THE MINISTER FOR WORKS AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2265, 29 July 1897, Page 9

THE MINISTER FOR WORKS AT AUCKLAND.

<v ANOTHER PILOT BALLOON. '-- (Fkom Our Own Cobkespondent.') Auckland, July 21. At a dinner given in the Star Hotel by Mr Qaentin A. M'Connell, of the London and New Zealand Finance Corporation, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones (Minister for Public Works), in responding to the toast of his health, said, after referring to the North Auckland railway extension, that a Gisborne-Rotorua. line had been ■poken of. It was hii duty, and the duty of those who had charge of the public affairs of the colony, to see that every industry was developed. He thought it would be admitted that the mining industry had received considerable encouragement from Government. As with mining, so with the agricultural and every other industry. As New Zealanders they all had to work for the prosperity of the colony. The Gisborne line would be a great advantage to Auckland, and he might state that an engineer would start upon a trial survey of the line in the course of the next fortnight. — (Applause.) That would give an indication which would be considered when a polioy was entered upon to assist or embrace the connecting of one part of the colony with the other. One serious consideration, however, was finance. Railways, roads, and bridges could not be made unless there was money, but, feeling assured that these public works were required, and also feeling assured that they would -benefit' the" colony and increase its industries and develop its resources, it became a question whether they should lay a proposal before the House which would bring about the desired result. There had been tome talk about light railways. These had been referred to in his (the speaker's) Public Works Statement last year, and from' the imallness of their cost' and their adaptability to districts, such as the north of Auckland, where there was no road metal, it appeared to him they were just what w«s required. By using the present road lines as far as possible, he was confident they could lay three miles of light or narrow gauge railways for a mile of the present gauge. That would apply to the line to connect borne with Auckland. One great objecb for snch - lines would be, of course, providing markets for agricultural products. Another matter to be considered would be the opening of the Native country — the Kiug Country — for settlement. This was going to be a great thing for the City of Auckland because of the ' business that would be concentrated in it. This w&s a matter that was more advanced than most of them were aware of, and before long the country would be thrown open and the results would be seen. — (Applause.)