HON. J. G. COATES’S TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18510, 22 March 1922, Page 6

HON. J. G. COATES’S TOUR

A BUSY DAY. SERIES OF DEPUTATIONS. (Fbou Oub Special Repobteb.l ALEXANDRA, March 21. The Hon. J. G. Coates and party spent a busy day to-day. Leaving Cromwell Before 8 o’clock the Minister proceeded direct to Chatto Creek, and after a walk of a mile and three-quarters through the hills lie performed the interesting ceremony of offi cially turning on the water in the Manuherikia race. The party next went on to Omakau, where a deputation waited on the Minister respecting irrigation schemes for this portion of the district. The spokesmen were Messrs John Wilson (Lauder) and William Alexander, who on behalf of 300 settlers, representing 47,000 acres, asked the Minister to put in hand the Upper Manuherikia and Dunstan Creek scheme. Another deputation, for which Cr James Ritchie (county chairman) was spokesman, asked the Minister seriously to consider the construction of a dam in Thompson's Gorge, which he understood would increase the flow of water available under the Etma.ll scheme (which the council had recently purchased) from 10 heads to 25. The Minister said the whole question was one of finance, and he would have the scheme investigated to see whether the amount of water to be conserved wou.d warrant the expenditure. The afternoon was devoted to a tour of inspection around Ida Valley, and the parly reached Alexandra shortly after 5 p.m., where the Minister opened a new post office. The party were then entertained at dinner at the Criterion Hotel by the local Borough Council, together wfth the Vincent County Council. Mr W-' Black (Mayor) presided over a full attendance of members of both bodies, and an exceqpingly pleasant and interesting function resulted. The toast list was as follows The New Zealand Government,” proposed by Mr 6>. T. Spain, and responded to by Mr Coates : “The Prosperity of the District proposed by Mr J. Ritchie, and responded to by Mr J. Horn, M.P.; “The P. and T. and Public Works Departments,” proposed by Air G. Campbell, and responded to by Messrs J. R. Marks and J. M'Crea; and “His Worship the Mayor and the Chairman,” proposed by Mr J. Smart. the toasts were all honoured with much enthusiasm, and the speeches were lull ot interest and entirely appropriate to .he occasion, the supreme importance to the district of irrigation being strongly emphasised by all the speaker. The proceedings were varied by a recitation by Mr Richai (Is. The Minister was then interviewed by more deputations in the local library, when several district requirements wore placetl before him. The first speaker was Mr U. Weaver, who placed before the Minister the question of bringing into us© 18 beans of water from the Last Chance race, which was already partly constructed, as it had been used formerly for mining purposes. This water, ho pointed out would serve Fruitlands (1200 acres), and * W°ck « 7000 acres of Crown land, which had been set aside for settlement purposes. For the past 11 years the water had been running to waste, but it could be brought in at a small cost for the construction of races Mr Horn said it was a pity that a. valuable water right like this should be going %r 9 G' Rivers next introduced the question of a grant for making a new road from Little Valley. Access, he said, was difficult at the present time, and P rac ’ tically impossible; and the cost of gettng out produce was practically P roh . lb Lq?= but old road for the settlers was ll miles but Si© new proposal would reduce the distant to five miles at a reduced gradient. . Mr P. Curtiss endorsed what had been said by Mr Rivcre. and pointed put that a number of soldier settlors in the district would benefit by the proposal. Mr Horn added that the matter was really on© for the Lands Department, which had broken up the land \vi thout road l n ß' * • Air Spain put before the Minister the need fat some fixed source of revenue for the upkeep of roads and bridges m the Clutha Valley, which the county found a, greater burden than it could boar. Sir AVdfiam Fraser had made certain promises m regard to this matter, and what they would Low like was the handling of a portion of the rents coming in from the pastoial country ; la order to build up their revenue Mr Spain also asked that Crawford s road from Ida Valiev to Alexandra shrould be improved, and that easier terms of payment should, if possible, be granted to settlers who received water for irrigation purposes Mr H. Munro, president of the Central Otago Fruit Growers’ Association, drew the attention of the Minister to the unsuitability of the present type of railway wagons for the carriage of stone fruit The present wagons wore badly ventilated, and during the past season many complaints had been received from tho public in the North Island, as well as the South Island. New wagons were not needed at once, but they would like to have them for next season. Mr A. Ashworth strongly supported the re TIV Coates, in reply to Mr Weaver, said he would inspect tho place on the following day and would later obtain a report from his ’departmental officers. Regarding Little A r allev the Alinbter said he knew the position. and would again go into the matter. Works of this kind had to be done m order of urgency, and if the matter was one for the Lands' Department he would consult Mr Guthrie. It would be considered when tho Estimates came down. Replying to Air Spain, tho Minister said he had already discussed the question of county revenue with Mr Guthne, and roniething had been done. He would make a point of seeing Mr Guthrie again. As to tho main road, a conference! of interested bodies would be held in Alay, and a satisfactory* system might then be evolved. In connection with the Ida Valley road, he would consider the matter when the Estimates came down. With respect to water rates, he thought his latest proposals were verv generous, and he was not prepared to say 'that tho charges could be further reduced. At the same time, it they were found oppressive he would endeavour to meet the settlers so that they would not suffer any undue hardship. “My main object,- ’ added the Minister, “is.to make a success of the whole of these irrigation pro,lo\Vith regard to the fruit trucks, the Minister said he would confer with Air Guthrie on the matter. He understood Mr Guthrie intended to visit. Central Otago shortly, and he would advise them to place the matter before him,. The closing incident in a full day was a. social and dance held in the Alexandra Town Hull, this function having also been arranged bv the County Council and the Borough Council. The object of this gathering was to afford the townspeople an opportunity of meeting the AHnister, and it provided a fitting climax to the splendid hospitality extended to the Alinistor by the residents of Alexandra and the surrounding districts. To-day the Minister will leave for Dunedin. via Roxburgh.