DEPUTATIONS TO THE BOS. MB, WARD.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 7

DEPUTATIONS TO THE BOS. MB, WARD.

At Clinton on Tuesday afternoon several deputations were introduced to the Hon. Mr Ward, Minister of Railways, by Mr J. W. Thomson, M.H.R. for Clutha. Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R. for Waihemo, was also in attendance. Messrs D. Clark, H. Tolmie, J. Taylor, and T. Taylor asked that a reserve of 10 chains in width, which was set aside for railway purposes between Wairuni and Waipahi many years ago, should be dealt with. They expressed a desire to purchase any portion of this land the Railway department did not require. The property extended for about six miles between the places- mentioned, and comprised about 200 acres, and was not used by the department. The Hon. Mr "Ward replied that he would get the information necessary to enable him to look into the question, and, after he had gone into it, he would let Mr Thomson know whether he could meet the wishes of the deputation or not. Messrs Scott and Millar, of Ashley Downs, informed the Minister that settlers in that locality would like arrangements made foxcarrying mails from Waiwera to Ashley Downs and then on to Clydevale three times a week. About 12,000 letters and papers went to the Ashley Downs district in tlie ysar, and the same quantity to Clydevale. The Hon. Mr Ward said he would try to give the extra facilities asksd for. The deputation also mentioned that at present there was no person in charge of the Waiwera station, although it was a station at which there, was a large amount of traffic. _ A man was stationed there only for a short time in the grain season. The Hon. Mr Ward, in reply, said he would inquire about the traffic at Waiwera, and if the result of his investigations warranted it, he would "be glad to meet the desires of the settlers. It was, however, a matter that woxild altogether depend on the returns he got. They would be furnished to him in a day or two, and he would reply to Mr Thomson, and also on the question of mails to Ashley Downsand Clydevale. The deputation then brought up the question of telephone communication. They pointed out that there was now a telephone between Clinton and Waiwera, and between Warepa and Balclutha, so that to enable people to communicate from Clinton to Balclutha direct by telephone it was necessary that the intervening distance between Waiwera and Warepa should also have a telephone wire. As matters were at present, it was a great inconvenience to get a doctor from Balclutha at night. The Hon. Mr Ward said the course generally adopted was to ask the petitioners " if the loss of revenue over the interest on the necessary outlay is £5 or £10 a year, will you make it lip at the end of the year? " He had seldom found they had to pay anything, but if they agreed to give the guarantee., it, at any rate, phow.ed good faith on their part. Of cpurse, it had to be remembered that when wires were being carried all over the country, it meant a tremendous sum of money if all the requests were agreed to, and it was the desire of the department to have no "dead" wir6s in any part. The department only asked for 5 per cent, on the cost, and if tlie settlers were prepared to make up any small loss, if there was a loss, he was quite prepared to give the line. He would forward a written communication to Mr Thomson on the matter. Another deputation consisted of .Messrs R. J. Irving, jun., R. Irving, D. A. M'Lachlan, J. M'Fail, H. Garforth, J. Ritchie, and A. Macdonald. They brought up tlie question of telephonic communication with Balclutha, and the Hon. Mr Ward replied to them in the terms of his answer to the previous deputation. — Mr Irving said it was reckoned the cost of the wire for the seven miles between Warepa and Waiwera would be £250. — In rep]y to one of the deputation, the Hon. Mr Ward said the telephone wire was generally put on to the police station or the residence of some other public officer. Replying to other matters, the Hon. Mr Ward said he would make inquiries to see if the private letter boxes could not be kept open all night. If the mails were closed in the morning, instead of at half-past 9 at night, it would mean an increase in the local staff. As to the widening of the road approaching; the cattle yards, which was estimated to cost about £100, he would look into the matter, and see if a vote could not be given for the work. A deputation from the Town Board, comprising Messrs R. J. Irvine', iun., A. Macdonald. J. Ritchie, J. M'Fail, and D. A. M'Lachlan, brought up the proposed schemeto supply Clinton with water supply for town and railway piirposes, and asked in what way they could procure money fo? the work. The Hon. Mr Ward said the money might bo obtained under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, the loan to work out in 33 years. All the conditions, however, would be found in the act. As to whether the Railway department would give help or not. all he could say at present was that he would look into the subject.