ROXBURGH TO INVERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2823, 22 April 1908, Page 26

ROXBURGH TO INVERCARGILL.

WELCOME AT TAPANUI. GORE, April 15. The Prime Minister and the Hon. R. M'Nab (Minister of Lands) left Roxburgh about 8 o'clock this morning. . A short distance out of the town, Mr Pennell hailed the Prime Minister and his coach and asked that a delivery he arranged for telegrams to fruitgrowers within b certain distance of Roxburgh. The Prime Minister said he would take a note of the request and consider it. At Rae's Junction the Prime Minister and Hon R M'Nab dined with Mr^ Bennet, M.P Mr Bennet has been m poor health lately, but is now showing a little improve^ ment. A petition was presented to tho Prime Minister, signed by 40 residents, asking for telephonic communication with Edievale, six miles distant. The Prime* Minister said he would consider the matte: and forward a reply to the petitioners: through Mr Bennet, M.P. At Edievale a deputation from the -Moa Flat Farmers'; Club, consisting of Messrs G. M. Love, Ma Oarmichael, 0. R. Throp, C. Smaill, H, Brensell. and ofchere, askiid for a continuation of the railway. Mr Love said the settlers desired an extension of the railway to tap Moa Flat. They would like if al--survey could be made. About 2000 tons of grain had been grown on the settlement. There were 65,000 acres of freehold land on it, that being the number of acres that the settlers had taken up, and there were 90,000 acres of leasehold at the back of the freehold. They wished it to be understood that m asking for this survey they were not at all hostile towards the Law-rence-Roxburgh line. If the line went to Roxburgh from Lawrence, as now proposed, it would not bencfitt-he majority of the Moa Flat settlers. The line proposed would not- be vory expensive, and, considering the fertile state of the land, it would b 9 payable. The Prime Minister expressed his' regret that on this occasion he could not go to Moa Flat. He was ■ glad to hear the deputation was not opposing their line to that authorised from JLawrence to Roxburgh. There was no fight between two routes. After explaining the position of the railway vote, Sir Joseph Ward said a mere survey did not help any district with a railway. What was wanted first was the authorisation of a line, and the survey followed. When the Government went into the question of railway authorisation it would consider tha request for this particular extension. Mr Love said that if Sir Joseph Ward and! party did go through the settlement *t_ a future time they would receive a cordial welcome from the Farmers' Club. The Prime Minister 6aid he would put Moa Flat on his programme, and the next time he was m the district he would visit it. — (Cheers.) The party arrived at Tapanui at half past 4, being received by Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., and Mr A. Munyard (Mayor). Tho deputations, which were received m the Town Hall, were introduced by Mr Malcolm, M.P. Mr Colquhoun urged that the railage on" certain lines should be considerably reduced. Several towns got class A goods carried at class C rates, which were 26 per cent, less than the Tapanui people had tq pay for the same goods. Then more assistance should be given at the Tapanui Railway Station. The increased traffia warranted either the assistance of af porter or a cadet. At present the te/e-----phone exchange subscribers had to pay when they rang up the station, but if the( station became a subscriber ihe residents? would not have to pay. The running ofi the trains had been improved lately, and ifj was desired that tho arrangements en Tuesdays and Thursdays should be the same* as on other days. The three minutes* 1 limit on tho telephone was too short, andr they would like it to be extended. Mr, Quin supported the requests made by Mr Colquhoun. Another request made wasthat the borough should have the samor facilities the counties enjoyed m regard to inscribing stock. The Prime Minister said. . regarding the railway rates, that he would place the matter before tbe Minister for Railways, to see if anything could bo done m the direction suggested. The matter of assistance at the station would also be laid before the Minister. He was certain that

if -the business wartanted it the Minister wxwld be glad to give the assistance. The alteration of the service was another matter for the attention of the Minister for Railways m view of the increasing business of the district. He would ask the Minister to go into the matter to see if he could do anything for the people. The telephone service he could not agree to. It would require a special attendant. JHe did not think that the three minutes' limit could be extended. It was necessary that the line should be free as much as possible for those who wished to use it It was a mistake to suppose that boroughs were not treated similarly to the county councils, because they were, with one exception Sir Joseph explained this matter at some length for the benefit of the deputation, and added that he would be glad to do what he could for the borough. Cr Howat and other residents m the district brought up the matter of having a separate county called Tapanui - County. The proposed county at present formed part of the Tuapeka County, but there was no community of interest between this part and the .-est of the county. The southern portion was served hy the Tapanui branch railway, and the whole of the interests cf the ■ area centred m the railway. This southern part was contributing practically half of the Tevenue of the Tuapeka County, and 't had only two representatives. The Sues of the proposed county was about 400 square miles. . The Prime Minister said the •epresentations would necesarily have to be looked into by Parliament. The people concerned would also have to be consulted before a great change of the, kind was made. The whole thing required to be gone "into, because the general desire was to curtail the number of local bodies y and give them extended powers. At anyvste the representations of the deputation would be consfdered when the petition on the matter came before Parliament. A deputation from the District High School asked that twp rooms be added to the school, and that a new residence be provided for the head master. These matters, he believed, Were to come before the Otago Education Board that day. The Prime Minister said he would say very little^ on the matter until the board's decision, was known. However, he would bear the matter m mind, though he thought that the vote for^ sohool buildings had already been fully allocated. A deputation from the Pomahaka Anglers' Association consisted of Messrs A. Jolly, P. Hay, R. A. Rodger, and others. Mr Malcolm, M.P., said there was a proposal by a mining syndicate to divert 45 heads of water from the Pomahaka River into the Waikaka Valley. The Prime Minister said this matter was brought before him m Dunedin. He 'had telegraphed to the Minister of Mines on the subject, and re-ceived-a reply saying that-, the matter would .'; be all.right. * Mr Howat said he- represented the Otago Acclimatisation Society and the Tapanui Anglers "and Deerstalkers' Association, whose ] object it was to -discuss an application now before- the Warden's Court to divert for mining purposes 45 heads of water from the Pomahaka River into another watershed — viz., Waikaka Valley. The Otago Society strongly objected to this application being granted, and was supported by anglers all over New Zealand.-. The Pomahaka, including its tributaries, might aptly be termed the " Queen of Southern Rivers," it -being the only large river m the south that had escaped pollution from mining operations. Its waters to-day were as pure as they were 40 years ago. It was easy of access to anglers, as there were five stations on the Tapanui branch convenient to the river. Quite a number of tourists from the Australian colonies, Great Britain, and other places visit it during the season. Since 1869 the Otago Society had_ distributed m its waters €09,400 fish. This represented a large sum of money expended by the society m stocking the river. Should the application be granted the river would be ruined for angling purposes, and the eooiety would suffer very considerably m its revenue. The experience of anglers m a dry season during the cummer months was that the fish fell off m condition. In •oydinarg seasons it was just the reverse, as during the same months fish improved their condition. This led anglers to believe that during a dry season there was barely sufficient w ; ater to maintain the fish, and to reduce it by 45 heads would be disastrous. Mr Edgar said the landholders on the lands of the Pomahaka objected to the proposal, on. these grounds . {1)" If 45 heads of water, are taken there will be practically no flow left m a dry^gummer; (2).. it will destroy a- natural boundary, and owing to tbe • lqwjying state of the .country fenoes would be continually, washed away at flood times r (3) "if the water were taken it would -dc away with the -underground soakage. and :onsequently destroy the fertility of the rich flats-: m dry summers. The Prime Minister said the facts laid before him by, "■ the deputation were the same as those brought under his notice m Dunedin. He would communicate with the Minister of Mines again, however, and give publicity to the reply he received. A deputation from the Deerstalkers and Anglers' Association waited on the Hon. i. M'Nab. Mr P. Hay asked that an area of about 50,000 aores be declared a deer reservation under " Tha Animals Protection Act, 1907 " It would not interfere with agricultural and pastoral interests, and if the request were granted the association would have control over shooting parties. The Prime Minister said that the application must be sent to the Land Board m the usual way. ' The Borough Council entertained the Ministerial party at dinner m M'Cann'e Hotel m the- evening. The Mayor (Mr G. Munyard) occupied the chair, and Mr G. Howat the vice-chair. A splendid repast was provided, and a brief toast list was then entered upon. After the loyal toast, the Mayor proposed the health of the sruest of the evening, to which the Prime Minister replied, making eulogistic reference to the nature of the country which the party had witnessed on its way to Tapanui. The vice-chairman proposed the Parliament, to whichsbthe Hon". R. M'Nab Responded. The Prime Minister, who was given hearty cheers on leaving Tapanui, went on to Invercargill m the evening.