SIR WILLIAM FRASER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1329, 17 May 1918, Page 8

SIR WILLIAM FRASER.

VISIT TO SOUTH CANTERBURY. The Hon. Sir William Eraser, Minister of Public Works, returned to Christehureh from South Canterbury last evening. On Wednesday the Minister was met at Bangitata by Colonel Mackenzie, chairman of the Geraldiue County Council, Messrs Flatman and Kllis, members of the council, and residents of the district, and with them inspected the site for a proposed bridge over the Rangitata River. Sir William then motored to Geraldiue, and was there entertained at dinner in the evening. Addresses of, welcome to the Minister were made l>y\Colonel Mackenzie, Mr R. B. Macdonald (Mayor of Geraldiue), and Mr A. Wilkinson (chairman of the Geraldiue Road Board).

After dinner several deputations waited on the Minister, who agreed to give a grant of £250 towards the mill crossing bridge near Teinuka, half the cost, up to £250, for the Hae-te-Moana bridge, and to increase the grant for a road to give access from Geraldiue County to the Mesopotamia Station from £l5O to £250. He stated that ho could say nothing as to a traffic bridge over the Rangitata River until he had received a report on the state of the river. As to the Beautiful Valley Road, he said that if the Public Workls Department's engineer reported that the work was worth £IOOO the Government would give a grant-of £SOO. Asked as to a proposal to make a deviation of the main railway line to serve Gercldine, he said that it had nothing to do with his department, and it must, be referred to the Minister of Railways. He would decline to express any opinion on the proposal, but would place before his colleague all the arguments they brought forward in its favour. Yesterday Colonel Mackenzie took the Minister for a motor trip around the Geraldiue district.