MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1922, Page 4

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

ARRIVAL 01’ HON J. 0. COATES

The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Publio Works, accompanied by Sin F. W. Furkett Engineer-in-Chief), Sir J. D. Gillies (Resident Engineer) and Mr T. Jjt . Aickin (private secretary) arrived in Hokitika on Saturday afternoon about 4 o’clock from the north. Shortly after arrival Mr Coates was motored to the Rimu Goldfield dredge, where he spent a couple of hours, being .shown the working of the leviathan by Mr Sydney Ford the visit proving a very instructive one.

The Stinister’s programme covered a journey through South Westland as far as Jfaokson’s Bay and across Haast Pass into Otago. DEPUTATIONS.

The Hon J. G. Coates met deputations at the County Chambers at. 7.45 o’clock. The County Chairman presided and there were also present Councillors Wells, Morel, Jeffries, Ritchie, Chiijn, Chesterman, Hons H. I>. Michel afnd J. Grimmond, Mr W. J. Butler (Chamber of Commerce) and others, Mr F. W. Furkert (Engineer-in-Chief), and Mr Gillies (Resident Engineer) were in attendance on the Minister, with Mr T. R. Aickin (private secretary). THE BUSINESS SHEET. The business sheet set down consisted of:—(1) —Appreciation of Hon Minis or’s action, (a) In expediting works in connection with the Otira tunnel which will give impetus to the trade and | traffic east ajnd west to tho immediate advantage of the Government railway system and the general advancement of thq district, (b) In pushing on the construction of tho larger bridges on the main south road, and making 1922 a memorable yoair in tho fact that the

Little Wnitnfia, Little Wanganui and Wa.ita.ngi rivers should he bridged' for heavy traffic within the year. Suggestion that approach work to Little Waitnlia lie expedited.

2.—lnspection of Roes-Waitnha. tramway of Stuart and Chapman Ltd. for the purpose of same being licensed under Public Works Act to transport

settlers’ goods aiml stock as a feeder to the Westland railway system. Note.—

The occasion for this request is the decision of the Hon Minister not to proceed at present, with! the extension of the South Westland railway from Ross to Waitaha (as authorised hv statute). The tramway, almost completed for a. distance of about ten miles, if licensed, will facilitate goods transport, nnd sav P time and cost to the settlers south in freightage and prove n. great boon to settlement. The Hon Miniser to be asked to confer with the Hon Minister of Railways, relative to tho use of tho rolling stock over the tramway line. 3.- Condition of Alain Rond bridges. —Note-.—Traffic over Kumnra-Hokitika. road is now limited to 5 tons, amd over Hokitika-Ross to 3 tons. In view of the increasing volume of motor lorry traffic which is of great assistance to industrial expansion. Government to he urged to have main road bridges maintained equal to heavy traffic requirements.

4.—Expenditure of Government grants voted bv Parliament. The following works to be speedily considered: —Bruce Bay Handing, Bruce Bay Inland Road, Cascade to Barn Bay, construction of Waikukupa Bridge Dorothy Falls track, small bridges on main roads, Evans Road, Kokatahi (Lower) road widening, Kumara Junction to Kapitea, Lake Kanieri Road, Slippery Face deviation, Petersen Road (on account), Adairs Road, Ruatapu to Mahinujpua,

5. —Reinstatement of . cancelled votes:—La Fontaine Road. McArthur Road, Neilson Road, Wall Road. 6. —Lake Kanieri Road, substantial grant for widening and improving. Also opening of Stvx-Lake Road from Kokatahi district, to give round trip from Hokitika, via, Kokatahi to Lake Kanieri and return by way of Lake road to Hokitika.

7.—Attention to Swamp Land Improvement scheme at La Fontaine, In-ter-Wanganui. Mr Ward welcomed Mr Coates to Westland. They were pleased to know ftiat ho was travelling the full length of the Westland County. This showed he

was taking a keen interest in the district. They recognised that in the past the Minister had been doing his host for Westland, particularly the pushing on of the (Him Tunnel. They were looking forward to the opening of the tunnel which would be a red letter day for the district. They also desired to thank him for pushing on the bridging of the South Westland rivers, the tenders for the Wnitangi now being called for. Their only regret was the shortness of the stay in the district. They wished him, to-morrow at Ross, to leave his car and go by Stuart and Chapman’s tram line. He pressed this upon him urgently. They had been asking the Minister of Railways for the use of trucks for the carriage of stock and timber. This enterprising firm by their

enterprise had saved the Government upwards of £15.000. He hoped for a favorable reply that evening. Referring

to the bridges on the main roads that had their loads limited to five tons, he urged the necessity of strenghening the bridges to carry larger loads. Mr J. Ritchie expressed his pleasure that the Minister was making a journey through South Westland. He trusted that as a result the Minister would see the. necessity of pushing on Bruce Bay landing and other urgent works. Mr W. Jeffries endorsed the remarks of the Chairman and Mr Ritchie. He outlined the necessity of erecting the Bruce Bay landing. He trusted he would visit he site and as a result give the settlers an opportunity of getting their produce away.

Mr Chinn urged the, necessity of the proposed landing wluck was a,n urgent necessity for the welfare of the district. Mr Ritchie also referred to Bruce Bay Inland Road, and Messrs Wells, Chesterman and Morel to works in their ridings. Hon H. L. Michel supported the request for the Minister toi go over the line, and ho would then see the request for the use of trucks was a very reasonable one. It was a matter of the utmost importance to South Westland. Mr Coates said he was entirely in the hands of the Council, and would do as they wished though he hoped he would not he delayed more than could be helped, and he would accordingly go over the tramline next day. In reply to a request for the bridging of the smajl streams op the Ofijra-Kli-i

mara road, „the Minister at once said 1 that these would have to wait for twelve months as there were more urgent works in the district. Mr W. J. Butler (Vice-President Westland Chamber of Commerce) extended a welcome on behailf of tho Chamber and endorsed the claims put forward by the local body. Mr W. Jeffries as Chairman of the Progress League, extended a. welcome to the Minister. He impressed on the Minister the urgency of bridging 1 Waiho river as speedily as possible and asked for reconsideration of the offer of ■ the County Council and settlers of a | few months ago to find a third of the ) money. j Hon J. Grimmond also urged the necessity of bridging the Waiho, as it was the most dangerous river in South West land. Mr Coates on rising to reply was received with applause. He first thanked them for the hearty welcome extended and was sorry that his stay in their distriflt was going to be a hurried one. It | was unfortunate their mutual friend Mr Seddon was not. present, but probablj lie was happier where be was and be (Mr Coates) regretted lie would not be with him about the 15th. He felt that it was an advantage to go through the country and see the requirements of the j people. They had to be very careful of their expenditure. There were two I places in New Zealand to-dav thah call

i for more opening up expenditure than I any other part of the Dominion—Auck- | land and Westland. He took the view j that the allocation of public money j should not be considered with the poli--1 tics of any particular representative ■ The fiirst man who should get assistance iin the mail on the land, who did not ! have access to his land. He was not • prepared for the present to consider i the bridging of the small bridges on the (Kirn road. The settler must get bis road first, and the tourist would have to wait. They must help the settler a<s much as possible to enable him to make | a success of his holding, i Dealing with the Otira tunnel he hoped to get it out of hand by the end of , the year, liar unforeseen circumstances | lie hoped to see the work done by then. I There was nothing moie urgent in New ' Zealand than the completion oi that 1 work. It was an important work and • must be carried out.

The bridges on the main road south would he seen bv him on his way down.

He had said the Waitangi first and the ’ Waiho next. He would go and see I thc< place for himself. Their object in going down was to see what the actual requirements of the district were. ; The traffic limit on the Kumara-Ho-kitika road was a. matter lor discussion with his engineers. They should be certain that the timber industry using the roads were paying a fair share of the cost of up-keep. Not half enough care was taken of the upkeep of the roads. T'k’ro should be proper care .and supervision of the regulation of traffic. The Public Works Department will be asked to take action, if proper car© is not taken. In regard to the authorities asked for. he. would have first to discuss them with bis officers, and be would let them know his decision later on. He hoped the local authorities generally should realise that the Government are very anxious to work in with and give the fullest information to the engineers, the better it would lie for all concerned. He endeavoured to lay out a system and to follow it giving justice to all. He wished to thank them for their hearty welcome which he appreciated fully. He trusted that his visit would prove of mutual advantage to them all and that in the early future he would have the pleasure of making another visit. (Applause) . Mr Ward moved, a hearty vote of j thanks to Mr Coates, which was carried by acclamation. | Mr (Coates thanked the Chairman ! and members for their vote. ! The meeting then terminated. ' Subsequently an adjournment was made to Mclntosh’s Club rooms, where the health of the Minister was toasted and a, pleasant hour was spent.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. The Ministerial party, accompanied by the County Chairman and several Councillors motored From Hokitika yesterday, leaving shortly after 8 o’clock. The night had been stormy and the weather prospects were not too favouraide. On arrival at Ross the party proceeded to the railway station where they entrained, ou Stuart and Chapman’s invitation, in a van, and drawn by an engine an inspection was made of the firm’s tramway, extending a distance of about ten miles to the banks of the AVaitaha river about half a mile below the main road traffic bridge over that river. The tramway runs along a level line of country to the Mikonui river where that streamf is crossed by the combined bridge, erected by Stuart and Chapmon Ltd. and the AVestland County Council, without (as it was brought under the notice of the Minister) costing the Government a, penny piece. Continuing the tramway crosses thfli Mikonui swamp and continues till tho cleared Bold Head road is reached. where tho line takes the roadway

ind continues in an almost straight lino ill rough almost level country to the ireseut terminal at the Waitaha river, tnd the site of the proposed station, vhero the firm will load and unload joods and stock, for carriage to and from Ross railway station, if the Railway Department accede to the request for the use of their rolling stock (trucks etc.) for the purpose. The bridge over the Kakapotahi river, just opposite the station site will give access to the main south road, just about a quarter of a mile from the road bridge' across the Waitaha, thereby joining up directly with South Westland traffic. The bridge over the Kakapotohi river is now well advanced, only a couple more piers of piles having to be driven, while progress has been made with the upper structure so that a few weeks should see the completion of the work. The tramway throughout has been subsantially laid down, and a considers 'dp. portion of the line has been ballasted, the firm making an excellent job of the 1 substantial work, the cost involved running into many thousands of pounds, j Word having been received before the ! Party left Ross that the main road river : crossing at Kakapotahi river was im- : passable that morning, the party ar- ‘ ranged to return by the tramline to the i road crossing on the south side of the i Mikonui river bridge, where Messrs Stuart and Chapman were thanked foi their courtesy in showing the party ovei the tramline. At this point the car; were again used and the journey con tinned by road to Fergusons. The re port stating the flood in the river made a crossing of the ford impossible, an inspection was made: of the new bridge recently erected over the Kasapo abi river, and the very heavy approach works that are in hand to enabV the bridge to be used. The river was found to be a violent torrent, running wry high and fiercely, and it did not require a second look to see there wai no possibility of crossing until the Hood waters ran down considerably. The inspection of the bridge and necessary' approach work showed the bridge completed, but the approach* works involve some very extensive excavations on the north side, the spoil from which is being trucked across the bridge and deposited at the south side for the purpose of forming the siuche.n approaches. These are of an extensive na-

tnre requiring about twenty feet of filling and running back a distance of

about 150 yards. The work is of such an extensive nature that it appears, unless far greater progress is made than is being done at pesent, it will be six months before the approaches will be ready to permit of traffic passing over the brdige. The bridge and its approaches is a work of considerable magnitude and the cost will run into ;i very substantial figure. Meanwhile on the occasion of every heavy flood, similar to that experienced yesterday, traffic on the south road is held up, and as the river crossing at any time is a deep one and the stream a rapid one, there is always the danger of a serious accident, and it may ho that not always will those taking part in these unforseen happenings be as lucky as was the case a few weeks ago, when a traveller in a. trap was washed down over the weir and , luckily escaped with his life though the horse was drowned and trap smashed in he rapid waters that run so deeply under the bluff on the south side, a short distance below tbe present bridge. A return was then made to Mr S. G. Ferguson’s accommodation house, where the "Ministerial party put up and here they were farewelled by the Council party who shortly after returned to Hokitika arriving at 3.30 p.m. Later in the afternoon two cars were sent from Hari Hari to tbe southern side of the swollen stream and the Minister and party crossed by the wire bridge spanning tbe s; ream and went on to Hari Hari where they stayed tbe night. A start was to be made this morning with tbe intention of reaching Weheka to-night.