MINISTERIAL TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 19173, 18 February 1924, Page 8

MINISTERIAL TOUR

MR COATES IN SOUTHLAND. A BUSY SATURDAY. MANY DEPUTATIONS RECEIVED. (Our Special Reporter). QUEENSTOWN, February 16. Hon J. G. Coates. (Minister of Railways and Public Works! and the administrative officers of the Railway Department completed their tour of South land on Saturday, when they visited the branch lines between Invercargill and Queenstown. The special train left Invercargill at 9.15 a.m. and. after a fairly busy day, Kingston was reached at 5 p.m. Ten minutes later the Ministerial party left by steamer for Queenstown which was reached at 6.45 p.m. BOWLING GREEN SITE AT WINTON. A small deputation headed by the Mayor (Mr Broome) met Mr Coates on arrival at I Winton with reference to the question of : receiving a definite tenure of a portion of : the railway reserve in front of the station- ' master’s residence for the purpose of putting I down a bowling green. Mr Broome stated that the proposal was to spend a fairly substantial sum on the area, but before anything was done they wished to know whether there was any likelihood of the ground being required by the Department within the next three or four years. If that were so, the residents would not undertake the expense involved. If a ten or twelve years lease were obtainable they could undertake the expenditure without any hesitation. The Minister said he saw no difficulty in the way of a sufficiently long tenure being i given, but before giving a definite reply he would go into the matter and advise them later. DOOR ON GOODS SHED. At Hedgehope a delegation asked ihAt t door be placed on the station building in arder to protect goods consigned to residents tin account of the fact that pilfering had necome very frequent of recent months. The Minister replied that steps would be taken to give effect to the request in ‘•he near future. THE ROAD TO LN VERCARGILL. Further representations were made in regard to some work required on a portion of the main road from Hedgehope to Invercargill which was impassable at flood time. If the level of the road were raised for about ten chains, the difficulty would be obviated. The cost was approximately £3OO. Mr Coa‘es replied that the residents should approach the County Council on the matter as they received a lump sum from the Government for such purpose.- and it was their duty to allocate it for most urgent works. CHANGED TIMES. Mr P. A. de la Perrelle returned thanks to the Minister for the consideration lie had shown to the wants of the settlers. They recognised that times had altered matters considerably in respect to railway construction work and so long as adequate facilities for transport and accommodation were provided they would be perfectly satisfied. LUMSDEN REQUIREMENTS. The return journey was then made and subsequently the party continued on to Lumsden where lunch was partaken of. Two deputations were received in regard i to further work in connection with the ; Oreti protective works at the northern end of the town and also with regard to the provision of better road communication with Winton and Invercargill. It was suggested by the deputation that instead of the Josephville-Caroline road being gone on with, the Minister should investigate the possibility of the road over Glenure hills. The Minister said that he would have a report prepared and if it were favourable he would give it his consideration as the claims of the settlers concerned were always paramount. A LEVEL CROSSING SITE. After a visit had been paid to Balfour, the Minister met a further deputation at Lumsden in regard to a level crossing being granted to the settlers on the Five Rivers estate at a point near Lowther. It was claimed that not only would such a crossing shorten the distance fairly considerably but that it would facilitate- the handling of stock along the roadway which bordered «n the railway line. The Minister, after inspecting the proposed site, said that he saw no objection to the proposal, providing that the settlers carried out their promise to improve the visibility of the locality. * REPAIRS TO BATHING SHED. In the evening a deputation headed by the Mayor of Queenstown (Mr J. Simson) was introduced by Mr J. Hom, M.P. Mr Simson, after formally welcoming the Minister, referred to the damage done to the bathing shed as the result of the flood. The Council wanted some assistant* in removing the bathing shed and putting it further back. The estimated cost, prepared by Mr Salmond, architect of Dunedin, was £4OO. “In that connection, what are your rates?’’ asked Mr Coates. “£1350 is the total receipts,” replied the Mayor. “While the general rate brings in £5OO the administrative expenses are approximately £6OO and interest charges £l2O. During the past year there has been unusual expenditure, principally as a result of the SBCPnr floods and also on account of the destruction of the gas plant” The Minister stated that he proposed to get a Public Works Engineer to look into the question of the baths for the reason that it was not a wise thing for tourists Co see any eyesore such as the baths were at present in a tourist resort. W’hen the engineer had submitted a report he would decide what assistance could be given. CHILDREN’S RECREATION AREA. Mr Simson said the next thing he wished to bring before the Minister was permission to use the sections next the Warden’s Court for the use of school children. He understood that it belonged to the Lands Department. The Minister said he did not think there would be any difficulty about that and he would see to that right away. FIVE MILE TRACK REPAIRS. The Mayor also drew attention to the track on the Five Milk Creek, which he had previously brought before the Hon. Mr Nosworthy, who had not yet replied. The sum of £3O was required t-o complete the track beyond a point which he had personally done out of his own honorarium as Mayor. Mr Coates said that he would bring the matter before Mr Nosworthy on his return to Wellington. TO THE EARN SLAW GLACIER. Mr Simson said there might be something done towards getting to the Earns!aw Glacier. It would cpst about £lOO. All that was wanted was a small track. Mr Horn said the track had become overgrown and £lOO would go a long way towards getting the work done.