DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1657, 12 June 1879, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

DUNEDIN, June 11

A deputation from Kaitangata, introduced by Mr Murray, and accompanied by Mr Thomson, had an interview with Mr Macandrew, and ' urged on him the desirability of the Government purchasing the Kaitaugata Company’s line, and extending it to Wangaloa. They represented that the minimum rate charged on coal for a i short distance was a heavy tax on it. The line « was not in the same position ns other branch i lines that Government might be petitioned to j take over. It had not been constructed for the , improvement of private property. It was a pajing line, and if purchased and worked by ‘ Government, the benefit would not bo confined to the immediatodistrict. Mr Macandrew replied that a large number of similar applica- 1 tions were before the Cabinet, and they were .all < represented as being exceptional cases. If the Government had funds they could, he thought, better expend them in making new lines, and so , opening the country. Although the time would j come when it would be necessary to purchase these branch lines, it had not yet arrived, and when it did come it would have to be done on some general system. He would, however, be | willing to sanction arrangements for the Govern- 1 ment working the line, if the parties concerned 1 could make satisfactory arrangements.^ The same deputation, with the addition of the chairmen of the Clutha and Bruce County Councils, next asked that something should be done towards re-erecting the Clutha bridge. The ground on which they appl ed to the Government for this was, that the bridge was in the hands of the Government when it was destroyed, ( and that the Councils were not in a position to undertake its re-erection. The Minister referred the deputation to the resolution that a loan of • £IO,OOO for five years, without interest, should be granted to the district, but he said that he did not think any further help could be given. - The erection of the bridge by the Government ; would involve a large question of constitutional reform. It would mean that the Government ] should undertake all such works and retain the , subsidies. In reply to a member of the deputa- j tion, Mr Macandrew said that the money which had been authorised ns a loan would not have been granted as a gift to the district, and he would not promise to support a motion that the same should bo so treated.