Visit of Minister of Public Works.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 17 April 1914, Page 3

Visit of Minister of Public Works.

The Hon. Mr Frazer, Minister of Public Works, who was accompanied by his Private Secretary (Mr McAllister), and the member for the district, Mr R. F. Bollard, M.P., arrived in Huntly on Friday morning. He was met by Mr J. P. Bailey, chairman, and several members of the Town Board, and with them visited the subway now in process of formation. The necessity, on account of the friable nature of the material, was pointed out to the Minister, while his at tention was also drawn to the need of a ramp leading from the footpath to the eastern end of the bridge, the latter only to, be used by foot passengers. The minister appeared favourable, and promised to give the various matters due consideration. He stated that the delay in completing the approach had been caused by the strikes in the Old Country whence the steel work had to be got, but that once the material was to hand, a very short time would suffice to complete the structure. No time would be lost on the railway work on hand. Its extension to the burnt bridge, as urged by the settlers and others, was only a matter of time, the Minister being convinced that the line would traverse payable country. Mr Fraser then inspected the bridge, and, proceeding to the western end, observed that considerable filling would be necessary. Mr R. Greenwell, manager of the Huntly Brick and Fire Clay Company, offered to give the Department millions of yards of suitable material free of all cost except that of transport. The Minister then visited the yards, where he saw the material offered by Mr Greenwell, and afterwards made a thorough inspection of the plant usued in the brick-making process, the machinery and the up-to-date methods employed interesting him greatly. The Minister seemed highly gratified with all he saw. H 6 expressed his pleasure on hearing that the School of Mines was likely to prove as successful as it would be useful, remai-’-i : casually that the " B'ooret’ 1 ■'■id produce artis.i,,.. tea. .. After lunch, Mr Fraser and his secretary departed for Wellington by the Main Trunk express which stopped at Huntly to pick up the Ministerial party.