OLD SALT AND THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17553, 24 April 1919, Page 7

OLD SALT AND THE HARBOUR BOARD.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As a rule old salts are not Dlessed with all the good things they should have, but our friend seems to be. one of the exceptions, and he appears to know good men when he sees them. 1 am an old salt myself, and would like to, have a seat on the Board just to say I had been there. I quite agree with him when h& says that "what we want are good, sound, practical business men, men who have been tried and not found wanting. I am very pleased to see Mr Burgess is standing. He is an experienced business man besides having a lifelcng experience in shipping. By the way, is the Mr Holm Old .Salt speaks about the man who told the Chamber of Commerce that Admiral Hall Thompson did not know what he was. talking about when he said that it'was dangerous for Home liners to anchor in the roadstead owing to floating mines, that it was impossible for mines to drift this side of the Rangitikei. If this is the gentleman, how does he account for those drifting mines going up on the beach at Egmont, Opnnake and Wanganui Bight in considerable numbers? Personally, I am glad the Admiral did not take' his advice or there might have been a serious catastrophe to some Home liner in the roadstead. More to follow. , I am, etc., OLD SALT NO. 2.

(To the Editor.)

14/4/19: Sir, —Enclosed is a letter fi#n Mr R. W. Smith, M.P., re River Road. This road is to give us a way out to the river, so that we can trade with Wanganui. As it is, most of the trade goes to Raetihi, then to Wellington or Auckland. If you can publish it to help us, it will also benefit Wanganui, and men who read it will know that there is work to be had up here. The Department does not advertise. Another thing, we settlers think is right, is for the settlers to have a. representative on the River Trust Board. It is we who use the riv^r, not the men who are on the present Board.—Yours, etc., JOHN H. BROWN. Mangntiti Landing. Wanganui River, (Copy). Public Works Department, Wellington, 4th March, 1919. _ MANGATITI WEST ROAD. Sir, —You will probably recollect that you minuted to ma oh ai)tti November .last some /correspondence which you had received from settlers at Mangatiti and Waipapa through Mr J. H. .brown, of AiangaUli Landing, regarding the j completion oFthe Mangatiti West Road, which, the settlers stated was in an almost impassable condition, owing to slips. 1 have obtained reports from the liesident iiingineer, who confirms the statement or the settlers. He estimates that the oust of completing the road as a, dray road, including clearing of slips, construction of two small bridges ana a deviation, will amount to about £2340. There is an item of £477 on the Appropriations, but in order to induce work.men* to accept employment, I have issued an authority for £'1000 to the Hesi--dent Engineer, who will be able to guarantee them work for a lengthy pbiuod, I and he will have operations commenced directly he is" able to obtain labour. —I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,

\V. FRASER, Minister Of Public Works R. W. Smith, fc^., M.P., Taihape.