DEPUTATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 862, 9 April 1903, Page 4

DEPUTATIONS.

CABLE COMPETITION AND PRESS MESSAGES.

Per Press 'Association^ Christchurch, last night. Soveral deputations waited on Sir J. Ward this morning. The Council of the local Acclimatisation Society asked for more definite tenuro of their grounds and also Horse Shoe Lake brought under the Domain Act, Belfast deputations wanted improvements to the railway buildings, and the Hospital Board requested the Government to bear tho cost of a telephone service to Bottle Lake hospital. Two racehorse owners asked for a siding for horses to bo established at Soekburn, near the racecourse. Three railway casual hands applied for privilege tickets for casuals. A Cheviot deputation waited on the Minister to allow the Cheviot postmaster to tako cheques as very little cash was circulated in town. Sir J. Ward said if a banker could givo a recurring marked cheque for £SOO, that amount of cash could be kept in the offico. Ho undertook to consider the requests of the other deputations.

In regard to tho proposed free press messages by the Pacific cable Sir Joseph Ward states that the details are still being discussed. He explained that tho 500 words which it is proposed to transmit free daily would not be sent direct to all the newspapers in the colony, but would be transmitted to one centre for distribution throughout the colony. Since the completion of the cable not one press message from Homo had been transmitted. The idea of transmitting news free was to bring prominently before the public the advantage of the route.

Thames, last night. Soveral deputations waited on Mr McGowan to-day. The Minister, in the course of his replies, stated that the Government had decided to assist tho boring scheme in the development of tho deep levels at the Thornes by a £ for £ grant on tho amounts subscribed for tho operations on public property and 10s in the £ on the boring on companies’ properties. Ho was asked for a grant of .£2500 for a recreation ground, but declined. Ho said ho would bring the matter before his colleagues. The Drainago Board requested the Government to purchase the Thames Hauraki pump, which cost £140,000, and on which tho Government has already spent £25,000. The Minister declined, and said though they had established State coal mines the Government wore not advanced onough to undertake gold-mining operations. Ho arranged matters in reference to the School of Mines. He leaves for Wellington this afternoon.