DEPUTATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2152, 12 February 1880, Page 2

DEPUTATION.

A deputation of members of the Chamber of Commerce and representatives of other public bodies interviewed the Hon R. Oliver, Minister of Public Works, at the Town Hall to-day. There were present : —Mr Archer (Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce), his Worship the Mayor, Messrs Maclean, Jonas, Woollcomhe, (franker, Kvans, McKcrrow, LeCren, and Wilson, on behalf of the Chamber ; Messrs Bruce, Jioss, Jackson and Jones, members of the Borough Council ; and Mr Beswick, Chairman of the Levels Road Board. The Jirst matters brought under the notice of the Minister was the construction of the Tengawai bridge on the Albury line, telegraph extension to Albury, and the completion of the line as speedily as possible. Mr Oliver replied that plans and speeilieations for the bridge were being prepared, and tenders would be invited without delay. Telegraph extension was a matter for the consideration of the Premier, in whose department it was, but the Government recognised the necessity, in the interests of public safety, of having railway and telegraph communication combined. Mr Lvans in urging the further extension of the Albury line said it was one of the best paying lines in the colony. Mr Oliver said he had no doubt it was a splendid line. As a fact the branch lines paid much better than the main lines. Hitherto, however, it had been difficult to demonstrate this, but under the sectional mode of keeping accounts that had now been introduced, the relative value of the different lines would be ascertained. The Mayor asked whether the Government would be prepared to define the area which they intended claiming for public purposes near the breakwater, so that the Harbor Board would be be able to prosecute reclamation works, and utilise the land reclaimed. Mr Oliver: That I think would be impossible. Wo do no/ know how the traffic may extend. The Mayor : But the Otago Harbor have been allowed to reclaim '{ Mr Oliver : The Otago Harbor Board have taken means to reclaim land from the Government. (Laughter.) The Mayor : And that is just what we want. (Renewed laughter.) Attention was next directed to the desirability of straightening the railway curve between the station and Mr Bruce’s mill. Mr Oliver said he was fully aware of the importance of the work, but in order to do so, certain sections held by private owners would have to be purchased, and that was the chief obstacle. The Government assessor had reported that in nearly every case the amount demanded was very excessive, and the question arose whether it would not be as well to wait till the owners came to a better frame of mind and could be induced to accept reasonable terms. In the meantime the danger might be reduced by the erection of a signal-box at tbe curve. Mr Jonas called attention to the power which the Government possesses of settling the matter by arbitration. Mr Oliver said that tbe Act provided that if no arrangement could be arrived at between the owners of laud and the Government, the latter may appeal to the District Court, and assessors were empowered to adjudicate. This, however, was not nearly so satisfactory as a private arrangement. Previously the onus of appeal rested with owners and not the Government.

Mr Jonas next drew attention to the urgent necessity that exists for the erection of a new railway station. In reference to this requirement Timaru hat I been scandalously neglected. The station had been promised live years ago, and money appropriated, yet in the face of repeated assuianees little cr nothing had been done. Such was the negligence manifested, that the question of calling a public meeting with the view of entering a vigorous protest against the inaction of the department had been considered. He trusted on this occasion that Mr Oliver would give them a straightforward answer whether the work would be prosecuted at once or not. Mr Oliver replied that he was not addicted to making promises. He proposal to <|e,!|l with public requirements as fairly and impartially as his means

would admit. The Government was not very rich, neither was the railway department. He had every desire to develop the railway system as much as possible, but he proposed to make no promises beyond assuring them that he would do the best he could.

Mr Jonas : You will not promise the station ? Mr Oliver : Xo ! not even that. I shall leave ollice in the position that I will be able to consider what I have done, not what I have promised. As regards the goods traffic the accommodation will be extended as far as the land available will permit.

Mr Kvans said he understood there were only two or three owners of sections who were not prepared to leave the question of price to arbitration, and the assessor told him that the prices demanded were quite reasonable. Mr Evans went on to say that the grain brought to the station this season would be double the quantity of last year, and there was no time for increasing the accommodation. Mr Oliver replied that he believed the sidings could be rattled up in time for this season’s traffic. Mr Jonas reiterated that a definite answer should be given about the new station. Mr Macandrow had promised distinctly that the work would be gone on with. Mr Oliver said these matters required consideration, and when Mr Macandrcw made the promise he wa's no doubt prepared to carry it out. All he (Mr Oliver) would promise was that he would do his best. In reply to the question whether the station was not provided for in the Appropriation Bill Mr Oliver said that a lump sum for railways between Waitaki and Orari was appropriated and it would be expended where the money was specially required. Mr Jonas asked if it would be necessary to call a public meeting to convince the'*Governmcnt that Timaru had been unfairly treated in this matter. He was very sorry Mr Oliver would not give them a decided answer. Mr Oliver: You must remember we have had no time to do much. It is only six weeks since Parliament was prorogued. Mr Turubnll said lie thought Mr Jonas was rather hard on Mr Oliver. He knew Mr Oliver’s character and they could accept his word that he would do what he could. The Mayor again urged that the Government should define what land they would need so that the Harbor Board might have a reclamation area. Mr Oliver said he would be lotii to say anything that would encumber the future operations of the department. The Mayor thought it was manifestly unfair that the Harbor Board should go on reclaiming and the Government taking the land. A member suggested that it was the sea and not the Harbor Board that was reclaiming, and an irregular discussion ensued about the effects of the shingle on the breakwater and northern part of the beach, Mr Oliver stated that railway protective works were needed north of the Breakwater, and Mr Turnbull rejoining that the cliffs had been washed away for ten or twelve feet to his recollection before the shingle was interfered with. Eventually Mr Evans called the attention of the members to the fact that the3 r were drifting away from the main question at issue, namely the new railway station and after some further remarks Mr Jonas having proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Oliver for Ids courtscy a general stampede was made for the Breakwater.