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Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1925, Page 2

Tick Hon. Minister of Public Works and Railways i.s coming to the Coast this month. Mr Coates is also Post-master-General, so that he may he regarded as the Minister next in importance to the Prime Minister still laid aside in serious illness. Mr Coates’ visit it i.s to lie hoped will not lie a fleeting one. and it is to be expected he will devote two or three days to Westland. If lie can spare time to travel south it would be :i welcome excursion, for there are several matters in that quarter calling | lor attention. The want of bridges at once crops up. The bridging of Dry Creek and McDonald's Creek (both on the main south road) suggest themselves immediately, while a real start with the Wailio Bridge would ho hailed with delight. Could) not the Minister he induced to go t.i the Wailio (Sorgo and have an official c,.mmou ement of the work hv turning the liist sod of the excavation for the shore r ior t Sonic of tile hardwood timber for the new .structure is now in transit, and ironwork, cables, and ether material contracted for fron Home, arc on the high seas, so that the work has not been lost sight of. But there has been seme delay, and if the Minister ap|>enred on the scene and in bis vigorous way prompted more expedition, the preliminary work could Ih> pushed ahead, and the bridge would materialise the quicker. In any case a.s the head of the highways scheme, it would be well if the Minister traversed the main road and saw for himself what is required in general improvements to the road. Tn his dual capacity—connection with the roads and the railways there is aDo the utilisation of the tramway of Stuart, and Chapman Ltd., tor the carriage of the southern live stock between Waitaha and the Ross railhead. If the Minister had the opportunity of passing over the tramway he would see for himself a.s head of the Railway Department the true state of affairs, and it could be left to the settlers affected then to press their claim for the use of Government stock trucks to be used over the line. The two matters here referred to. are sufficient fn themselves to warrant a special trip of the Hon. Minister into South Wetland, and it is to he hoped that

sueli "ill ‘be arranged. Mr Coates "ill l:o a wcclonu* visitor also for the reason that a special mission for Ilia coming i.s to look into the matter of tile speeding up of one trains. In that respect we suggest lie travel by the ordinary service trains for a real personal experience.