ARRIVAL AT MURCHISON.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13412, 9 May 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

ARRIVAL AT MURCHISON.

"DEPUTATION ON LOCAL MATTERS

Murchison was reached at five o'clock, after a very pleasant run through from Nelson, and the Ministerial party wero ■met on arrival by the Chairman (Mr J. Brown), and Clerk (Mr Huge Fraser) of the Murchison County Council, and a number of leading people, and cordially welcomed.

In the evening a large deputation of settlers and tradespeople waited on the Hon Mr Macdonald. Mr Atmore, M.P., having introduced the deputation to the Minister, asked Mr Brown, County Chairman, and others to outline the possibilities of the district and the need for pushing on the railway and other public

works

Mr Brown expressed great pleasure at having a visit from Mr Macdonald, and explained to him that owing to the South Island Midland Railway having held the land for a long time, it was only within the last few years that the district had been opened for settlement. Since Murchison had become a separate •county tho first year's revenue was £730, the second year's £1537, and last year's £2013. He then went on to speak of the extent of the county. Altogether there are over 1,000,000 acres in the county, and in some of tho back valleys tho settlers had no roids or bridges, while such rer.cls as llr-re are wero in a very bad stat-o. As f.liairm.in of tho County Conncil he said tho principal want was a Courthouse. At present the Court was held in a hall, where there ivero no conveniences. The County

Council waa considering a sciio: • ?.-.; oiflxsting Council Chu-nibors, and ■- "••«'; dccii proposed to the Dopartnicu: of , Justice thai they should rent ■ ■-•em when built. Ho asked for tho Mi: i- 1.-r'p co-operation in the matter, fcl-- t>>.on drew attention fcotlie great need of Ka-v----ing tho railway pushed on to jViuielrison.

Mr H. Frar.er, County Clerk, c;-.'.•.)!•& od tho remarks of Mr Brown, giving exact figures for revenue, etc. He also montioned that the butter factory had been open three .seasons. For the first year tho output amounted to £3444, for the second year £5838', and this year £7000. He pointed out that tho district was rapidly going ahead, and that when the settlers in the back valleys had good roads and bridges the supply of milk to the factory would

greatly increase. At the present thru* suppliers wore milking 1000 cows, am; it was expected that this number would

bo doubled by next year. Mr H. J. Hodgson mentioned that the cost of freight on goods to Murchison a.mountod to about £5 a ton, £1 Os Bd to Kolmtu and about £4 a ton of 22-1 Olbs from there to Murehir.on. He consider od that when everything was ready at Glenhopo tho freight would be one-third loss. Mr A. Thomson, sonior, spoko of the way tho district had gone ahead during tho last three years under tho Ward Government. Ho considered the Ward Government had done more for this district than any other Government. Ho then drew attention to a bridge in ijio Maruia, the contract for which was lotlast December, but which had not boon started yet. He also spoko of the groat difficulty that had been experienced in getting the Blackwater bridge started. Mr Brown, in speaking again, mentioned the Maruia hot springs. He said the waters had been tested by good authorities and had been proved second to none in New Zealand. People who had been carried out by their friends had come back cured of their complaints, in a great many cases permanently, and tho curative properties of the baths were now generally recognised. To get to the springs, however, patients had to travel along rough riverbed and tracks for miles. Tho Hon Mr Colvin, he said, was trying to got a road made to them, and he hoped tho Minister would co-op-erate with him in tho matter. Mr Monahan, County Councillor for the Maruia riding, then spoko of the rich heavy land out in tho Maruia Valley, whjch was 19 miles long and two miles wide. It waa as good as any he had seen in Canterbury and would carry several sheep to the acre. He pointed ont that there wore- other valleys in the district that could bo opened up with very little troublo; in fact anyone who did not spend a'few days in the district could not realise the largo amount of fine land there was available for settlement, and whioh could be brought into occupation if tho State would only do its part to give tho settlers the necessary means of access. Tho people there, he said, were badly in need of roads. At present it cost about £8 a ton to get goods from Nelson, the goods having to bo packed on horses for a great part of tho way, and ofton carried for a mile or two on the backs of tko settlors themselves. The only way they had of getting across tho rivor at present was by means of chairs, and everything had "to be taken across in them. He hoped that in the near future some grants would be available for roads, etc., in.that part of the district. Mr Brcdbury said that he was an old resident of the district and know all its possibilities thoroughly. If the Government know these ho was satisfied the help would be given the settlers that they had the right to expect. He would say, and ho was suro his remarks would be endorsed by the Murchison people, that tho Ward Government had done yiore for their district than any other j Government, not excluding the Seddon Government. It was very gratifying to thevm to see Mr Atmoro, M.P. for Nelson, present. (Applause.) The fact that bo had been able to secure the visit of a Minister of the Crown to their district within a month of his elevation to the Ministry, and had accompanied him himself, showed that ho intended to be a Dominion representative and not merely a parochial one. (Applause.) He mentioned that it was the first time a member for Nelson had visited Murchison. In regard to the Minister he could say that he knew all about the land question, and he felt sure the settlers wero going to find in Mr Macdonald a Minister who had their interests at heart. (Applause.) , Mr Atmore assured the deputation that Mr Macdonald's experience as a farmer and pioneer made him the right man in tho right place, and he was sure that they would find Mr Macdonald sympathetic with them in their needs. The Hon Mr Macdonald then thanked the deputation for meeting him, and for the various kind remarks made. He had taken an interest in back settlements all his life, and when he first stood for Parliament it was not for the honour attached to it, nor for a living, but solely because he believed that his knowledge of what is required in backblocks would be useful to the people of the country. Ho had boon a settler himself and knew all the difficulties to be contended with. His sole aim was to help the backblocks settlers throughout tho Dominion. Every Minister of the Crown was anxious to help on land settlement. Tho last Government had been accused of borrowing too much money. E[e felt that as long as there were roads, bridges, railways, etc., to be made the Government should borrow. Ho was ir favour of borrowing money to develop tho country. As far as the- railway to Glonhop© Avas concerned, about 200 men were now working there, and tho;Tinder-Secretary for Public Works had instructions to put on another 60 men. .Ho believed the district:was one with a future, and he

was in favour of pushing the railway or to Murchison as quickly as possible. Regarding votes for "bridges and roads, ho hoped that theso works would j?ow b^ pushed on more oxnoditiously +h:^ bit!---erto. He was anxious to do all ho could to help the settler on, as there wan no doubt that tho farmer was the mainstnv of tho country. The Minister referred to Mr Atmore's part in getting him to come to tho district, and said that the member for Nelson had shown in "Wel-

i ! w'lliv hj\ best ioi .iil .^ii l<; 01 No* /,< li i:m, and not ui-.nu ■.■>• t».fi (li.-lrir! Ui it :'• ;'i*ijrosontccl. Vi Auihiim \.';ts t!:.- li'ic.f. >,f roprcscnt.'ii'v ■• tuai tli-o Ho"'ir'iMi '.s.i:itod, and .v- ( 'i 1 .■»i<ic!oi< l iiil Ji.-.1 -.!..:.;..• tried to ac» -;' J-> that. !!,-> ■V.I.- i ul '" i'i;>.t there v. al, i■> pciit •!>. Ji • tJiji . r*'.".;;!j from N'i-.i" .m any I>Kk \ n\ 1.-..- i i:i n:y of tl:r- vul! th.v ri'-n .'ijiddon from tJi? on. rli ro ul ii-;u !i \A .> "-i.'j.i Mr Atm i-c'k ti i;i.v.

>i;igU»K

!*»;;• Atmoro then said that on behalf i tho .Hon Mr Colvin and this ek-o'^r,^ ho greatly appreciated the reiidiiw" with whiob Mr Macdonald had cor "■ i (.(' i-o visit tho district. From what !• h;id himself seen,-he was sure tho pr# sotif. Ministry would do their duty in f 1 country. He also said 'that ho fell L'1 if all of the Ministers were as cnp.ib 1 and r.r. hardworking as Mr Macdonal "the present Ministry would have a loiv life.