lleriot the train was joined by numbers of people, including Messrs A. I'ain (chairman of the Blatf Harbour Board), T. Green, and I. W. Raymond [members of tho Southland County Council and Bluff Harbour Board), J> Crosbie •Smith, and R. Gilmour (delegates from lilo Invercargill Railway League), 3). L. Poppelwell (Slayor of Gore), A. J. M'Credie (district railway engineer). At Kelso the Minister drove over to see . Mr 11. Quertier's patent ballast excavator (already described). At Kdievale the Ministerial party was met by tlie member for Tuapeka (Mr Bennet, M.H.R.) and the members of the Tuapeka County Council. The station had been decorated for ihe, occasion, and an arch was built ot'er tl.e line, but the erection was caught by the train and brought to the ground, a piccc of scantling Etriking Mr Moncur, of Roxburgh (who was 011 11. carriage platform), 011 the nose and inflicting some severe flesh wounds. After the Minister had been welcomed by Mr John Edie (cbairm.au) and tlie Reception Committee ,the party was photographed standing in front of the engine. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones thon took v,p a position in a railway waggon and commenced. the formal proceedings in the presence of a very largo gathering of local people. Ho said it was a very pleasing duty 110 had to perform that, afternoon. It was now some six years since Government had its attention drawn to the necessity lor extending railway communication from Heriot onwards. It was just 20 years since the line was opened to Heriot. It was pointed out that the district was making good progress, and the fine crops of wheat grown were brought under bis notice. He had never seen finer wheat than that grown by Mr J. Edie. When the extension was first proposed there was a question of rival routes. Some wanted the line to go through Moa Flat Estate and others wanted it • through Lawrence, and others in the direction of Eae's Junction; but he was satisfied jt was taken by the best route.—(Applause.) When tho extension was rtarted, he thought by the time it readied Edievalethe Roxburgh residents would be satisfied, hut, like Oliver Twist, they were always asking for more.— (Laughter.) The extension was only six and a-,quartor miles 111 lenirth—a very ehort section, —but it should Tie borne in mind that the extension meant 12J- miles less distance for the people of Roxburgh to cart their produce.—(" Hear, liCar.") He was satisfied the section was going to bo a. paying one from ihe start.—(" Hear, hear.") They had only to look round them to see that this would be so. for there could not be found belter country than that in tho neighbourhood of Crookston. The settlers in the Crookston district wanted tho lino to go there; but. the Government had to take everything into consideration, and it found ihe present route was the best. If they took a radius of four miles from where t-licy ■were, then Moa. Flat and Crookston were •.veil served.—("Hear, hear.") It was going to be a. paying section, and nothing pleased him better than to see these extensions opened for traffic. Ho did not care whether it was a- railway or a road, 110 was just as pleased as any settler in tlie locality, becauso ho knew the needs of the settlers.— ("Hear, hear.") He and his colleagues knew that, this country could not progress as it ought to do until the producers had the means to convey their produce to market. This wa.? one of the greatest difficulties lliey had to contend with in ii new country. On the Oiago Central line there bad been made in every year of his Ministry as great a length of line as the settlers in the Edievale district bad hau made in four years. (A Voice: ' You've done wonders for it.") Mr Hall-Jones raid lie bad done more for the Otago , Central than any other Minister, and yet the- Otago Central Leaguo was not satis--tied.'—(Laughter.) The Oiago Central Railway Ivague had held, a meeting in Dunedin the other day when a reflection was cast upon the members for Dunedin. He (the Minister) was pained when lie read tlie report of the speeches made at that gathering. and the conclusion lift came to was that somo of those present were fit subjects for examination by two doctors.— (Laughter.) There was 110 doubt about it those ecntlemen were out. for a jolly spree, ,aud they bad it. But when he found men -castinp aspersions on representatives like Mr Millar and Mr Arnold, well he was one of the best tempered men in the world; but it very nearly made him angry. For what the league had done as compared with what Messrs Millar and Arnold bad done for the line was something like the work of the fly on the wheel.—(laughter.) The storywent that a fly settled on an immense re- ' reiving.wheel, and said to'himself and tho •wbrld: "What a great work J am doing 111 turning this wheel." The work of the ieagiio- had been something of the same kind. During bis Ministry over 60 miles of the Otago Central line had liecn opened, an average of six miles a year. The league had cast reflections upon the' members for the City of Dunedin who had been responsible for the work being carried on', as it was they who had really been the moving influences. He confessed he jjaidlitt'e atten--

t;on'_ to what those members of the. league said, for he recognised that they were dealing with the question from a party political point of- view.. The people of Dunedin and Central Oiago had reason to be grateful to Messrs Millar and Arnold. It was owing to tho manner in which they' brought the matter undor tho notice of the Government that the votes were put. on the Estimates as they were, and they had been the men in whom ho bad had the reliance, and they were tho ones the people had to thailk that the railway was going on. And it must go on, for it must go to Clyde. No part had been ncglceted by the Parliament, or tho Ministry, or the city members. - THE DISTRICT RAILWAY. He trusted those present would pardon him for that digression. This was a joyful occasion', and tliey were all satisfied. }3oforc he had taken office it appeared from the Year Hook that the average cost of railway construction per mile was something like £8000, But the average cost per mile since . lie had been. Minister for Works had been. £7162 per mile, and the cost of that extension had been fomctliing under £5000 per raile.—(" Hear, hear.") From what ho had econ of it, -he must compliment Sir Usshcr on having turned out such good work. The question of the-- loute was, as lie had said, a matter for very careful consideration. Tliero were advocates for taking it by Moa Flat and liae's Junction, hut in each caso there was some very difficult work. For instance, the difficulties oji Moa Flat comprised very heavy tunnels and einliankmonts, and one bridge which alone would have co;t from £20,000 to £25,000. Their member, Mr Bennett, had fought hard for that line, and now he was turning bis attention to the LawrenceKoxburgh raUe.-(Laughtcr.) The Minister concluded by declaring the line open, and trusting that it would—and 110 was satisfied it would—materially tend to the prosperity of that district.—(Applause.) Cheers were then given for the Minister and for Mr Bcimot, M.11.1t. Mr Uennet, M.H.R., expressed his great pleasure at seeing the lino onened to iidievale, and he paid a likh tribute of praise to the Minister for Railways. No doubt somo would like the lino to go further but they must remember the worst parts of the district had to he served first. The country was going ahead very well, and a good deal of money was being. spent on railways, which were all reproductive works. Even it the Liwrence-l'oxburgh line were constructed to-morrow, the Kdievale extension would still pay well.-(Applause.) Jt brought Crookston district and Moa, Flat within easy distance. He was very pleased to sec so large a gathering to welcome the Ministerial party.—(Anplause.) Mr J. A Millar, M.H.R., expressed great pleasure at being; privileged to take part in he eereniony. There was no doubt.the line wmul be of immense benefit to the district. (Applause.) Some four years aim d'scussioii was l,°t as to whether the lhie should go by Moa Flat or Kdievale. Know- 1 ins the requirements of tho Roxburgh district and 011 seeing the two routes, he came to the conclusion it would be better to take the hue through Edievale. The.v must not forget that New Zealand had to be supplied with railways, and work could only go 011 in accordance with the amount of monev available. It was only evidence of prudence on the- part of the Government that the different railway lines were beintr constructed carefully. Jy ex t y<ar ),„ i, O))C( | to get a. sufficient sum put 011 the Estimates to complete the Oiago Centra! line to Clyde, and then the Dunedin members promised to leave the Minister a'.one for some years. _ In Dunedin they were- in the happy position of not wanting any lines in their immediate district, so they could help members whose districts required railways,— ("Hear, hcar."| Mr Uennet wanted to get the Lawrence-Roxburgh line through, and, speaking as a Dunedin member, he (Mr Millar) 'could say it. would always be. his endeavour to see that Otago got its fair share of expenditure on roads and bridges and railways as long as these works were constructed out of borrowed money.— (Applause.) And he would, if it was shown to him that the Lawrence-Roxburgh route would be a renroduetive one, support it willingly. But be would not assist anybody to. procurc a work flint would not bo reproductive, whether in the North or South Island. Ho would assist reproductive work?.—(" Hear, h°<ir.") Mr-J. F. Arnold. M.H.R., said be came to see tliis part of the countrv some four or five years ago, and concluded the railway was a neccsary work. Some people thought city members did not concern themselves with the countrv works, but the city was eminently concerned with country works, for the prosperity of the country depended th"' prosreritv of the »ity. —("Hear, heo*."' He knew tb» road from Lawrence to Rovbure-h. and when lie- was shown where the railway should co be would be enabled to i*iv» them assistance in what, lie downed to he the wisest route, and lie hoped to see that part of the colony become one of the most prosperous in any part of the island.—(A ppHi^O Mr .T. W. Thomson. MH.R.. al--o addressed a- few words to tho assembly, in the oouno of which be ■ expressed the 'opinion t''at. a raiWy almost anywhere in New Zealand would nn* - . The ceremonv concluded I'itli cheers for the Minister, the pnrlinmentary representatives, and other visitor?. SOUTHLAND RAILWAYS. A deputation fitmi the Southland Railway League and Goro branch of the Gorc-Kc!so Railway League, including also members of tho Bluff Harbour Board. lurorrargill Borough Council, and Gore Borough Council, waited upon tho Minister at Edievalei to urge tile claims of the Gore-Waikaka-Kelso railway. ■ Messrs l'oppclwell (Goro), Bain (Bluff Harbour Board), Raymond and Crosby Smith (Southland Railway League) brought nnder the Minister's, notioo tho fact that the line from Gore to Wnikaka. had been authorised last session, and asked that at least a flying survey should bo made. Iti was mentioned that part of the object of the league's pressing on the Government tho necessity for making tho line from Gore to Kelso, and eventually to Roxburgh, was to secure the trade that properly belonged to .Southland, but a largo portion of which was already going to Otago. Tho Minister said it was 110 portion of his policy to give advantage to one town or district over another, b'it to see that as far as possible settlers were given facilities for .getting- their produce market as expeditiously and cheaply as possible. He recognised the 'claims of the deputation, and said that 110 had received an offer which he intended to place before his colleagues a-s early as possible, ar.<l if his hopes in that conncotion came to fruition, eomothing more than cither a flying or trial survey would be carried out, and it -was quite possible that before very long some tangible work on tho route between Gore and Waikaka would bo commenced. BANQUET TO THE MINISTER. Subsequent to the afternoon function a banquet was hold in the railway gcods shed in honour of the Minister's visit. Th'cro was a very lang-e gathering, and people from all parts of the district sat down to the long tables so tastefully arranged by Mr Kingsland, of Invcreargill. The shed had been nicely decorated with greenery and banners for the occasion. Mr John Hdie, sen., presided, having 011 his right the Minister for Public Works, and on his left Mr Bonnet, M.H.R., and Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.5. Mr J. Edie, jun., was vice-chairman. tho usual loyal toast, "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers'' was proposed by Mr j. Edie, jun., and responded to by Car-tain Stewart, of 'lie Kelso Mounted Rifles. Mr T. Green, of Gore, proposed the toast of "The Local Bodies," which was responded to bv Messrs Cotton (chairman Tuapeka County Council), Bain (Bluff Harbour Board), and Raymond (Southland County Council). Mr Bain urged the claims of the Bluff as a harbour for tho district visited to-day. Mr Raymond said be bad made the statement when the r 1 filiation waited on the Minister that aOvniooii that Southland would endeavour to capture the trade of north-western Otago. Ho only made that, statement because he thought the trade of that district properly belonged to Southland.—(Applause.) '■'•Mining Interests" were propo"-ed by Mr C. Duff, who said tlie railway had brought tho minors into closer touch'with the lower countrv, ,ind responded to bv Mr Jntrlts and Mr Whelan. The toast of "The Farmer? and Fruitgrowers "was proposed bvMr J. M'Farlane, and responded to by Messrs M'lnerncy! Orchard, and ,T. Bennetts, the latter remarking that it cost twice as much to land a ease of fruit in Dunedin from Roxburgh as it did to land a ease of fruit frnni Tasmania in Lyttelton or the B'uft. The Government had done v*ry much for the fruitgrowers of this colony.—(Applause.) It, had- imposed a duty on imported fruit, and had it rot lieen for this the fruit-growers of the Roxburgh district could not have competed against the imported fruits. He congratulated the district'oil the completion of the which would serve a vcrv large-area of country and on»n up thousands of acres 111 the immediate vicinity. He urged Hie claims of (he Lawrence-Rax-biiT?h railway line. Tliie next toast was " The Guest of the Evening," proposed by the Chairman,

Tho Hon. AV. Hall-Jones, in responding; paid a compliment to the caterer. He went on to refer to tho volumes of correspondence members of Parliament had to deal with, and said members were by 110 meansidle during the recess. He apologised for tho absence of, the Prenlicr and 1 Sir J. G. Ward, and went on to refer to the prosperous condition of New Zealand. lie advised the people to endeavour to try and lay themselves out with a little cf that spirit which put the country first, such as the .Tapanese did, and which spirit had placed Japan in the foremost position it was now in. The-people should keep in viMv the highest ideals of State, and try to bring about what they believed to bo for the best interests of tho colony!—(Appiause.) Ho objected to criticism which was not intended to instruct or assist, but to pull down and (lestroy. He claimed that tho policy of the Government had materially conduced to the prosperity of the colony, and ho referred to closer settlement, the grading of dairy produce, grading of flax, the opening of the country by roads and railways, etc. The. revenue-earning departments were earning on increase for llin colony each year, and he had .no doubt that the Premier next session would be al io to declare .1 very substantial surplus, which would satisfy tho-most exacting mind. He was pleased to Fee that there was a groat probability of 60.000 acres being cut up in that neighbourhood. He referred lo the increasing value of exports from Xew Zealand. and predicted trade with Japan. The work of opening tho rounl-rv up yiiust lie steadily pushed on. He defended borrowins io facilitate the productiveness of the country, and went on to refer to tho grand RS=et- posF"s-ed by Otago in the 1. a (fill owe r of Vanaki and Hawea, and the assets possessed in its water power by the district he was in that da" ' He was determined to carry on the i/taeo Central line to Clvde. The Main Trunk line was rearer completion than many people imagine'!, as nil Ihi> pirns were prepared, and if he notild got tho funds ho wanted next session lie would bo able lo vail passengers from the Bluff to Auckland very much sooner than many people'thought. The Midland railway was getting 011 well, and when these three L'reat works were constructed r.ioney would beavaitaHe for the smaller lines. He* referred to the Lands Commission, r.iid said the Hons? would la in a. much belter position to deal 'nth the question after the evidence was rnllc/'ed by lho commission than before.—(Annlause.) The tonet of "Tl Parliament" vas reepond.y] to by Messrs Bennct, Millar. Arnold, and Thomson. After the bauouet the party left, for Rae's Junction a little after 8 o'clock.