MAIL SERVICES ON THE CLUTHA RIVER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13673, 16 August 1906, Page 8

MAIL SERVICES ON THE CLUTHA RIVER.

DEI'CTATIOX TO lIOX. MR M'XAB.

The Hon. 1!. M'Xab, Mini.-.ier of Lands oti'.l Agriculture, was waited upon at Balcluti'.a yeslord'iy bv a deputation representing Ihe Cliitha River Board and settlers up and down the river,' who asked for an improved mail service to various points. The depulationisis laid their viows before the Minister in the few minutes the train stood at the staiion. Mr T. Mackenzie. in the absenc-e. of Mr A. S. Malcolm, member for the district, introduced the deputation.

Mr 1). Stewart, raid it was very desirable that improved postal facilities .should be given l-ctivcen Balclul.iia and the settlements up and down tile river. Tile present eontract expired a; the end of the year. He asked that the I'osial Department should withhold tender.-, tor mail services to the places lie referred to until tho Iliver Board laid fixed its time-table for the steamer, so that ii might consider the question of giving subsidies for the t.ervkcs the board proposed to establish. Ho handed, to the Minister a documen! showing the proposed change of mail services to points on tho riv-r.

Mr Wi : !iam Dallas said it would bo a great benefit lo the top of tho river to have a mail service.

Mr .Joseph Mosley, chairman of the Bruce County Council, .said that if the proposed services were given they would ho 'greatly appreciated by the Government settlers at (treenfield am! cihcr eJatc* that might .vet, be acquired up the river. At present, there was a great lack of conimunicntioii.

The Hon. Mr M'N'ab. iu reply, .--aid tlio matter did not come within his departments, and he could only promise that tho tapresonlations the deputation had placed I>o'orc him would be sent, on 10 (lie I'ostniaftorgeneral, who would no doubt, look into tho matter and give the deputation a reply at tl'.e earliest possible dale. If the matter came before Cabinet be would remember the views the deputation had just pluccd before him.

The document handed lo the Minister showed that under existing arrangemoivo Greenfield and Clydc/alc receive mails on Mondays, Wednesdays, r.iu! Fridays, while there are no servicw at uil to Bcgg's Station and Wiiitclea. Under the proposed service thee woul<l be ;i d-iily mail to all these places by steamer from Ealelutha. At present Rongahero gets its mails on Mondays and Fridays: Tuapeka Jlouih and Tiu'.matu on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; l'ukipilo on Tuesdays and Fridays; wlii'.e Blackburn lias no mail at all. It would !>e possible to give these places a daily rervico from Balclutha. by slsamer and other menus. .As for tho downriver service, Taylor's Point; at present gets no mail, while I'ori Molyneux and Kaka Point are served on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It would be possible to pivo these places a service daily or at the weekend by steamer and other means. The Clutha. River Board lias decided to establish an oil-launch servico (daily) on tho (Jlutha River. The service will commence in the beginning of January, 1907. The heard has not yet made its time-table for the new service, but will do so shortly. What subsidy would the Postal Department give ii the above services were established— (1) in the proposed services and (2) in the possible service'; Will the department hold hack tenders for above places till the board Jixcs its time-lablc'.'