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Western Star, Issue 335, 7 February 1880, Page 5

The visit of the Hons. R. Oliver and W. Rolleston to this district is over, and the result will be viewed more or less, perhaps, according to the political bias of the observer. Their arrival was not attended with the eclat that accompanied previous Ministerial visits ; neither was their approach heralded by existing telegrams and other mysterious influences. The absence of the crowd 'of idle hangers-on,.verbatim reporters, &c. (whose ostensible duty was to take a “ correct ” report of their chiefs utterances, and make an appearance of noting the wants of communities as they were successively broughtunderthenotice of Ministers), that adorned Ministerial progress were“conspicuous by their absence.” The absence of these “ fixings” did not fail in impressing this community •favorably. Their was a thorough business air about the whole of their actions that was quite refreshing, and however unpalatable many of their answers were to local demands, there was a definiteness about them that was at ■ least satisfying. The result is that many matters which have been in abeyance for years, concerning which no end of promises were given—and broken, are how settled, and the voluminous correspondence with which unfortunate clerks of local bodies were compelled to deluge equally unfortunate officials, is happily now at an end. Consideration was promised of the, proposal to exchange the Harbor Board’s reserve on Waimatuku Flat, for 5000 acres at Mt. Nightcap; the local engineer was instructed to add a much-re-quired wing at the south side of the west end of the bridge; a distinct refusal was given to purchase land along the railway line in South Riverton and Bath read, to widen the street; much-needed repairs to the courthouse and .Native school were sanctioned; the establishment of a District Court and a High School were viewed favorably ; the light rails between Thornbury and Makarewa junctions will not be replaced by heavier ones, those at -present in use, it was stated by Mr Blair, being quite as safe as the heavier ones on account of the low: rate of speed maintained and the light class of rolling stock used on them. Several other matters of greater or less importance were brought under the notice of Ministers by the representatives of various public bodies, all of which were carefully noted, with a view to future reference, and although much has been asked and little received it is at least gratifying to know that a uniform system or principle has been adopted throughout the Colony in regard to certain questions, and in appointment, is tempered there by .'iJjySHj

tion was forced upon all who had any dealings with Ministers that, in the present state of colonial finance, they were determined to authorise none but the most imperative works, and in this praiseworthy effort they will, ws feel sure, be supported by colonists generally.