HON. W. FRASER AT NAPIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3708, 18 December 1912, Page 5

HON. W. FRASER AT NAPIER.

lIIS VIEWS ON THE GISBORNENAPIER RAILWAY.

EARNEST DESIRE OF CABINET TO SEE IT COMPLETED.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM)

NAPIER, Dec. 17

Hon. W. Fraser, Minister for Public Works, arrived in Napier tin's evening to meet deputations in relation to the recent temporary stoppage of the East Coast railway, the utilisation of the waters of Lake Waikaremoana for electrification purposes, and the proposed construction of a railway embankment across the inner harbor. Tho deputations comprised members of the Chamber of Commerce,- Harbor Board, East Coast Railway League and County Council. > In regard to the railway the Minister emphasised his previous statement that the stoppage was only temporary in view of the finances of the country and said it was the earnest desire of himself and his colleagues to see the completion of the NapierGisborne line. With regard to the Waikaremoana electrification scheme he said the Government had decided to wait and see the result of the Lake Coleridge scheme before embarking on further similar enterprise. He also mentioned that so far the work at Lake Coleridge was inside the estimates. On the question of the embankment in relation to the site as it might affect the inner harbor proposals, Mr Fraser pointed out that all the local bodies wore not represented. He. suggested that lie should return to Napier about the end of January. In the meantime all the local bodies should meet and’come to an agreement if possible and say when he returns what they are prepared to do in the matter. To-morrow the Minister, who is accompanied by Mr Holmes, Engineer-in-Chirf, will visit the site of the proposed embankment and the surrounding country districts, returning to Wellington on Thursday morning.