Wallace Matters.

Southland Times, Issue 19728, 31 January 1906, Page 4

Wallace Matters.

fii August last Mr J. C. Thomson, M.H.U., wrote to the Minister of Railwiiys urging that a level crossing should he provided at section 368, Jfokouu) district, between Lintloy and I.umailen, and on the Ith inst. lie received a reply Jroui the -Minister staling that from enquiries made by the District Kngiueor the crossing at the point indicated would not bo of much service to the settlers in the district in the direction of giving shorter access to Lumsileu station, but it might be of advantage to one or two settlers as giving a shorter route from their farms to Liutley station. If that were the object in view the,, ( | H . Minister thought It could be obtained at less expense by opening n new road through section 37 on the west sid u of the railway from the cross-rowl at 34 miles 10 chains to that at 31 mites 35 chains. 1 lie Minister thought, however, that the mutter was one for I he local Uucly ' to tale up, and, as fur os the department "as concerned, ho could not authorise the construction of such a crossing uivicss the County Council was prepared to pay the cost, which was estimated roughly at about £IOO. In the event of it being decided to pay the cost of constructing the crossing he would have pleasure in giving instructions for the necessary work to be put in hand. As the railway authorities in no cases pay for level crossings, the local body should make an effort to avail themselves outlie permission, which is not always granted, and thus confer a boon on the I-intley settlers. On Monday Mr J. C. Thomson, jU.11.1t., wns informed by Sir Joseph Ward, in mply to sepresentations, that the original proposal with respect to the enlargement of the Orepuki railway station would not be given effect to, but that instead more substantial nlteruutiona would bo made in order to give increased postal lacilities. This reply is very satisfactory. Tho member for the district has been informed by the Postmaster-General that tin- matter of a mail service twice a week for Otupiri is being looked into. •Since January Ist the member for Wallace has been corresponding with tho Hon. the Minister of Public Works regarding the Orepuki-Waiuu railway, and under date 23rd January ho received tho following communication : —" Referring to your letter of Ist inst., and my roply of 18th idem, dealing with the • esumption of construction work on the above railway. I have tho honour to slate that a report has been received from the District Engineer in which ho states that tho engineer selected to take charge of the line was delayed by bad weather which prevented his finishing some survey work on the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway. He has now, however, completed this worfc, and expects to Do able to lake charge of the Orepuki-Waiau line in a few days." Worki should thus bo , about to start at this date. . A further authority for £SO has been recived by the Riverton Boaough Council for snagging tho Pourakino river. When this sum has been spent, this charm- < lug river will be navigable for a ills- I tanco of 10 miles; v

Nearly all the authorities lor tho ex* i enditure of road votes passed last scslon have been received by the Wallace 1 lounty Council, and the contracts have I teen let. The Council expressed eatfisaction at the manner in which tho rants had come to hand to allow ol heir expenditure bclore winter. The construction of the Lumsdon-To tnau-MnnnPourl' telephone Is noW well in land, and communication should bo esabllshod within tho course ol a low ffoeka-t *