SOUTH CANTERBURY WANTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13644, 11 July 1908, Page 7

SOUTH CANTERBURY WANTS.

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.

WATER' FOR WAJKAKAHI.

Sir William Steward asked the. 'Minister of Lands whether he "has takenj ;or proposed to take, any steps to meet the ease of those settlers on the Waikakahi Estate who 'are, and-have" been for the past two .years or more, suffering* great inconvenience iind loss by reason of their holdings having been • so laid off as ,to cut, them off from access : to the county water-races or other source's of water supply, and'.whether he- will, . through the officials of his. Department, arrange for the making of'. trial borings with a view to obtaining an artesian supply, or will provide the necessary plant—viz., boring rods, etc.—and defray or assist in defraying the cost of such operations if carried out by the settlers themselves.. The Ministerial reply was as follows: —A report, which was obtained ; from the Commissioner of Crown ' Lands, Christchurch, discloses, that some of the settlers l in the Waikakahi Estate have experienced difficulty in obtaining water, but that, owing to the depth at which permanent' water is reached, the cost of bringing it to' the surface is too . great. It is considered that money would be expended to the best; advantage in storing surface water in dams. Neither , the Lands Department nor the I'voads De- " partment has anv boring rods in stock. ' WAIHAO" DOWNS TRAIN. . ' Sir William Steward' asked the Minis-' ter for Railways—(l) Whether the land proposed to bef - acquired by the Crown for sites for trainmen's houses at. Waihao Downs has. been so acquired and when it is ant icipated-that- the houses .Will be completeed; and (3) when the long promised revision of the time-table providing for a daily train, service on the Waimat-e-Waihao Downs JJne will be brought into operation. • - . ■ >? Negotiations -are: now" in hand (the Minister stated -in reply) for .the acquisition off land for. trainmen's houses at- Waihao Downs,, and the houses. will be completed -'as soon as possible after the purchase of the land has been finally arranged. -The laying-down of necessary sidings and the removal and re-erection of • en-gine-shed is now being undertaken. The ' daily train sfervice'between Wailiao Downs and Studholme will be arranged immediately the necessary accommodation \haa ■been provided, probably about September nest. ■ '-- ■' I ST. ANDREWS STATION. { The request- for improved railway: station accommodation at St. Andrews has been noted' by the Minister for Railways, and'will receive full consideration in conthe Railway Estimates .for the current, year. ■