RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Issue 3026, 9 March 1878, Page 2

RIVERTON.

March 6th, 1878. 1 The Hinemoa arrived in the bay about half j [ 1 past ten yesterday, and Sir George Grey,'i Messrs Macandrew and Fisher, and party' 1 ' . landed shortly afterwards, and were met by the County Chairman, the Mayor, and Messrs. Daniel, Port, and Dr Hodgkinson, . who bid 1 them welcome to Riverton. The party were then conducted to Clapp 's Commercial Hotel 1 where they partook of lunch at one o'clock.' • During the time the party were lunohing,,the i Volunteers with their Band, and' the children of the Good Templars, assembled in front of the hotel, the band playing some nice select tions. On the appearance of Sir George at the door he was loudly cheered. , The Corporation then presented an address of welopme to l the Jfi-inisters, it was read by the Comity Chairman (the Town Clerk, Captain Cassels, being in command of the Volunteers) and ref sponded to by Sir George Grey and tiie Hon. Mr l&icandrew in a few,w«ll chosen remarks'. Three cheers were then given for Sir George and three for Macandrew. A procession was then formed, Volunteer Band first, then came the Volunteers, them the JBlinisterial party, and with them the County Chairman,; the Mayor, Councillor Port, Mr Daniel, and a few other gentlemen, and the children of the Good, Templars Lodge last. The procession then proceeded aoross the bridge and along tiie road towards South Riverton,*andbaok'to the Commercial Hotel where they dispersed. ■•■ The Mayor, Messrs Port, Daniel,and Petehell waited upon the Ministers as a deputation from the Harbor Board, and was introduced by the Mayor. ■ Mr Daniel urged upon the Ministers the necessity of having an endowment -for the Riverton Harbor. He would state that in 1872 and '73 they exported nearly as much grain as that exported from Lyttelton, and if they could once nave a good harbor they would no doubt, export far more- He would say without fear of contradiction that the resources of the Western District were greater than that of any other district he knew of, in fact,' they were enormous. What with their goldfields, coal mines, kerosene shale, the splendid forests, and the abundance of grain which could be grown, to say nothing of wool,hec6nsidered the district a most wealthy one, and it would, no doubt, amply repay the Government to construct a good harbor,and he hoped under the guidance of Sir George Grey they would be able to obtain the endowment asked for. He would also advocate the granting of the foreshore to the Harbor Board. Sir George Grey said he had no doubt that the foreshore would be granted to the Harbor Board without any difficulty, and he thonght it would be of great benefit to the Board. Mr Daniel said tbe time would come when timber would be much wanted, and Riverton would be the place to obtain it. They had one of the finest forests in New Zealand, and of course a good harbor would facilitate the export of that article. . : Sir George Grey said snpposmg arrangements were made for Coombe, who ia a celebrated engineer, to visit the harbor, make a survey, and prepare plans for the construction of the necessary works, Coombe' s opinion, he wonld say would be one of the best professional opinions obtainable, would the town -„,1 +V.- T3U~- J '-- »:"{" J 4 "~ r»f Una r»n_f nf same. He believed the cost weuld be about .£3OO, that was if other harbors were reported mpon— the coat would be each harbor. The JMayor replied that he believed the town and Board would be inclined to pay the amount if they could in any way succeed in raising the funds. Sir G. Grey said of course small harbors would only be charged a sum in comparison with the amount of expenditure or the magnitude of the works to be constructed. An opinion such as he suggested would no doubt be most advantageous to the Board, as they would then in all probability be able to borrow money, and otherwise ask for assistance from the Government. Such advantages as these he should consider worth paying fer. The Mayor Baid he would give a definite answer to Sir George during the conrse of the day, he did not, of course, like to commit himself, and would first refer the matter to the Councillors and members of the Board. Mr Petcbell Senr. thought it very hard upon the shippers, to have to send their exports to the Blufl. If they had a good harbor they could ship direct from their own port, at the same rates as from the BluS, without the extra cost of forwarding goods from Riverton to that port. Sir George Grey did not care much as regards tbe shippers, bnt though it laid upon the consumers, he thought that even though the Harbor Board had no endowment, they could be made some allowanoe in another way. Mr Macandrew thought the management of the Harbor should be vested in the Town Council. i Mr Daniels thanked the Ministers and the j deputation retired. A deputation consisting of the Mayor ' County Chairman, and Messrs Daniels and Escott, waited upon the Ministers regarding the Orepuki Railway. Mr Hasfc urged the construction ef the line te Orepuki at once. The live had been started some time ago and a large amount of money expended, but unfortunately the contract had been thrown up, and all the work done would be so much waste if the line was. not gone on with. There were about six hundred people in Orepuki, and the line would run through some of the finest bush land in the colony. Besides that they had splendid coal mines, and a large_ quantity of superior kerosene shale in the district, which could not be made use of at present, as they had no means of exporting it. A small sample of the shale had been forwarded to the'engineer of the gasworks at Invereargill, and four tons had been ordered which would have to be packed on horses and then sent round in small boats. He hoped that the present Government would proceed with the railway at once. Dr Monckton advocated the construction of the line in a most able manner, and pointed out the great hardships the people of Orepuki had to contend against, in having no certain means of conveying provisions. In some cases they were unable to obtain food for months without it waa packed on horses, or carried by men a distance of over twenty miles over a very bad road. There was a quantity of superior agricultural land in the Orepuki district, and he had no doubt that the line would pay if any in the colony would, if just the people would demand that the line should be completed. Mr Escott explained that the shale was on the top of the coal, and was 6 feet thick. Mr Macandrew said he was alive to ..the necessity of constructing the line. The Provincial Government had entered into a contract some time ago to construct the railway. He believed at the time that it would ; amply repay the Government, but unfortunately wifch other constitutional changes the Provincial Government had been done away with, he had no doubt that it was an old Provincial liability, and the Government would have to construct the line. As far as he was con cerned not a stone would be left unturned till the line was completed. He would use his best endeavors in the matter, and he had no doubt that when the circumstances were explained to his colleagues the lino would be carried out. He should have liked -to have seen Orepuki. # 1 " Dr Monckton urged upon Ministers tne necessity of having the district land gales advertised in local papers. At present the lands for sale in the district were only advertised in the Invercargill papers, and sold in Invercar--1 gill, he considered it would be a great boon to

fie district if the land salea vritiin the krandary of Wallace were held in the jaunty own wmoh wMJithrertoni H^woul&jraggest hat maps of aManda f<s stiMshttfiggle detbsifcedwtfkMm] of l^epovera^H^Ecials Sir G^or^wey "".honm^^^^itirely a natter'^hw as regarded tneilScl sales being leld at Inv«_argilL The matter would, howiver, be looked into, and if possible their Irishes would be complied with. Mr Macandrew said he had given instrecions to have all land sales advertised in local >apera Regarding the depositing of maps, ie would see if any officer could be found to ake charge of them without incurring, any >xtra expense, he thought the matter could je bo managed. The deputation then reared, _ A deputation Qtmdgttag PjLJ^Jg&J5* _sh, and Messrs Darnel and CKlchrist, from ihe Good Templar Lodge, w_Stje_|npon^ia«rs. - Sir George Grey expressed 'btmse_Ntt*wvor >f temperance. »* >. 5 ■>! «■_ „. ss«? MrJEscott, of Orepuki, waited upon mfauaters reg»^hg'BbmeairMiars""in pay, 'for "Sis services as drill inafcructo." to the Volunteers. Sir George advised him l -' to petition the Assembly, the matter would then be considered by a committee, and the committee would report to the Assembly,- who would £ct as the report suggested, „ . .. - ji ■. Mr Hirst waited upon the Mimste-_>»|-» deputation from the County Council and'asked if the- 'Government would. ;. r guaastait&es?fihe Council an overdraft, at: the Bank, ;qrf /give them a loan or grant. He exglainedr tn^ the overdraft at the bank was at p'reaenjb" |an metre tban allowed by law! q^ey,had|4ke^o|ri_l the main roada and, had_done a necessary work, and .then* income* fra*; ait' year was so small that tfiivtod to oWim* »pay for it, Thsf h*d . la^lyetet^i-J-fltCßoad Board valuation which was very -dw-*6lThe valuation was for higher! this yatr,Vi_adathey would have a good income if .the £oT}srnjnen could grant an advance. He hoped it would do ao. . There was a- good deal^of work required to be done, and there was great difficulty in obtaining funds, owm^to^el^mfcai borrowing powers- given to Counties. He explained that an advance had been guaranteed by Mr Larnach to the Southland County. Sir George Grey thought there was no law allowing auc^rauarilge, T^e QgsrjamgA might possibly ,%ivie guaranteed .JMmmaj for the ourrent'year; but "he waa not' aware of such a thing having been done. He suggested that a letter Bhould be written on the matter and he would see what could be do ne - rJP 19 Government wonld have to 'see what cou|d]be done in the matter of keeping i_p„tbar»Mun roads. : . • ..-^JU The Mayor Jarid; iimsn Mclnty.., JBHwgkinson, Hamilton; n Young- iand ;-. Hopcroft waited upon the Minister of; Land regaling the Otautau JCTightcaparailway. A number of arguments were adduced in i's favor, and due ooniideration was promised by Mr Macandrew. A similar promise Tra*- maderinrregard to the planking : bf. the railway bridge over Jacobus river. \, yy^ A deputation ato brought under notice the hardship ef being Alai'DJf two bodies, the Boad Board and the County Council. Sir George Grey aad Mr Macandrew after hearing the deputation, thought fchafc it waa-^to be remedied ra course of time. ; :-u!- %. Upon being interviewed with respect to; an endowment for the. Hospital, both Sir George Grey and Mr Macandrew. expressed . themselves in favor of a general measure providing for suoh. t.a A banquet wasgiven to the visitors in the Oddfellows Hall. About sixty gentlemen Sit down, and »ft«r-itbe nsual loyal and patriotic toasts had been freely drunk the health of Sir George Grey was propose « with musical honors. Sir George Grey replied in a short speech, sis did MrJ Macandrew to a toast in his honor. Thehealth of a number of other gentlemen present were also appropriately drunk, and the proceedings which had been enlivened by the band came to an end.