DEPUTATION TO THE HON. MR BALLANCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5743, 13 October 1885, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO THE HON. MR BALLANCE.

A deputation, consisting of members of thß council of Chamber of Commerce, waited on the Hon. Mr Ballance at the Borough Council Chambers this morning. There were present— Messrs Drew (chairman), Stevenson (vice-chairman), Bell, Drummond, Cornfoot, Tilly, and Jackson. Mr Drew introduced the deputation, and before going into the matter before them, he thanked Mr Ballance, as member for the district, for the many matters in which he had been able to assist thtin. They were giad, that though absent from the place, he was not neglecting their interests.

MtJRIMOTO KOAD.

Mr Drew then went on to refer to the Munmotu Road, and the necessity for opening it up, and making Wang mm the centre for the traffic coming therefrom. There was a considerable amount of good land which would speedily be settled on. This road would lead trade to come here instead of going to Wapier and Auckland as at present. It would also lead to the tapping of the Central Railway, a matter of no little im* 1 portance in the matter of bringing the trade to this town from that line.

REGISTRATION OFFICE.

Mr Stevenson next introduced the question of having a deeds registration office here. They recognised the advantages already gained.

RAILWAY MATTERS.

Mr F. R. Jackßon brought under the notice of the member the tact that cattie rates were too high in this district. The charges for double trucks were fz-om here to Vvaitotara 23s 3d, equal to 4£d per head; from here to Hawera, 43s 3d, equal to B|d per head ; and from here to Waitara, 59s 3d or la per head. These rates were altogether prohibitive, unless it were on an occasion of emergency. He believed that if the rates were reduced one-third the traffic would be increased to at least double. The time of the departure of the north train was also drawn attention to. There was no possible means now of getting to Hawera and back on the one day. All was sacrificed for the sake of the through trade from hew Plymouth to tfoxton. Yet he was informed on good authority that the passengers through did not average three a week. He considered the advantage would be greater if the trains were so altered that persons could leave here in the morning and Hawera on the return trip ut 4.30, The train now was absolutely useless.

REPLY.

Mr. Ballance said that he had already given these matters some attention. The Stamp question he had brought before the Department, and Wanganui had got a very valuable concession. The saving he believed a ready had been something like £1000. They had no need to go to Wellington now for stamping deeds. The question of registration he had also brought;- np, but great di&cultiea were encountered. To have a registration office here would necessitate survey and land offices. The working of these w ould cost a lot ot expense to the Department. With regard to setting the deeds forwarded by the Postmaster, the head of

the Department urged objections against the idea, but he (Mr Baliancc) believed that if a fresh memorial were st-nt down he might yet get the authority given lo the Pohtuiaster. As to ra.lway rates, he would have pleasure in laying the fcuggestions before the Department. He believed that the deputation would be aware of the difficulty which existed in getting alterations in the tariff. There was no doubt much weight in Mr Jackson's argument that if the cattle vates were reduced one-third, the trafficwould be doubled, but|the department would have to take into consideration the extra wear and tear, though he believed too much attention had been paid to that in the past. As to the Munmotu Koad, the road to Kerioi had not been well laid out, though the grades were excellent. It had been laid out without regard to the washing away of the papa rock. Mr Rochfort had told him that the road could easily be improved, and he had asked the Public Works Department to put Mr Hochiort .-it the disposal of the Land Department so as to have the road laid out, and he believed that Mr Rochfort would be uvailable in a month. What he (Mr B ) thought should be done was that the road should bs made from Kerioi down to Mason's by the Government. He intended to see the County chairman to get the assistance of their staff. Last session he had secured a vote of £1000 for thia road, and this would be expended without delay. The Lands Department had an interest in some blocks in j that locality, which would shortly be i placed in the market. There was auothe'r vote for a road from Taupo to Waimarino, and theuce necessarily to Feild's irack. In j addition to several small blocks about this line of roar], there were also two large blocks on the river which were waiting only for bteam communication to render them availablo for settlement. These were rather rough, but umier the provisions of the new Act, they had taken power to let 100 to 509 acres on perpetual leases at low rents for pastoral purposes.

THE JERUSALEM ROAD,

In answer to a question from the Mayor with reference to this road, Mr Ballance said he had heard that the surveyors were at work, and though he could not tell exactly how it would be affected by the reduction of the vote, he believed it would be carried on as originally intended.

CARWIAGfi OF LOGS.

Mr Cornfoot alluded to the log question, aad asked Mr Ballanea to try and get the same conces3ionjas Napier h^d. Mr Ballance said that the Department thought that they had secured a great victory by convincing the chairman of the company, that the rates were fair.— Mr Cornfoot said that they had not convinced him, aud the last answer he h.id from the Department was that they were more likely to take away the concession from Napier than to give it to Wanganui. Mr Ballance said that he had endeavoured to convince the department by taking Mr Cornfoot's part, but it was a hard matter to convince them. The Department were anxiouß to make the railways pay, at the same time keeping down the rates, and doing the best they could.— Mr Cornfoot did cot think they were when they carried firewood for home use at half the rate at which timber for exp rfc was carried.— Mr Ballance said there was no doubt that there was weight in this ; but they had made great concessions for carrying sawn timber. He did not know but that the Department looked upon this concession, if granted, as likely to injure the country saw-millers. He believed that the export trade should be considered.

THE GAOL.

The Mayor brought up the gaol vote and expressed the hope that the vote would not lapse. — Mr Ballance said that he had seen the Minister for Justice before leaving and had been told that he intended going on with it immediately. He did not know whether it waa to be built by contract, or by prison labor. The amount voted was £3000. With regard to the removal of the prisoners to New Tlymouth he had urged that it was most absurd to send prisoners away from the centre of the district.

WHARF STOKES.

Mr Tilly asked the Minister whether a floor could not be put in the wharf store. At present the goods were greatly destroyed by there being no floor.— Mr Ballancs agreed to lay the matter before the Minister in charge of the Department when ho returned to Wellington. The deputation then thanked Mr Ballance and withdrew.

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