VISIT TO CENTRAL OTAGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9212, 15 April 1908, Page 1

VISIT TO CENTRAL OTAGO.

[From Our Correspondent.] ROXBURGH, April 14. The Prime Minister and his party left Lawrence this morning at halt-past eight en route for Roxburgh. AtBeaumont, where some forty settlers were gathered, several deputations waited on Sir Joseph. The chief deputation brought under his notice the necessity of pushing on with the Law-rence-Roxburgh railway and of getting it opened to Beaumont as soon as possible. The Prime Minister, in reply, said that when the Government was making allocations for railway works the Lawrence-Roxburgh, line would be fairly treated in common with other parts of the dominion. Miller's Flat was reached about half-past one, and three deputations presented local requirements-. Along the road between Moa Flat and Roxburgh there was abundant evidence on every hand of the progress of the settlement. At Dumbarton Rock and its neighbourhood a large area of land has lately been brought under cultivation, fruit trees being a prominent feature. At Roxburgh the Prime Minister was most enthusiastically received by the residents. A large number of deputations waited upon the Prime Minister to bring under his notice the district's wants and requirements. . A very successful social was held in the Town Hall late m the evening in honour of the visit of the Prime Minister and his party. The gathering was an exceptionally large one. Among the speakers wero Sir Joseph \*ard, the Bon R. M'Nab and Mr G. Laurenson, M.P.