Roads to Tairua and Waitekauri.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2118, 18 October 1875, Page 2

Roads to Tairua and Waitekauri.

Deputation to the Warden.

A deputation waited upon Captain Fraser, Warden, at his office at noon today regarding the much needed roads to Tairua and Waitekauri. The deputation comprised His Worship the Mayor, Messrs. J. Brown. L. J. Bagnall, and W. Carpenter, M.EC.s; W. B. Jackaon> A. G. Horton, L. Ehrenfried, E, ? Workman, D. Macnab, J. Gibbons, A. Brodie, J. Robinson, and others. "

His Worship the Mayor introduced the deputation and said their business was to invite Captain Eraser's co-operation in impressing upon the Government the urgent necessity that existed for the formation of roads to Tairua and Waitekauri. It was well-known that in consequence of recent circumstances labour was rather plentiful, and now was looked upon as a good time for undertaking the work. There were gentlemen present who were better acquainted with the matter than ho (the Mayor) was, and he would leave it to them to enter into the matter more fully.

Captain Fraser said before they went on any further ho might inform them that he was not in the habit of receiving deputations on such matters. He fully sympathised with the objects of the movement, but by undertaking such duties as suggested he might perhaps be laying himself open to be snubbed. He might inform them that "while in Wellington he had done all he could to keep this matter before the Government, and he found that Sir George Grey and some members of his Executive had been doing their utmost to get money granted for these works, and when he left he believed they were on the eve of success. They had received some promise of the money being paid. He (Captain Fraser) would be willing again .. to represent the matter tp Sir George Grey, and state that a large deputation comprising gentlemen interested in Tairua and Waitekauri accompanied by His Worship the Mayor and other capitalists of Grahamstown had waited upon him urging the" matter upon'his attention.

Mr A. Brodie said some time ago a petition had been sent to the House asking for the expenditure of some £30,000 in goldfields roads, &c., and it was understood that a portion of this sum would be granted. What.the deputation wanted was for Captain Fraser to communicate with the Government to see if that money would be forthcoming for roads.

Captain Fraser said that would place him in a political position at once. He had no, right to communicate with the Government on such matters.

Mr Ehrenfried thought the deputation wished Captain Fraser to impress upon the Government the urgent want of roads, and their utter inability to get up machinery until roads were made. Mr Jackson said there were fifty tons of machinery now waiting to be conveyed to Tairua and Waitekauri.

Mr J. Browen said the reason he had asked the deputation to come was that from the interest he knew Captain Fraser took in the matter, and the exertions he used while in Wellington recently, he might be induced to bring the matter once more under the notice of the Government. He (Mr Brown) had 35 tons of machinery now ready to be conveyed to Waitekauri, and if something was done to the road at once they could have the battery erected in six months. If the summer months were allowed to pass without anything being done the battery would not be working in twelve months. It was too much to .expect them to make the road themselves, extending as it did to 13 miles, and he thought that Captain Fraser might impress upon Sir. George Grey the advisability of having the assistance, whatever it might be, granted at once. . .'.-... Captain Fraser said he knew Sir George Grey had done and was doing all he could in the matter. That deputation might strengthen his hands perhaps by proper representation. Let them appoint a committee and he would submit a telegram, for transmission to Sir George, for their approval. Oh the motion of Mr Uorton, His Worship the Mayor, Messrs Brown, Bagnall and Carpenter, M.P.C.'s and W. B. Jackson, Tairua, were named as a Committee to confer with Captain Fraser as to the text of the telegram to be sent to Sir George Grey representing the wishes of the deputation. , The deputation then thanked the Warden for his hearing and withdrew. TELEGBAII. The committee approved of the following telegram drafted by Captain Fraser, which was sent away between 12 and 1 o'clock to-day. To Sir George Grey, Wellington. A -large deputation of Tairua and Ohinemuri, and Thames miners, headed by the Mayor and Members of Provincial Council, waited upon me this day to point out the urgent necessity of roads to Tairua and Ohinemuri, large quantities of machinery being now ready to transport to those places, and to request your Honor to urge upon the Government, the necessity of at once proceeding with those works. Labor could at present be cheaply obtained in consequence of the stoppage of pumping on Waio-Karaka flat, and the season is now most favourable for roadmaking.

W. Fhabeb, Warden