The Minister of Public Works at Danevirke.

Waipawa Mail, Volume X, Issue 1023, 16 December 1886, Page 2

The Minister of Public Works at Danevirke.

[from our own correspondent.] Mr Richardson, Mr W. C. Smith and Mr McDonald, District Manager, arrived at Danevirke by special train from Tahoraite a little after the noon train had arrived at the last named station. The lion Minister was received at Danevirke by a deputation consisting of the following gentlemen from all parts of the province : Messrs T. Tanner, Wilding, Nannnestad, Tait, Dolbel, Wralt, Groom, Webber, Small, McCallum, Gray and others. After having partaken of some refreshments at Mr Baddeley’s Railway Hotel, the deputation interviewed the Minister on the subject of various matters in connection with the railways.

Mr W. C. Smith introduced these subjects by an application to have return tickets issued outside the 50 miles from Friday until Monday instead of as at present from Saturday until Monday. He explained how business people coming up from the bush to Napier on Saturdays had very little time to transact any business unless they stopped Sunday over, and also that Saturday being a very busy day in Napier, did not give the business men in town much chance to attend to people from the country. Saturday was on tlic whole an awkward day.

Messrs McCallum and Webber also spoke on the subject in support of Mr Smith’s application. Mr Richardson did not think there could be any necessity for making the return ticket available for three days, but something might be done to meet the wishes of the settlers.

Mr Tanner suggested that a return ticket, if taken out on Friday, should be available only till Saturday, if on Saturday, available till Monday ; in this manner both business people and those visiting town for pleasure would be suited.

Mr Richardson promised to look into the matter, and, if possible, arrange as suggested. Mr Guy then introduced the freight on limber for shipment from Port Napier to markets, both in and out of the colonies, and asked that the Minister might see his way to have a reduction granted them especially on red pine so as to make it possible for the Hawkes Bay Province to compete with American and Baltic merchants in the Australian maikets. When the Wellington people interested in the timber trade obtained a concession on carriage of white pine it was done to make it possible for them to realize the vast white pine forests iu that part of the colony, which otherwise would have been unproductive. Hawkes Bay was in a similar position as regards red pine. The §of the bush consisted of red pine of magnificent growth and fine grain which was now being destroyed. He could bring forward facts to prove that there was a good market in Australia for red pine if they only could place it in the vessels at the port without too much expense. In a law case in Sydney the curious fact had been elicited that the cabinet-makers there prefered red pine to most timber on account of its beautiful grain in general and of their being able to give it the appearance of cedar.

Mr Richardson : What reduction do you require ?

Mr Guy thought that, taking Danevirke as point of departure, Is per 100 feet would meet the case. The freight on white pine for shipment from that place was Is 9d and for red pine 2s 9d. If the latter timber could be placed in the vessels as cheaply as the white pine, tlio Australian merchants were ready to ship it over for 2s 6d per 100. The settlers had abundance of this timber and stood ready to try the experiment if tlie Government would only give them an opportunity by granting the concession asked for.

Messrs Wralt, Tanner and Smith also spoke in favor of the reduction.

The Minister promised the matter should be at once looked into aud would receive bis earnest attention.

Mr A. C. Webber then opened up the question of carriage of firewood and split timbers in general, but especially firewood, and that freight for it should he charged according to measurement and not weight, as it was almost impossible for producers to judge of the correct weight by mere guesswork. The penalty for overweight was therefore a cruel one on the scttieis who lived by this.industry. Mr Richardson : Is there much of this penalty enforced, Mr McDonald? Mr McDonald : Yes, a good bit Sir. Tlio seasoned wood run about three cords to the five ton the truck is allowed to carry, but when the wood is green the weight exceeds that often to a great extent.

Mr Richardson : But you do not charge for a little overweight, do you ?

Mr McDonald : No, we are not particular about a few hundred, eveu up to five and more, but when it comes to half a ton and over, wo think it is high time to enforce the penalty. Mr Richardson : Yes, of course ! And, gentlemen, l should think that a hard and* fast measurement regulation would bo more obnoxious than the one now in existence.

One of the deputation (a Napier wood merchant) pointed out that he could get cheaper wood, and often better wood, down from Auckland, and that if some sensible arrangement and considerable reduction as regards firewood from the bush was not

soon made, he (and no doubt the other wood merchants iu Napier) would not take a stick from the bush any more. Mr Richardson : If you can get your wood cheaper from Auckland than from the bush, there is a good reason for lookiog-iuto the matter, which I promise to do.

Mr Gray wanted to know the reason why he for over 6 years had been able to get 3 cords of firewood in every truck consigned to him, while now there never were more than cords, and sometimes not that. Mr McDonald explained, that the question of over-weight had not been troubled about till he took charge. His attention was drawn to the firewood trucks being always heavy down on the springs. On investigation he found that with very few exceptions the trucks were overweighted, often up as much as a ton or a ton and a-half. This abuse exposed the trucks to constant excessive wear and tear, and tho whole train to possible ruin, and he had been obliged to stop it. Mr Groom had been commissioned to ask if the Government would enable settlers along the railway line to supply totara sleepers in small quantities at a fixed price. In reply he was informed that the next tenders for sleepers would he arranged, so that small quantities (from 500 and upwards) could be supplied by the small producers, as had already been asked by Mr Smith in the House. Mr Gray would like to know if tho railway department would reduce the carriage of coal from Spit to Napier. After having heard a few reasons in support of this application, which aimed at taking a considerable deal of huulage from the carriers, Mr Richardson said he could give no hope of granting such a concession.

This concluded the applications entrusted to the various members of tho deputation. Mr W. C. Smith then rose and asked the Minister if he would let the company present know, what his intentions were as regards tho shifting of tho Tahoraite Station. So many rumors floated about Danevirke, that he would ask him for a decided expression (if possible) as regards this question.

Mr Richardson informed the meeting, that it had been decided to shift the goodKslied, a cottage for the stationmaster and so much of the station buildings as would bo required; but that the work would not be commenced before the line was through to Woodville. Mr Smith : And where would you put the station? Some people think it would be further up the line. Mr Richardson : There would need to be some very substantial reason for taking it away from its present site, where tho Government has already spent a large sum to make it ready for tho buildings. Mr Guy had been aeked to point out one or two things. Through Messrs Henderson, Wratt & Co., applying for nnd getting a siding for their mill land had been cut up and houses erected. To place tho station there would be to enhance the value of private land, if, on the other hand, it wns placed near tho Government township it would improve the value of public property as well as fulfil the expectations of those who had bought sections in the Government township under the impression that the station would be there.

As a final reply to Mr Guy, Mr Richardson again repeated that the Government would need very substantial reasons for pulliDg up the rails on the present site and laying them down again at a great expense farther along the line. Mr T. Tanner then rose and thanked Mr Richardson for his kind attention to their wants and hoped that he would bo üble to meet their wishes. On behalf of tbo Danevirke people he thereupon presented the following petition to the Minister :

To the Honorable the Minister of Public Works.

Sir, The Petition of the undersigned ratepayers of the Danevirke Town Board, and other residents, Humbly Shewcth— That at a public meeting, held at Danevirkeou the I6lh September last, the following resolution was carried by a large majority—“ That this meeting does not consider it desirable to change the present site of the Danevirke Railway Station.” That the said meeting fairly represented the various interests of this Settlement, and that the resolution passed expressed the prevailing wish of the inhabitants of this town aud surroundings, and fqr following reasons : (l). The site referred to is the site originally decided upon by the Public Works Department, and has as such already been laid off.

2. The Settlers, having placed confidence in this decision of the Department, have iu vested much of their capital in the immediate neighborhood, and in consequence the township has steadily gravitated that way. 3. Iu additiou to beiug the most natural and convenient site for the settlers it is also the least expensive for the Department. Your Petitioners therefore pray that the long-promised station buildings be erected without further delay on the site laid off by the Department, namely at the siding of the present Danevirke flag station. Dated this 14th day of December, 1886. Signed by 63 petitioners, 58 of which are ratepayers in the Danevirke Town District. Tlio deputation then withdrew.