DONNELLY’S CREEK BRIDGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1924, Page 1

DONNELLY’S CREEK BRIDGE.

■ The following correspondence has passed between the West Coast Farmers’ Lime Producing Co. Ltd., and the lion. .Minister of Mines. Tlie Hon. .1. G. Anderson, .Minister of Mines, Wellington. ■Sir.---Re Donnelly’s Creel- Bridge at Ross Lime Works Crossing: 1 am enclosing a couple of dippings taken from the local "Guardian” which you may or may not have seen. It's a ease of every man for himself and the Deil tali' the hindmost yin. f have only taken over the position of Secretary since the Ist. of October last, and found the finances of the Company in a deplorable condition. A small syndicate Lave been trying to push the Company ijito liquidation and then buy ii up for it song. 1 ibid the capital m the Company is all spent and but for sm !• men like .Messrs Iftitl**i*, Fitzgerald, etc., wlm came to the rescue, the Company could not have carried on. During the last three months 1 have collected over £] .< ■’!■:) out oi about £1.500 in the books. The Company are now olfering £2.5!>R worth of debentures at 7 per cent, but owing to many of the farmers having been hit wall the slump here as elsewhere they are not taking them up very lively, or it scents to me very slowly. We have only one kiln eapable oi turning out o' I tons P 1 week and ;a the present time- wo have more orders than we can supply, especially when iv,, are hampered by the weather conditions of the last three weeks. There are two things we need to speed up our output iir-t the bridge, ‘.’-2dft. spans, and then a shelter shed at the railway station, so that we call load railway trucks in wet or showery weather. We can always load dry in the shed at the kiln, but the railway authorities will not allow the lime to Ir- loaded through the good-lied but compel the men to load out m me open. Is there any eham-e of getting the gnods-shed verandah extended -’Oft. so that the lorry coillti load j nicks during wet and showery weather? The few pounds this would eosl would be well spent as n dl be required fur \ears, probably hmg after

We are all trying to leave the world hotter than what- we found it so here i- a ‘grand ehance for you to got the Hon Coates ill a goad humour, then ask him as a great favour to authorize the extension of our goods-Ga-d. and the building of Doimeby's Greek bridge. Lime is v.'lmt West Cen.-t farmers want, but like everyone else Dog. want it cheap. The cheapest way would be to put in a lack shunt from the railway station, hut I an, afraid it won't he in our time, so we must just be content with Lite next, best thing. In the event of any syndicate trying lo acquire the property I hone the Department of Agriculture will step in and run the business themselves. The Ross United races. The Mont D'Or races and Mikmmi tunnel race are all lying idle. They would apply I'm- tlic-so ami with lime of k'S per cent, calcium would manutacturc ‘ carbide. AVith hydro-electricity at hand and ,-.u-bidc worth DO- to 40s per cwt., a* well as building lime at £3 10s. plasterer's lime at £1 10s per ton. they would he on a good wicket

The farmer with carbonate at 17s fid per ton. and burnt lime at 35s per iort would stand a. poor ehance of getting supplied.

T mention this to let you see behind the scenes and why certain individuals have squandered a certain amount ol the capital of this Company for thenown ends. 1 have promised the farmors if they will only send me in sufficient orders to keep the kiln going full steam ahead, that ill 2 or tlnee years they will be out, of debt and be able to enlarge their plant as well as put. in many labour-saving devices. We look to you at tlie present critical time to do your 'nest and in conjunction with the Ibui Coates, put us on our feet so that later we may show we merit your assistance. Tours truly, .TOTIX MURDOCH. See. Ross, .Tan. 27th.. 102-1. The Minister replied as follows: — Sir. In accordance with the promise T made during my recent visit to Ross. T have already asked my colleague. the Minister of Agriculture to give favourable consideration to the questinn of making a grant on the basis of £1 for £1 towards the cost, of erecting a bridge over Donnelly's Creek. T am now taking the liltorty of bringing under the notice of the TTon TV. Xosworthy your suggestion that in the event of a syndicate attempting to acquire your Company s property, the Department of Agriculture should step in and control tlm work. With regard to your request that the verandah of the railway goodsslied at Ross bo extended by 20ft. so as to enable lime to bo load-d m th" trucks during wet weather, this is a matter for the consideration of the Don the Minister of Railways, and i have bad pleasure in bringing under his notice your representations on t .to snbiect. Yours faithfully. j. G. axdersox. Minister of Alines. Wellington.