HON. SIR WM. FRASER

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 24

HON. SIR WM. FRASER

VISIT TO OTAGO CENTRAL. The Hon. Sir William Fraser-(Minister of Publio Works), after sper/ding a week in his electorate, arrived in Dunedin by Thursday morning's train from the south. Accompanied t>y the district engineer (Mr C J. M'Kenzie), the Minister left Dunedin on Thursday, January 2, by train for Alexandra where he was met by the Mayor and several residents. He motored to the site of the proposed bridge across the Manuherikia, and after an inspection had been made the engineer was instructed to prepare plans for a suitable bridge. On Friday the Minister proceeded to Clyde, where he stayed for the night, and oil the "following day Cromwell was visited and the route of the new Clyde-Cromwell railway and new station buildings were examined. Sir William Fraser then motored through Lowburn to Tarras, where a couple of hours were spent, and subsequently an hour and a-half was passed at Hawea Flat discussing with the settlers matters of interest to the district. . A brief ' stop was made at Pembroke on the way to Queenstown, and on the 6th the Minister took the steamer for Glenorchy, where he was interviewed by members, of the Scheelite Company with regard to mattors affecting the commandeering of the output of scheelite. After hearing the complaints, Sir William Fraser promised to place the case before the Minister o'f Imperial Supplies. On Tuesday Sir William Fraser left Queenstown by steamer for Kingston, and thence by train for Lumsden, where he was waited upon by a deputation relative to several matters of local interest. Riversdale was next visited, and from there the Minister motored to Waikaia, returning to Riversdale the same afternoon.

On Wednesday he motored via Otama and North Chatton to Waikaka, and thence to Gore. At Waikaka several matters_ affecting the district were placed before him, /and in the evening he was waited upon by a deputation from the Mataura < Borough Council in regard to/'flood protection works for that borough. later in the evening he was interviewed by. the Mayor and members of the Gore Borough Council, when the possibility of making a start at_ an early date on the Gore flood protection works was discussed. The Minister will leave Dunedin by .this morning's express for Oamaru, and, accompanied by the district engineer and the engineer and chairman of the Waitaki County Council, will motor to Maerewhenua to inspect the damage done to the road by the silt from the mines. He will return to Oamaru in tho evening, and will leave by to-morrow morning's train in order to catch the ferry steamer leaving for Wellington in the evening.