THE DEPUTATION.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 19 March 1880, Page 2

THE DEPUTATION.

Jui r ne£Uiii t y «''f"r <si« eV'-ss* r>f tbe H'»pqnM, to ili*- Minister of l'uhlit- Works on Fiiiay ovei.i'ie last, tlie menibpr9 of the Cou.'it.v Council foritsfvl themseves : !jto m <J»»iiV tat ion io Mi" OY'W, t"'»i* the mjr.;wpe of l»v«»c v'wU'iiH raiftcr3 before isim. The G'-Rt m Ver mentioned was— TflE ]?T3BTO:f BBIDO3. Mr Rmnnofi— The Set mitt<>r Iliavg tr» brint; under yj'tir'iioiice i< tliat of the bfidtro r dvor 'ha Inausahnn. ut Reefton, an-J wonl.l ba nlid to \en-n when the work \<t like;? to be pron«e«*ed with. Miuisler — I believe Mr O'Connor has insoeeted the rirer in view of the cons! rue* tionoftbe br'nigo, nnd I have no doubt he has formed an opinion as to the site, nud .Jeeided upon it, in wbioh case the p!«a« would bo prepared as early as pos» BibleChairman*- Tlie bridge would be upon tlie main line of road between Nelson and (ireymoutb, ond the deputation are therefore anxious to.ascertaiii the date as nearly as possible when tbe work is likely to be started. Minister— l may reiterate tlmt it is tbe desire of tbe Government to note

the plans prepared and the work gone on with as soou as possible. With regard -to^tne site, i fiat is fsn engineering njtatter, Ind of course' the fingineeji Vill in9|jectjß!j(d Hffjort ofreti the., most c-« gible situation,: bus oiF course, in t»i« he would be jguufed ' a pond deal by tb-, representations you tfnuM m^k'e to " <■•! -.Chairman— But is to tl" 3 ;rj >.'. -In Mm when the workw|l!be euirvenePw ? Minister— When I teli yn-j thn*. ■>,< work will be fir.i>eedeil with witbou delay, I ibitk [ have toll you all that if wi'hin \vy jK/Wff Chairtoinn— ■Tt« < ; d^ng.-r we a;iprehe«' is tha unless th« «ork i 8 <-otntn m-ed > en the tote tn iy lai'se. Minister —A. though ( t" Jippronin -lioos*we."e~«-niy m» ie by Prniinp i nr nine months, power ha" b?"n given t.» i lhe Gov*»iijiTH>nt t<» en-itinu^ for -mother thrPft rr>'H"'S on the si'inp bn*\*. ri,«iiroian- Bj l understand H»en that there is no possibility i>t t'-.e vote l»i>s ma ? Mini.«t?r— l d*v.'i t!t ; «.Js ♦.'•■ m-« «\ tr\ risk. I don't fcbi'ik tier.<? in *tjv i»tw of the rote hpsusg. I understand Mr O'Connor has xlrea.lv fixt-j Uj O't the site, unless you hare any rrpresen'.H fions to make, with a view of selecting «ny other si<e. Choirmati — We should Msa io hav*onje h" sran'e^ that the »vt« l wii! nol lap^e. Minis'^-— T pinnnt po Ipjoml wiia* 1 havf alrpqdv said. I ha?^ ?"'d jO'i ? much «s F feel it my du*y to ex.>re«s. Chainnsn — 0»r pa^t et^ertrnce i« d>u» to be rai!ter dis'rtr'ful in mait^r? where w« hove no direct assurance. Minister — I do not think y-.-u should doubt my words. I have replied to you as clearly as I am able, and I rouat decline to prolong the subject. Maettia Track. Chairman— The next, question is that of the Mania track. Mr Reeves— Some twelve or fifteen months asfo I interviewed Mr Macnndrew iiffeetins; this work, and in accordance with roy suggestion caused h sum «>f money lobe placed upon tho TCstimitp* for it* construction. TIP C-diTy omnid! Mfßemsfei fbc"ns*»lvi'B it» the -oaitpr, a« reeo^nisinjj the importance of the w.srlt they were anxious to s.»e h n.'rr'ed ant &* soon as possible, nnd aceord'n^ly let a contract for the completion of the truck, which had since been completed, and the money was now due. The track opens up a large area of country, and besides °ives speedy access to Canterbury, In so acting, the County Council in some respects anticipated the action of the Government, but relying nr»on the nled^ siren by tho late Government, they thought tbey could safely incur the responsibility of gome on with the work. The work having been comp'e'ed, » government Engineer w>»s recently sent v ofer to inspect it, and the Conn, il now wants the money to pay the contractor. Minister — That is a matter which scarcely comes within my province In deal with. It. is a question for *ha Mm ister of Lands. He is generally allowed to authorise works for the purpose of opening up land for settlement. It is a vote over which 'l have no jurisdiction You see ihat in the eypendi'nrc of such votes thf>re are agreem^nU to be signed and other f oruv i !itips to be /O'-'p'ipd ni '• hefWAeo the Government tind l)te expending body, fl'sd until thus.' have been complied with, no paympi's wild b j Inwfolly madv'. TT»nl«'i- thp^c «ir^inistanaos I .!^ not know i»n»r larlfco'i hnv: '!orni>»*&m -*pd you"s^'vf?« io >iovc t-n «>th th«* work withont specific suihori«it'.or>. Mr Beeves— Tt is po^i'i!;- *o n?!-.»w •> little latitude in » matter of tlii« km' 7 The Conncil were anxina* to see t»i<» lan : opened op, «n.l they relie-.l implusi'lv upon »be o'edge of the fnmor (rover:c men*, and !he vote was renewed by? the present Government. Mi'MSttT— The "ote lifts hoon ta'ren it t froc, just as umiy oMior v"t.<>* were ••»'•••• * but its f<ne?«ditare is n mi.f«ir *!•:<! rest^ eviusivpjy wj»h the M'r,i««t»*r wivl'-'t. whose department the esi-eudi'tie f !'< In thin enrsj rh? pote wns taken vv' t( oUiers for iLo po*i<^" of ot>mi ; o<» up J?.o 's, ond it nj.ty be ihftt i-hp Miu!->! wWI sre his w.ty 'n foc-'yui c ;he work and util se the land so opened u». Eu' tbe whole thing depends upon tvhetlu'r ihe Minister is prennref 1 to at o~c° utilisi- the land. It mir j.'o»<-hIT b< limt he is no* v««*- renriv ' t; ( ] §o, »n w'l'ch case T Jou'<t very mv «h whsther he would sanct'on fhe ejrpcti/P n;-,». If ■- evident, you h«v.? h litt'e au'ioip'.t^i it'" 1 and lam w. y to say I c.innil >i3l»» out of t!ie diffiin'iy T' is h lU'itfoc in which I cannot; act, Hut I wi.l protois*} Io bring the fac'.s under Mr JloUeiatonN notice. Mr MGuffli — The Council woiilrf never have undertaken Ihe work but fy»the promises of the late Goreramehf , and the representat'oi of Mr T?eeres. Minister— -It i 3 a matter which must be judged upnn its merits, Mr Gallagher— Thought Mr Reaves was somewhat in error. The raoiiey was no* actually due yeK although the work had been completed as it had been under* taken upou deferred payment. Mr M'Gafßn said it could be no advantage for the Council to hold back the mosey for tbe contractor as they had to pay him interest for it. Minister— This dis2us»<on appears (o be a matter for yourselves in f-ouueii. I do not k'low anything about it. Cl^irman — That is a matter of detail.

The Government had, however, jns! sen' out an Engineer to report upon tie work. Miniver — The mon«>y was, I have no d n't, } laced vu P n D 'he Est{ na-es Hy the Vri.i.'-rof L-rjiswHb n r^il inelinaion ♦■» 5.,e..,l it, h.n tUU altogether d'P'nd* i» '■> *|.Hie* i.h^ Vf.nister ia ready to ... »i. c ign^Js .in,. >..',! !>.,. i;»nir;n;in— Tii«r« i* t lO ,I., ni , er o f t |, 0 '•■>•<• ' r-jJn-; ? Minister — That .'epen !s <„-. : |. e Minisar of L;in'?s. Tf hp ai«||m S to A^en op •'>'- hii'l he will pn it sn,! rntxUe \,ir■angemerfs aworiiingly. <«nd T lia^e n •■ph<r-»j »o te ; icre that fi. h-isnny iulention if al)Hn.lo),ii,-v if. Iv\,li, liiweirrr, ro,yr>vt vf}>a* vni| Siv "v!r Masters— Hie qu^t-'oT) ?s, I think. ».->♦ v.-i-y \v«ll understood except by Mr Mmis'er— V* O'Connor will be asked t ■ report npou it. M>' OV'jno'v -Tt see-is ih-r-'ha-' been • ff» of f4inq f. :r 'bs' v.oi!j, n.i-1 in view -»' "m. '»i-» Irnrte'tliiM Coumv Council hire dnop 'h< j wok low^-ds oirri'ina out ♦heo'j«ct for which «h»» rote was taken, 'f'liey had done the work. M'ti'sfor— They harp done a vrvy dan •?pron« {hi*. his » 'UnsiProQs tbina to ' lepir-f tfi-w t'<p <fr et rule iv matters of •Ijl f.:-1. \i- \* ■ . — T ! ~e Oonni-il relied T ".,»i^ „ . . ■ ,- f rnises jjiren, Vl v ■> •■ ■ '.%■«< j!i .» niav bp, but the rotn '« ■»•■• ! ri". no* 'be pronrses. \Tr Yes, but we mast depend tl on ■ .nrriv Ir. VT r M'Ganjn — The matter did not nricinnte with the Council, bufc with the lute Minister of Public Works who "remised to have the sum placed upon the Estimates. Minister— l will hire a talk with Mr R..l!p«tin on the nutter and try and pof : f \pion a pro-ior fo^rinjj, and you will '•a"p nn opportunity of briooins wba* <»?• 'eric* 1 von ''an in snntior' o? your case, •»»i.' 3»>v «"o! tiw!; \r!:"/;l> m»y '>tjv<» been •r» in 'vi. T *»••••■<» n'> ."iL'?» f , irs Me^epfei. f! 1 ,.!.. i 3 i.- l "'|i> n**Sl :••»".-» -r'a'B* •:■-. t!. . Tor«» - f Cl5O-^ »Vr ?*t:; I .r .^.-.d md Xiiigff-irVI t> Otn^n'-" aid \faf-i< : "» | r» TO.-M. Fir tl>eee works a sum of £2000 t»-id been *t>ied and pspen<ied, but hnd done half tbo distance to be coranie'e the work, which was a portion of the main Nelson and Greymouth road. Mr Reeves— Yon will recollect Mr Olliver, I re r erreJ to this work the other dny. Mini-jfe-— T have no dejivo Io delay | these w^rk", Mr Gallacher— W'Mi il»e m<"\'v at €•!**> disposal of the Conner! rtie easiest parts «F f'p roue were formed, hut U\p most d : fGsruU seci'ona remain to h^ dine. Chairman — As Mr OaliagWr states, it will take twice th» sum votei to comnle'*» tl.e 'oad, and it is de.tir.ibta that the <vo»k <hool<l be proceeded wtHi before the winter sefs in. Minister— The only formality rrqnired is the ses.ding down of the agreement t"> •»e signed. Mr Gnllashpr— F.'iir mile 3of the roij'e lihs to he formed to nnen the tbr -»n»h line, and after the £1500 is^fc nenderi tht-ie tvili still >emai^J^^^H dis'unce to complete, and Jj^^^^^^H to asV if there is any^^^^^^^^H Cottncil getting a rar |j^^^^^H^| the r<^itd. i^^^^^^^^^l Minister: 1 Itave^^^^^^^^^^^H ;'V.jfpis'3 which e<><]|^^^^^^^^^^^^^H .noni, and !<> no^^^^^^^^^^^^^H sii'uti^ntsl I'll* (G^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| r o-e, I c mi irom^^^^^^^^^^^^H !i«»in»t other el '^^^^^^^^^^^^| Ci'ai''mn : Tt, I^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| U)K>w w!e'bcr fH^^^^^^^^^^^^H tb.' linn e<>n^^^^^^^^^^^^H :r."e ! (■■■"• r •'!!• . <J '-^l^^^B^^^^ Ti; von Y-prt (T<o'E. ' C- t.mi . : ?'■'• • n.xt m^ter ia tba' of ; c Ue""' ,i (.-<•» -'iouse. i\l''tii»».-r: Jit .»• VVi'-sfOM brought Ilia! • ,-" rt r t.» ;-; p mini 'hit evening, and I •fivi n.o ; ! .»• i i » n,"»: % !V.r wi' » Mi 1 Rol» le-<on on tbe sobject. and see vrba% can be dfi»o. The C!ia;.Tiin n,.j.i rpvrfed to tbe s->!;jfpt of the Marni-i tr^ck. T\f » P : pa i.,L»airod w'sffbpr ti>ft:'e wa ...v iiie'ihoo-' oi M." Eoil^fon <-i?i:i'»a flu- Irnni'a'iui. 'flit' Mi" I °tPi 1 .• iVo. bnf it is Terr Ifiv tl ut Mr M K-rrow wi'l be here in f. ; ;p t'onrse of a few day*. LOW LEVEL TUmTEL. Chnirmnn : The qnesWon of the Low Level Tnnnel at Black's Point ard (Mr Brcnnan here explained tbe ant ion al« Madv »akeo by tbe residents in tbe | matter ) I Minister : The matter was broush 1 fuUy under my notice at Wellington by Messrs Gallagher and Trennery, and I (old them much the same as I may now tell yon. The Government did express their willingness to assist the work, but the estimate formed by the Government Engineer was so largely in exec33 of that -unclred by (he deputation when io Wellington, that we could see no hope of the people here raising tbe Ifalf ueeessary to enti. le rhetn to the subsidy promises! ; bu f from what I have heard from 'Mr Tf emery aud others iiace my arrival here, I think I

would i'o sai\j ii siyin? that if thf resicipnU i or- pro irlrf their earnestness ;n tin 5 ti-.cii'tt by subscribing half the cost, hie Gover-tnvnt w»ll furnish the otiier half. It has been represented to •oe tb&t 'he work cannot be completed tor s.'YPral veir«, an'i that t!'B ex« j^ndi'ure annually cannot reach reyond * ••ompniVieelf small satn, and that J-.«Mug the case I do not think tl c Gos ver."tii«*?r w»uld stand in the way. r!i.:iiiiii)u : The expenditure COsiid -I v ■ fly r«>ac!i beyond £200 per month, „ 'i ; i!n» Government furnish half thai sin 'Vert? would be no difficulty io nus;.»t; 'iirt otLer privately. Miuister : [do not regard the matter as of great importance even if it should eventually fail tiirough altogether. MrTrennery said it might be within the Ministers recollection he (Mr Tren« nery) when in Wellingtou recently, mentioned £2 per foot ss the probable c >st of the driving, and the residents here would I be satisfied to accept subsidy upon that ba?is. The amount iiko!y to be expended would, therefore, not exceed £180 or £200 per month, as h was the intention to start at one end only for the pre« sent. Minister: If the undertaking results as }oa expect, and as I hope it may. the Government will be ghii to enter intj i»crlnersli'») uil'i yy*i, aud nny thereby ■c able to pay off the Cjlouiai debt.