NELSON DEPUTATIONS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13737, 27 March 1915, Page 4

NELSON DEPUTATIONS.

irfi.vt evening ,1 deputation consisting) of Messrs. J. M. Holder, C. King, W. R. Parmenter, T. Hoyle Smith, and R.. Allen waited upon the Minister of Public Works in connection with tho acquisition of the Richardson estate, Maitai Valley. Mr. T. A. H; Field, M.P. for Nelson, introduced the tion. .''■■■ ~-..' Mr. Ca3d«r wns the chief spoKtsman.' He explained that for vearg tho Maitai had been used for picnic purposes He tirged that the whole estate should be purchased by the Government

such portions as were required, for recreation purposes to be sold to the City <X>uncil and the balance cut up into small farms. The Minister replied that the matter ■did not affect his Department, but he would explain the wishes of the deputation to the Minister for Lands. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs. C. R. Fell, F. G. Gibbs, L. Kerr, P. Bond, F. I. Ledger, T. Pettit, C.J. Harley, A. A. Lucas and the Hon. A. T. Magmiiity was introduced by Mr. Field, and brought several matters under , the notice of the Minister. The president (Mr. O. 11. Fell), referred to the desirability of erecting a bridge over the Motueka river at Golden Downs, completing the Wangapeka track, the road to the Rainy river, and the through road from AppM>y to JYlotueka, and urged that the grant of £ for £ towards the acquisition of certain portions of the Maitai Valley should oe continued, to enable the City Council to go on with the matter should it decide to do so after theinext election. In regard to the gran* of £500 for the Appleby-Mapua road, he urged that if necessary, the road should be proclaimed a main road, in order that the amount might be expended in formation.

The Minister: What about the owners of the land ? Mr. Fell: Some are prepared to oay their share, others are not. Mr. Gibbs urged the completion of the Rainy river road. About a quarter of a mile required to bo completed U. enable the road to the Tophouse to be used. The Golden Downs bridge was very much needed. It was time there was -in alternative road from Belgrove, but both roads were certainly needed to tap a large area of land in the LaKe Rotoiti and Wairau districts. The Wangapeka track was in the same condition as it was 20 years ago. A considerable abount of work had been don© at both ends, and about six miles was required to foe done to complete the track through to Karamea. Mr. Fraser: There is a vote on vhe Estimates this year. Mr Gibbs: i believe the vote was put on, but nothing has been expended. Mr. Fraser: I think your information is not correct. . Mr Gibbs urged that th© link should be made a bridle track. Rogardmg the Maitai, he urged that the- citizens of Nelson should be given an opportunity of acquiring it with the assistance ot the Government subsidy of £ tor h up to £700. . , ... Mr. C. J. Harley supported the remarks of the previous speakers. He spoke of the importance of the- VVanga-peka-Karamea track to enable stock to be taken to what promised to be one ot the finest dairying districts m the Dominion, and the necessity for complete ing the main road from Appleby to Motueka. a vie The Minister, in reply, expressed His pleasure at meeting the deputation, and said the various matters represented to him would receive his attention. They could not expect him to say what he was going to do, and he could make no promises, as everything depended upon the amount of money he wou«* have to spend. If the Government oould obtain money the expenditure would go on as usual,' and he would certainly do his best to meet the wishes of J*ie people of the district. He repeated that at present his opinion was that the Apple-oy-Motueka road should go by the coast, but as to the exact route he had not made up his mind Regarding the expenditure of the £000 he pointed out that the County Council deputation that day had urged that the amojint <be not spent in road formation. Tins, it had E contended, should be done by the owners of the properties Any difficulties in. <-°^ t10* *^ pSv body he anticipated oould bo easily ove/come, but though Gov?™m^ might see the work earned out there waf to be no doubt that the cost wou d have to be borne by those wbp wouM ™Uible He ur<*ed those interested to