HON. J. COLVIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 19 April 1912, Page 3

HON. J. COLVIN.

(By Ttlerrath—Pran Aitaclatlos.! Wcstport, April 17. The Hon. James C'olvin. Minister for Mines, who arrived yesterday, was met at Tekulia. by a largo and representative, gathering, and accorded a hearty welcome and congratulations 011 his elevation to the Ministry. 111 tho ovenipg he was entertained at a largely-attended banquet, ■ over which the Mayor presided. . The Minister's speech, in reply to tho toast of his health was on similar lincs'to those, delivered at banquets in his honour down tho coast. To-day the Minister' received 60V0rnl deputations, chiefly on local matters. The Chamber of Commerce urged a more expeditious construction of tho Westportlioei'ton railway, in order to inako accessible at an early date tho conl measures in the Mackley Valley, and to further through traffic. The Minister, while favourable: pointed' out that requests were being made for money, for such undertakings all, oyer tho Dominion, aud, if tho Liberal party decidctl to go for u loan in order to carry out such works, tho public should not later turn round on tho Government as had been dono at the last election and accuse them of unnecessarily increasing tho Dominion's indebtedness. The' Minister also received a deputation from the Wcstport Jockey Club, who urged that he should use his best influence to enable tho club to regain its totalisator permit. _ The chief speaker dwelt >11 tho injustice done to Boiler in depriving it of its one race meeting) and pointed out that the object of tho coin--mission was apparently _ not to .rcduco gambling, but to centraliso racing as 0110 race at 0110 of the largo centres would now carry as much money 011 the totalis-, a tor ns tho whole of Westport's race meetings. " Tho Minister, in reply, said that it wasrecognised all over the Dominion that Wcstport had been exceptionally hndly treated, and lie felt sure that, if the Minister could do so legally, Wcstport would regain its totalisator ■■permit. The Minister was nuain to-night entertained at a largo gathering, at which a resolution was passed expressing confidence in Mr. Colvin as Minister, and in the Liberal party, mid congratulations to the Hon. T. Mackenzie on his accession to' the Prime Ministership.