SHANNON'S NEW BRIDGE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 267, 4 August 1908, Page 8

SHANNON'S NEW BRIDGE.

YESTERDAY'S OPENINC CEREMONY.

BANQUET TO MR. STEVENS, M;P. (BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL COBEESrONDENT.) 1 Shannon, August 3. The weather hero for tho opening of the new bridge to-day was showery in the morning, but cleared up in tho afternoon, and quite a" cavalcade of coaches and buggies drove down to the bridge.

Mr. Richards, Chairman of the Horowhenua County Council, in a short speech, gave an account of the agitation which had been proceeding for five and a half years to have', the bridge erected. Tho cost of tho structure had exceeded the estimate, owing to the necessity of having tho bridge raised for river traffic, which had entailed an extra expenditure of £500 to £600. Tho actual cost was £5700. ■'. Mr. Richards then called on Mr. Malcolm, county engineer, who on behalf of tho contractors, Messrs. Andrews and M'Williams, presented Miss Stevens with a pair of silver scissors. Mr. J. Stevens, M.P., in an interesting speech, described somo of tho pleasures ill crossing tlio river in tho olden days. Tolls and ferries from Wellington to Wanganui then cost' 10s. with the privilege of getting soaked every day. Tho first ferryman at To Wharangi rejoiced in the euphonious namo of Muritana To Rangi' Whakararua.' Tho late Mr. Burr ferried E. J. Wakefield across ,in tho forties. In 1858 Mr. Stovchs was invited by Mr. Chas. Hartley to visit him, and it was necessary ,to swim his horse across tho river. Hundreds ■of Maori canoes' plied the reaches of tho rivor in those days and carried flax dressed "in Maori fashion, and thousands of bushels of maize, wheat and potatoes to the port of Foxton. A punt was at that time a luxury. . Mr. Piggott'and Mr. Bow, the ferrymen who had now lost their'jobs, had given great satisfaction to tho district. Another thing wanted was • a route, between the Wairarapa and tho Manawatu to enable the people on the other coast to tako advantage of tho finest sanatorium in tho Dominion, the Foxton Heads. ' Tho speaker would do everything in his power to see this new route opened up. Mr. Fulton, thp Engineer, deserved the thanks of the community, and the contractors also deserved great praise. Thero had been a stoppage "of the works owing to a timber strike m Australia, but now the bridge was to be opened, thanks wero duo'to the" local committee, Messrs. O'Connor, Stansell, Moynihau, Lind, and others. Ho also thanked Mr. Field-for his zealous co-operation. Mr. Stevens then asked Bliss Stevens to remove tho barrior by cutting tho ribbon, and declared tho Moutoa'Bridgo open. Among thoso present wero the Hon. J. Carroll .(Nativo'Minister), Dr. Chappie and Mr. Field,'. M.P.'s,. and members of-all tho local bodies.- ■ SOME DEPUTATIONS. Soveral deputations wore afterwards introduced by Mr. Stevens to Mr. Carroll. > Mr. Richards, 1 chairman of ■ the Horowhenua County Council, interviewed the Minister on tho extra cost of tho-bridge, owing to tho Marine Department's requirements causing an extra cost. A sum of £501 was expended in extras owing to the necessity of the inspector being on the spot all the time. 1 ■ .. . .Mr. N.' ! Stephenson ' also spoke on' this Mr. J. Stevens suggested that a. detailed statement' of tho whole expenditure, showing exactly how the cost arose, should' bo prepared. -. • '• ■ Mr. Carroll agreed and suggested that Messrs. Stevens and Field should bring tho matter before tho Minister for Public Works and he would do his best.; Another deputation consisting of tho local J. P.'s and constable brought up the question of tho uhsuitableness of the present Court-houso and constable's house. A rent of £50. was being paid for these buildings, and that sum would" pay 5 per cent. ,on £1000 which if expended on new buildings would bo amply, sufficient. ■ Mr. Carroll, in reply, considered a very good case had been made, out by the deputation, and he. would _ha,ve great pleasuro in interviewing the Minister for Justice in connection with it.' SHANNON-EKETAHUNA TRACK. The Shannon-Eketahuna track _was next introduced by Mr. Stevens who said that .in caso of disastrous 'bush fires V.in the Wairarapa owners of stock could drive them over to this coast for safety and feed. Mr. Stevens suggested that th<) bush should be felled this winter and. tho track could afterwards be converted into a dray road.

Mr. Field' pointed out tliero Was no road' south of tho Falmerston-Pahiatua Road, and he recommended both the Eketahuna route and tho Greytown-Otaki route.

Mr. O'Connor said the scheme was one not of local but national importance, as this road , would drain vaiifc districts on the. other coast. - • ' . ■ " ■

Messrs. Nation, Stansell, Hennessy, and Moynihan also spoke. • Mr. Carroll said it was unlikely the road would be made this. ( year. . ..The question was. one of money. Ho pointed out' that the clamour for roads and bridges had as-, sumed ve.-y serious proportions, ■ and it was impossible in any given year or period to satisfy all the claims. The scheme had his sympathy, but ho could hold < out no promise as it depended on how much provision could b? made out of loan money for public works. . RIVERS COMMISSION. , 'Mr. Stevens introduced a deputation-in ccnnection with the River' Board "Royal Commission. | Mr. Law explained that the peoplo of the higher reaches might overrule the minority of those in tho lower roaches, and the smaller diainage boards considered that the work being carried on by them at present might be neglected. • '

Mr. Carroll pointed out-tho necessity of every body interested giving evidence, as ei cry form of opinion and idea must be leprosented : n Each, a comprehensive question. BANQUET TG MR. STEVENS. Over one hundred were present at tho banquet to Mr. Johil Stevens, M.P., -at Shannon. ' - Mr. Richards, Chairman of the Horowhenua County Council, proposed "Tlie Ministry." Mr. Carroll, in reply, read a telegram from Sir Joseph Ward as follows:—"Kindly inform those present at the banquet t'o-night that I join with you all in doing honour to the' esteemed member for the district, who, through tho altered boundaries of the. electorate,'has had to'say good-bye to part of his constituency." Mr. Carroll testified to his long friendship with Mr. Stevens. He had ajways relished the influence of his personality.' Mr. Stevens had lived in stirring times ■ as a public'man, arid had not one stain on his career. Referring to the toast, Mr. Carroll said tho Ministry of the day might. be. called a continuance of past Administrations. They had failed in many respects, but thoy still had the confidenco of tho' country,' and it was for tho peoplo to decide whether they had done well or otherwise. He pleaded that settled districts should rely on their own vigour, so that those who required most help should" get it.' The Main Trunk Line had begun a now en\ for this country. Tho Administration of tho day would be ablo to carry out a railway system throughout both islands now that tho Main Trunk was completed. With reference to the Nativo Land Commission tho value of that work could not yet bo fully appreciated. Tho Commission would recommend who.t areas be offered for settlement, also what lands will bo hold by the, Natives themselves,' and what land, was suitable for farming by Natives. Maoris would be onabled to borrow on' the security of their holdings, and would.bo put on the same footing as Europeans. Tho rest' of tlio' land would be ofi'orcd to the public by auction. The Commission had complotcd practically 25 reports involving an area of three millions of acres.. Tho general policy for tho future was that all transactions in Native lands either by leaso or sale would take place by public auction. No alienation of Nativo land to any other than Natives would be allowed except by public auction or tender. A largo army would rise up to acclaim tho free traffic in Native' lands, but those day.B were past. The-eurve®.

of . those lands would cat up'{lie whole cost of the lands. As things wero a Maori dare not cultivato a plot .of land without fear .of molestation. Ho could not see why iu this Dominion Maoris and Pakehas should not work side by sido as sturdy farmers. Mr.'Nation proposed "Parliament." Sir. Field testified to the kindness shown by Mr. Stevens'to himself. He would be .fortunate if ho followed in footstops by representing this part of the electorate. The district had many requirements. Tlio dealing with tho Manawatu River was tho most serious problem the countryside had to face. Ho hoped that should this Royal Commission. prove abortive the Government would take the matter into their owii hands. Foxton harbour would be of ehonaous benefit to the country. They would eventually have coal boats from tho West Coast, which would return with stock. The' ' Board could not be-a financial success unless the dues wero handed over'to the Board. He mentioned the fluctuations in tho flax market. It was said that owing to award rates some mills had to be closed down. ' Mr. Field wishod. to contradict, the report that ho had said at tho opening of the Makerua; mills that a flax hand should get more than six'shillings a day. A deputation of flaxmill owners would wait on tho Labour Bills Committee on Tuesday, and ho hoped that a solution would bo found for the flax, trouble.

•Mr. Hogg' also expressed his' great admiration for Mr. Stevens.

Mr. O'Connor proposed "Mr.. Stevens, the guest of the evening." The people of Manawatu rccogfiiscd. his sterling qualities. and great abilities. To him was due the proposed scbomo for providing the district with water power.. Mr. Hornoblow gave a recitation. Mr. Steveus, ill: reply, said when ho looked back on his long connection with this coast and politics it made ono think that after all there was Croat kindness in the hearts of fellow-settlers. Ho had always'experienced great personal kindness, and he felt one'of tile proudest' men in the Dominion that night. He reciprocated Mr.- Carroll's kindly references. There was no one in'the-Ministry for whom he had greater esteem. In New Zealand they . had. a purity in .-their politics, which was tho envy of: many other, countries. What they had to guard. against was 're-' volutionary i socialism. Mr. Stevens.'paid a high tribute to: Sir Joseph Ward's , ability and his-work at the> Postal' and'lmperial Conferences. He. heartily thanked Mr. O'Connor'and -friends'" in- Shannbn for the manner : in -which they had' hohoured'him. It was'his intention. to ■ contest-the Manawatu seat'at tho forthcoming elections. 'If they returned him ho would do' his. best-ac-cording';!*) his ability. * • .