HON. J. G. COATES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1923, Page 1

HON. J. G. COATES.

VISIT TO AYESTLANP. DEPUTATIONS AT TOWN HALT. The lion. ,1. 0. Coates, .Minister of Railways and Public Works received deputations at the Town Hall hist evening at 7.10 o’clock. I'he party accompanying the Mini-tor included .Mr 1!. AleVilly (General .Manager of Railway-), Mr F. W. Furkert (Engineer-in-Chiei I, Mr .1. |). (fillies (Resident Engineer), -Mr F. J. dimes (Assistant Chief Engineer). Mr (f. A. Perry (.Mayor) on helm If of the citzcus extended n hearty welcome to the town, and expressed their pleasure at having Air Coates with them. The business to lie brought forward by the various deputations affected the welfare of the district and as there were a Amsidem hie mmiliiv of matters he Mould net further detain them. Mr .fames O'T’.rieit (Member for Wc-t----lai.d) introduced a deputation from the Westland Comity Council, and also oil behalf of the South Westland people asked that the erection of the bridge over the AYailio river he commenced as -on as possihie. lie had pleasure in introducing .Mr T. W. Puff (County Clin i 1 man’. i WEST!.AND COUNTY COUNCIL. .Mr T .W. Duff (County Cliairmna) welcomed the .Minister and referred at some length to his previous visit to South Westland. Air Duff then dealt with the necessity for the prompt erection of a number of bridges, notably over the AVaiho and AVaikuktipa riveis. Hon. Air. Coates stated that they could not. go on fast enough to satisfy him. There had been a necessity to review and redraft the plans for the Wailiu biidgc. As soon as the new plans were approved the AVaiho bridge would he gone with and the Waikukupa wo; k would follow ;ts soon, as the ivoikinen had completed the Flower pot work at liruee Bay. Mr Duff then detailed the list Cv statement placed before the Minister being as follows:I.- F.xpcmlil ore of Piddie Works grants for the eiirreut financial year. The Distiiet Engineer, Air (iillies, has notified the Coiiueil that the limit of expenditure for We-tland iiji to the :»1 st. March uexi i- set down at £12.fi2(i. ot which CHI-! has been spent or i- in prore-s of expenditure, leaving I'd.-10-' availahh 1 for further expenditure. The Council suggests that this amount he expended as follows: C l[cki(il<u River Bridge GOO Kekatahi Bridge £ I'm £ ... -100 Peterson Road 200 V ataioa. Corge 100 K umara-lxapitea Road -100 Waifukui a Bridge o(H) Richardson Road ... 0-70 Aillmi''; I'a-.s-K’iimara Road .7.72 £3.102 In adilion to the ah'ove. the Conned also n-ks that the following approriation- ho provided for as soon as possihie, particularly the f'l'-i- two oil the ii.-t : ~ C La Fool aim- ... •d'lO Wall Road ... . ... -I-AO Watarua South Bank ... ... BN) A waluun-Kapitea ... I(l:i Little Wanganui Ocean Reach 170 Hokitika River Brid o‘o £ I .AOo lion. J. Orlmmond endorsed the Chairman’s lemaiks and made a 10-(jiH'-t lor a grant, lor Deehortyx’ toad on south sjde of Wailio 5)1 lor £2— L-j::o. Mr .1. A. Aluidoeh joined in the welcome to the Alini-ter and expressed his I lea-me at the vi.-ii of iti-.peel ion ma 1 hv Ihe Aiiui-ler In the Rimii Ooltllielils dredge |!:ai day. and look tlm opportuuils la ask the Minister in note i l.e result of his v i-u in \ iew o! Ihe i eeenl eiitiei-m of the MUago Daily Time-" on lhe operation.- of the company. Mr Aluidoeh then ivfoi red to I lie rei[iicsi. pieviuusly refused. for the restoration of a lnidge ovei Hie Waimea creek on the Christ dim en Read alfeeting a family named Wright, and other saltier-, lie pointed mil that the operation of tile Forestry De|artineiit had already depleted the finances of the Comity and with the talcing over of tile main roads upkeep, I lie Council could not themselves, linance the wmk. Afr.l. O'Briei also supported Air Alurdoeli’s i equest lor a bridge over the creek to help tie- worthy family affected. The .Minister: Ate they supporters ? Mr O’Brien: No. not at present, though they might be if they got. the I.ridge. He also urge,] (he request for a giant lor the V.ntarnu south hank. Air Dull also asked, in connection with postal matters for:-- (a) twice weekly mail service to AVaiho to. lie maintained throughout the year; (In construe!ion of Ike m-tallie circuit to llai ilniri. as promised by the Depaillliental ' Hirers.

lll.ii. J. Coates in r*’i>ly, expressed his ;i;>|>r<• i:1 1 ii>11 of llir hearty welcome extended in llilh tied • .cuing. He always enjoyed coming to i 1 1<• Most Coast, where tho people wete so modest in \ r . ii.it they ii'Kinl tor. though they were ilint : so modc-t in (lie amount of wliut they asked for. lie was glad to be witli t Item non in. and thanked them for their welcome. The (inventmoilt had altered during the ]tasi year, the mnniter in which they iillnrsie the tiniount of money that tin.' government could tin< 1 for expenditure. plating the responsibility for the prii|u>r expenditure of the money allocated on the local authority. They wanted hearty co-operation between the Public Works officers and the local administration. He was particularly struck with the modesty of their teqnests that evening. Mr Coates then dealt with the list- of works tabulated above, which had been agreed to with one ext Option. In reference to the Kit mara-Kapitea road, at present, the settlers ce.ii Id get along the railway. While they were anxious to help the people, they felt that there were other works more necessary. He would obtain a full report on the matter. In reference to the postal service lie would do his host to give the required service to Wailio. The contractor had asked for an extension of Ins contract a- a proviso to giving effect to the request. hut this lie (Mr Coates! was not in favor of as he preferred to give every one a. show to tender. If the matter cmild To aranged for the balance of the contract lv would he pleas, ed to give effect to their request. TTo would also favourably consider the request of an improvement of the telephono service south He thought that further south the Public Murks officials could he reasonably a-ked to maintain tlie line. In any event an endeavour would have to be made to give a better service. Mr Coates said also that in regard to Doeherty’s Road extension and the pro. vision of a grout- for Harris' Creek bridge (Ch. Ch. Road) that considera-

tiou would he given when next year's estimates were being drawn up. HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL. Air O'Brien introduced a deputation from the Hokitika Borough Council, asking for an express train service to Hokitika and supported the request. Mr Berry apologised for the absence of lion H. L. .Michel and for Afr .Morris (Secretary of the Progress League). Air I’erry said the people desired that the through train carriages should come through to Hokitika. 1 here was considerable delay at Greymouth and much inconvenience was caused by the present necessity to change carriages at G reymouth. Air I). J. Evans said the train arrangements were unsatisfactory and many complaints were being made. They understood there was some delay to he expected while the alterations were being made at the railway station. He understood tliai it would he six weeks before the station was ready lor traffic and that it would he four ni.imlis hel’ore the overhead bridge would he completed. He (minted out the great amount ol inconvenience caused. 'file Exhibition was to he opened in live weeks and it appeared the railway station would not he ready lor the holiday traffic. He pointed out how the trains and even the ballast engines held up Irallie. The continuation for four months would lead to no end (.1 complaint. It appeared there was a lack of method. The goods shed had yet to he shifted and they would soon have the exhibits arriving, causing no end of trouble and an increase of the [iresent chaotic conditions. While on tiesubject could he refer to the pre-ini crane. This was a two-ton one and would have to he shifted before the goods shed ivas moved. A larger crane was required. He asked it the depart cnint could accelerate the work around the station and cut down the six weekto three weeks. He hoped the Alinistcr would personally look into the mat tor of their complaint. The Hokitika Borough Council had placed no objection in the way of the Railway Department and it was thought that the Railway Department should give them everv possible consideration in the improvement ol the special unsatisfactor) conditions. lion .1. Grimmond supported the request for improved conditions. Hon Mr Coates invited the General Ala linger of Railways to explain the position of the Department. Air R. MeYillv said in regard to the running ot the service between Cluistchurch and Hokitika there are a good, many difficulties in the way at the present time, and not the least ‘'-is Die expenditure involved. 'I he line lasi vear 10-t £1)7.01)0. At the present and for some time past the Railxcv Department had been going through many limineial difficulties and the endeavour had to he made to bring the lines to a paving position. They wore not yet out of the wood financially. What they were asking for involved an addition of L’ff-A a day on three days a week and he could not see where thev were going to get the additional traffic i„ p av that increased amount. In reference to the objection to tranship at Crevmoiitli lie pointed out that tins procedure v.a- followed in many other places in New Zealand. At the present time the business was only 12 passengers a day. It cost £:«l a milin maintain tin'- track. All they could dn \v;is to i»nU«‘ Ur* iiiuonve.ticbci* .siniill as possible. In to tin? Exhibition me tia.m arrangements have not yet »'“n worked out. If il wer" possible then t’ to save transhipping at Greymouth lv would he glad to do so. ft would not he a reasonable thing to run i»" ■ >]■ cars throngli from Greyniouih lo Hokitika three limes a week. It he eon o arrange to place composite ear- to run from Chid 1)0,1,!. and Hoki iha am. ,-n j.ave trail hip\)iug lie would hi ph-.i.-

i.d in dn so. So far a: the station '.a. , nneemed ha tlmughl that would he tud-hed when the Exhibition was opyn,.(l The overhead bridge was a dill“l----e„t matter. That was held up in <’«-•- unit ion with Ihe iron work. Ihe Go I arimein appreciated the way la> people of Hokitika had met them in i-ouneetion v.ilh the alleral mns. am. Mere de-irons of doing everything p»~ > ;i ( |c in avoid inconveniencing i •'••m Mr Evans puiuted out that (be l)e----part nielli lake off the carriage-. at Grc-v hut they leave on He van-:. Two' carriages each way would meet their requirement's at present. Mr .tones (u-sistalit- engineer). I h<‘ railwav station works would be com [.leted as far as the general U" l ’' I*’ 1 *’ u-ere concerned in live week-, hill Ihi overhead bridge would not. asjlie material had lo he ordered Imm glatid Mr .1. A. Murdoch asked leave to iv|7t jo Mr AleVillv's reidy. He asked wlmt parallel (here was heiweeii eliaiiging trains ai Marlon and other places onoted hv Mr AleVilly and changing at (Irevniout'n Mas il any worn,; that they were dissatisfied when it tom; O', hours lo come 21 miles. I hey weie not satisfied, haeai.se thev did mil gel a fair service. Hokitika ha, given everv facility to the Railway Dep. ltmeut in the alterations desired, hut rhev had expected fair treatment m renin. mid were disappointed at being turned down. Why were the intum sciici‘s sßcurinjX tlio ptissi'njxersJ>(*cinis<‘ of the tedious joiirnev hv the Irani. The people were sadly disappointed. iU ,d he felt he would he doing wrong 'I I, lot ihe General Manager go away with the impression that Hokitika pimple were satisfied with the explanation of the General Manager, hern use thev were not. (Loud a)>phiuse Imm hooy of linll). , ~ M,- It. Wild said the trouble they \Yi*ri* cNPßrioiicinjX * K ‘ 1 1 1, i‘ Hailwnv wonUl UiU*heed ot the advice of the Chanih-r ol Commerce and Progress League. I lie present service is more like a 'ram service than a train service. Afr Coates said he thought me altitude taken up by Mr Murdoch was quite wrong. Ihe Railway 'm.iiimin was, he knew, quin- unpopular. hut wlmt. Mr AleVilly said was Hue. Iheir job was to make the railway- pay A, pci coin, and then when that was accomplished they would emleaour to give a Letter service that they had 111 the

' Mr AleVilly further replied in reference to complaints <>l the time-table, pointing out there were Ri stops in the ‘>4 miles and each stop link at least g, minutes, lie repeated his statement that llieir endeavour at all :mk- was to give the best p issihle service wlllle civile' due eoiisiderntion to the linancittl p’osition. and stated that Hie works in hand at Hokitika station involved an expenditure of £>S.(RH>. Air V. ,1. Butler ( I’residelll of the Exhihi lion Eeeulive) asked that excursion fares he extended till dan. loth, to enable tlie jubilee celebrations to lie included in the period. lion Mr Coates replied that. there would he no difficulty in granting ibis request it formal application "ere made.

I*IK n 111 KriS I.KAOI K. ])r Tcichelmann (President! asked f„r a mail connection between f-outh Hokitika and Lake Mahinapun. and also lor an improvement to the road to Lake Kanieri: for a grant to improve the tourist trunk on the left hand >ide oi Franz sihuier. Hon Mr Contes stated that a report would lie obtained of the first request. In regard to the damage done to cue Kanieri Lake road by timber traffic, the CYuntv Council should ? ee Mutt the;, were reimbursed hv the motor proprietor-. It was „e. right -.tat the Council should allow the carriers .o eca-h up the roads that the > mvern-me-.it helped to make, without paving for the damage they did. He thought th-> request for repairs to the glaeiei track a reasonable one. ami would favourably refer it to the Hon - So! " worthy tor attention.

HOSPITAL BOARD. Alessrs Dull. Davidson and Wells discussed the position of Otira Cottage Hospital with the .Minister, and after considerable discussion the Minister promised to continue the subsidy by tlio Public Works Department- for a further two months and meanwhile he would discuss the position with the Minister of Health. The General .Manager of llaihvavs declined to assist as it"would form a precedent that would involve the Depart incut in a large outlay. A BUSY DAY. A very busy day was experienced by the lion. .1. (L Coates, and His staff yesterday, when he visited the southern districts, heard a number of deputations, and visited the sawmills and the Rimu dredge, left by special train at 10 o’clock for Ross. Tile train made its first stop at the Teromakau River and vice A fee viewed the approaches, which the Automobile Association, through Air G. 11. Barker, had complained of a.s being “a death trap.'' Ho agreed it was a very bad place and a veritable "dentil nap.” The matter was deferred for consideration.

The next stop was made at Tviimaift Junction, where- the Minister, accompanied by Mr Gardiner Wilson, inspee ed a silver [tine plantation. Messr Gardiner Wilson. D. C. Finch and L. Lnugeson, on behalf of Chesterfield settlers asked that the vote of £-100. now on the Estimates he expended on a road to Chesterfield, preferably from Awatima. There were now six men in the' district and they had no road access at all. Mr Coates had a look at the partly formed road at Awatuna anil promised to give the matter his consideration. Air 'Wilson asked that the road from Awatuna to Knpitea ha form eel. The Minister said that he would consider giving the settlers access, but would not consider the ('oust road from Kiimata Junction. Hokitika was reached at 11.0 a.m., and Ross at 11. TO a.m. VISIT TO ROSS. (From Our Correspondent). The Him. J. G. Coates, .Minister of Railways and Public Works, arrived at Ross hv special train at 11. TO a.in. on Friday. Among those who accompanied him were. .1. O’Brien. Esq. M.P., Hon. ,J. Grimmond, R. W. Alc\ illy (General .Manager N.Z. Railways), F. .1. .lunes (Assistant Chief Engineer), F. Furkert of the P. W. Department. ,J. D. Alorgan (District. Traffic Alanager), F. A. Grant (Commercial Agr ent), J. I). Giliies (Resident Engineer), and T. R. Aiekeu (Private Secretary). The Mayor M "(l members of the Ross Borough Count;iff met the party ou arrival a! tin- Re-s Railway Station, wheie the Mayor extended a hearty welcome. While in the vicinity of the Station, the .Mayor brought linedr tlie notice of the .Minister the necessity for better lighting of llie station, and also asked that a lamp be placed at the cattle loading yards for the convenience of the tlrovei s who had to load their stock before daylight. The Minister promised attention would be given to these matters without delay. Mr .1. Al. Allan (I'Vriigrcivc SawiniUing Coy.), approached the Minister with a view Lo obtaining further skid actommcdiition for the handling eff their tiitl- ! -. 1 The Alini.-tei dcicrrecl the mat.tei R.'t the ccnisideratioii of his oflieers. The party were then motored to the Russ Toviisliip and inspected Jones Creek Storm Channel when the Mayor asked for a grant towards the re-tim-bering of the channel, which i- in a had state of repair. The Minister lent a sympathetic car to ibis request and referred same to ill,. Resident Engineer for favourable cohsiderat ion. The next move was to the Intarn Hall where Ihe following matters wore deall with. FAiniEBS TRAIN. On behalf of the fanners of the distiiet (',-. Aiinehau asked that I he- tinielabD he altered ill allow of a train service on one day per week which would enable the larmers lo leave Rees after the morning milking amt return from Hokitika in time for the evening's work. In support of this Cr. MiucTian drew the Minister’s attention to the fact llmt with the present timetable this was impossible. All- Coates said the matter would be considered when the new timetable was l-ciug instituted. Tile Minister’s al tent-ion was d'.awn to the dilapidated stale ol a R'liee surrounding some sections belonging to lice T list Ice Department, and after consult ing witii his officers, promised same would receive attention at an eaily date. All .1. Miuchan. on hehall of the Ress Lime Company asked for a grant towards building a bridge across Donnelly's Creek lo enable the lime kiln in fie walked mine conveniently as in limn! time ilie wen k was held up. All . Thompson supported the ie-que.-t. The .Minister said lie would obtain a report and probably a grant would U foi thcoming. Mr .1. .1. McKay, icpresent ing Tlariliari Fanners’ Association asked the Minist.-i- for uuthority to expend a gnmt on I.a Fontaine Road. The Alini-ter .named the necessary authority. Air J. O'Brien. AI.IL, who had introduced the various deputations then thanked the .Minister for his s\ ni[ a theiie hearing lo the various requests. At the invitation of the Mayor anil Councillors the party then adjourned to the Empire Hotel for lunch. After luncheon the party motored to Ferguson’s where nil inspection was made of the I'ei ngro. e Sawmill, and returned to Ross about T p.m. where they immediately left by train. Vbr Hokitika.