The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1913.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3777, 12 March 1913, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1913.

It is very pleasing to chronicle that the Hon. W. Fraser has found it

The Visit of the Minister for Public Works.

possible to visit this important district* during the recess. No matter where the Minister has visited ho has invariably met with the heartiest of welcomes, and his experience in this portion of the Dominion is, of course, bound to be of a similar happy character. Quite apart from the fact that Mr Fraser holds the portfolio of Public Works, his visit will occasion great interest on account of'the prominent

part which he has played in the political arena during the past ,0 year.,. That he has not had time-to pay an official visit to Poverty Bay at an earlier date has no doubt given rise to a good deal of disappointment. It must be remembered, however, t a e is a particularly busy Minister; otherwise it is certain also that on tne present occasion he would have pre erre to spend a longer period in this district than unfortunately circumstances , will permit. Of Mr Fraser, too, it should be said that he is recognised to have a thorough grasp of all matters appertaining to the Departments under his control. In connection with his visit we should .like to say first of all that we feel it is very opportune. Here, there, and everywhere the progress of various important public works is being hampered through lack of funds, and in this respect Poverty Bay is no exception to the rule. As it is certain that it will be possible for greater expenditure to be made in this direction shortly, how desirable it is

that Mr Fraser should have a first hand knowledge of the advantages which would accrue by the more speedy prosecution of the various works under construction at the present time'in.this great district! In the case of the railway works we ore glad that the Minister is to visit Motu, for he will then at once see the necessity of pushing ahead as expeditiously os possible that integral section of what promises to be an arterial railway of great value to this Dominion. Even as far as it has gone from Gisborne the line, it is generally understood, represents the second best paying among all the many lines which this country boasts. What Mr Fraser might do at this juncture is, we think, to have settled the vexed question as to route beyond Motu. in this regard the engineers, it is understood, favor the shorter route, viz., via Pakahi; but a large majority of the settlers wish to see the line go via Whitikau. If the Government is unwilling to serve both districts, Whitikau, it would seem, has the stronger claims, even although it would Ire a longer route, but there is some talk of a compromise being sought in a proposal that should the Government Ire determined to adopt the Pakahi route a deviation to Whitikau should be provided. Whilst we are upon the subject of the Motu line we should be glad to see the Minister allow the use of a covered van on the section between Otoko and the rail-head as such a conveyance would bo a great boom to passengers during the winter months. No doubt Mr Fraser will also see the necessity for providing additional rolling stock for this section. Coming to the Gisborne south line the Minister will find it impossible, we should say, to deny that it is high time tenders were called for the work of constructing the bridge over the Waipaoa river. The earthworks are practically completed to the end of the first section; but it can of course never be finished until this structure (which will take perhaps over 12 months to build) has been erected. In the meantime work on the second section should, we hope it will be strongly impressed on Mr Fraser, be proceeded with. As regards roads and bridges, the Minister will find that much requires to be done in this direction in this, as well as in neighboring, districts. On the present occasion we have no wish to particularise, although it is impossible to omit mention of the necessity of completing the work, of converting the Motu-Opotiki quasi-read into a road suitable for vehicular traffic. In town itself Mr Fraser will have an opportunity for seeing for himself the advantages which would accrue if the present unsuitable Government buildings, which, as is well-known, have promised new Departmental Buildings, v Inch as is well-known, has been designed to accommodate all the scattered Government-departments in this town. We really do think that this work is one that should be no longer delayed. Upon these and other matters the Minister will, no doubt, be asked to hear strong deputations, and we trust that Mr Fraser will be able to announce that at last the financial cloud which has been overshadowing the Treasury, has been brightened by a silver lining.