THE PREMIER ON ITS WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 26

THE PREMIER ON ITS WEST COAST.

HOKITIKA, January 11. Mr Ssddon is having a splendid reception in the South Westland districts, which he has not visited for 12 year?. In opening the Waitaha bridge on Saturday he ref-e-rred to local government matters, and d-eploied the opposition shown to the amalgamation scheme contained in tho lasl Counties Bill, and to the outcry there v.'ao when he proposed -to absorb load board*. He stated that ha intended to try the> experiment in r&gard to Westland. The proposal would bo to appoint one local body of 15 members for the whole district from The- Tc-remak-au River to tL-o eourhern e-x-tremily of We&tlancl. This body, which T»-ould administer all local affairs, would bo given an assured ro-'-anue, probably in tha way of gianting royalties fiom timber. Ho paid a tribute to tho ability and devotion of the public mc-n of Wetland in j^tt^l affaiis, stating that the Government nad every confidence in entrusting the fortune -3 of the new council to such men. He had been much impressed by tho timber resources of the southern district, which would prove a larg3 feeder to tbe Rc<ss railway as soon ba it was opened. The fiist section of this railway — as far a3 JLiake Mahinapua — would piobably be opened hi about a year's time. The Premier is having splendid weather pn his southern trip. All the party are delighted with the R<j ci 3c i 3 scenery. Mr Secidon will visit the Franz Joac-f glacier before returning.

Over 1000 bake of dressed flax were dealt tyith by the Government graders at Wellington during December. Country contemporaries state that there is a large number of unemployed in the Manawatu district ju=t now. At Friday" i meoti'ig of lha Southland County Council tho question of the Otama bridge again cropped up Cr M'Quee-n said that on account of the deviation of the river it would be necessary to construct two bridges instead of on©, and ho proposed that one of the bridges be erected eight or ten chains below the present site and near the railway eiding. The new channel that had Formed required a second bridge. The cisti-inat-sd cost of the structures is £3509, and the Government had been applied to for a grant of thin sum. Cr M'Queen's verbal report was unanimously adopted.