ROADS TO THE NEW GOLDFIELDS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2176, 19 October 1875, Page 3

ROADS TO THE NEW GOLDFIELDS.

An influential deputation, consisting ol tho following gentlemen, waited on Warden Fraser at tho Government Buildings, Grahamstown, yesterday at noon :-His Worship the Mayor, Mossrs W. Carpenter, J. Brown, and L. J, Bagnall, M.P.C.'s; E. Kennan, D. Macnab, J, Masters, W. Sully, A. G. Horton, J, Eobinson, T. Horsbrugh, J. Mclntyro, L. Ehrenfried, B. Workman, W. B, Jackson, and A. Brodie;

His Worship the Mayor informed Captain Eraser that they had called for the purpose of receiving his co-operation and assistance in trying to induce the Government to make the roads to Tairua and Ohinemuri. He knew Ijhat at the present time there were many men out of employment who could be employed on this work. The' Government was quite alive to the necessity, for making these'roads. They were well aware that if they were to do anything with the mines, they must have roads to them. He would leave further explanation in the hands of other gentlemen who were better acquainted with the requirements of the districts. .

Captain Eraser said he was not in the habit of receiving deputations, but on this subject they had his thorough sympathy. By receiving a deputation, he put himself in a position which he was not authorised to assume, and perhaps" laid himself open to a quiet snubbing. This was out of his lino. He was as well aware as the deputation of the neoessity that existed for those roads, and while he was in Wellington for a short time he did what he could to help to forward their wishes. He could assure them that Sir G. Grey and his.Executive, Messrs Sheehan and Dignan, were using their utmost endeavours to procure money from the Government for this purpose, and when he (Capt. Eraser) left Wellington it was all but settled that they were to get it, but he had heard nothing of it since. All he could say was to telegraph to Sir G. Grey that a deputation, headed by the. Mayor,_ had waited upon him to urge the Superintendent to use all measures to obtain money Trom the Government for this purpose. That was all he could do.

Mrßrodie said it would be more satisfactory perhaps to do this in another manner; Some time ago the members of the Borough Council and the various Highway Boards had met and forwarded a petition to the' Government asking fora

grant of £30,000 to mako roads in those districts, and .maintain thoso ■ already made. 'Thoy saw by tho.papers that this petition had been favourably reported on by tho Petitions Committee. What they wanted Captain 'Fraser to do was to ask the. Government whether they intended to carry out tho recommendation of tho committee. ■'•■ .. '.

Captain Frasor said that would bo placing him in a political position at once.. He could not communicate with the Government at all; he could only communicate with Sir G, Grey on matters affeotiug the goldfiolds. Mr Ehrenfried said that could not bo taken as being theobjeotof tho deputation at all. All they askod was for the Warden to communioato with tho Government or the Superintendent.urging tho, necossity for making theso roads at once. It had been, he understood, tho intention of tho Government to expend money in .that direolion, but they seemed to havo .gone to sleep over it. The idoa of tho mooting was, that the Govommeot should be impressed, with the urgent necessity which oxisted for theso roads. Mr Jackson said there were many tons of machinery now waiting to bo transported to Tairua, but thero wero ho roads by which to get it there. , Mr Brown said what induced him to attend'with this deputation was, knowing the interest whioh Captain Eraser took in tho matter whilo 'in Wellington, aui knowing tho'good results whioh followed his. exertions in Ohinomuri, Jll he wanted was io urge.the Government to carry out tho road to Waitokaurj. Ho had now 30 tons of machinory ready to take thero, which he intended to have erected in six months, but if the summer, months were allowed to pass, tho chances wero that it would bo twolvo' months before it was erected. Tho Government would agree that tho erection iof a largo battery in that locality would bo a great furtherance not only to tho district but to the province It would be too much to expect them to make a road extending 13 miles themselves, aud they hoped to got. help from Ujo Government. ■' '. ■ .

Captain Frasor said ho knew that Sir George Grey was doing all he could to get funds from the Government for this purpose. One good effect this deputation might have, and that was to strengthen >'ir George Grey's hands. He and his Executive were already doing their best in the matter. Ho would suggest that they appoint a committee of three to see the telegram which he was now about to send to Sir Georgo Grey, and they might make it as strong as thoy liked. Mr Horton then proposed his Worship the Mayor, Messrs Jackson and Brown (who were largely interested in Tairua and Waitekauri), and the members of tho Provincial Council present as tho committee.

This was agreed to, and the deputation then retired, the committee remaining. The following is a copy of.the telegram • which was drawn up and despatched s— "To Sir George Grey, Wellington,—A large deputation of Tairua, and Thames miners, Jth f o ,\ Mayor and members of y Y oil. waited upon me thisraay-oto point'out \'-,.'} the urgent necessity oljWls to Tairua ''-'■/"' and Ohinemuri, large Quantities- of V-. machinery being nowl ready to transport, \■■ to those places, and to. request your it"; Honor to urge upon the-Government the ' /.. necessity of at once proceeding with those /v} works. Labour could at prese'ntbe oheaply ,■'/''•// obtained, in consequence v of :the;stop.page / >/ of pumping on Waio-Karaliiflat, and ,tha\o / ■ season is now most making.—W. Fbaseb, Warden."