PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4635, 7 December 1923, Page 2

PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER

BRIEF VISIT TO PAEROA. RAILWAY STATION SITE. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Railways and Public Works, paid a brief visit to Paeroa yesterday, arriving by special train at 5.40 p.m. The Minister was accompanied by Messrs R. W. McVilley, general manager of N Z. Railways, Mr Jones, superintendent engineer to the Railway Department, Mr H. J. Harris, district traffic manager, Mr F. W. Furkert, Under-Secretary and Engineer-in-Ch. : ef of the Public Works Department, and Mr A. F. Baker, district Public Works engineer. His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, asked the Minister if he could give a definite .statement as to where the railway station site would be. He pointed out that several important works, such as sewerage and reading, were being held up pending a final decision of the site for the new station. The Minister referred to Messrs Jones and McVilley, both of whom sa’d that the station was going to the Hill Street site. The Hon. Mr Coates replied that he had seen the reports of the engineers who had visited Paeroa, and they were favourable to the Hili Street site, and he now awaited the final recommendation from- Mr McVilley. He thought the station would go to Hill Street, but could not at the moment give a definite and final statement. .. PONDING AREA. Messrs G. Buchanan, M. McLebd, T. Barrett, and other settlers living on the right bank of the Ohinemuri River, asked the Minister to set up an assessment court and purchase the whole of the land which was going to be made a ponding area on the right bank of the river. Mr Buchanan suggested that the land be purchased at present-day valuation and then put up for auction, subject to.it being subject to flood, and that the difference between what was paid for the land and what it realised by auction should be charged to the River Improvement Scheme. Mr Furkert replied that it was for the settlers to make a move, as the Depatment was unable to do so o ; wing to the framing of the Rivers Improvement Act. Mr Buchanan said the settlers had not put in claims, but would do so if the claims were dealt with under the Public Works Act and the land was taken under that Act. Mr Furkert replied that the land would be dealt with in the ordinary way under the Public Works Act. The deputation agreed that the settlers would put in claims. ; IToara Taririnui and pther natives also put forward various claims, all of which the Minister undertook to look into. FARM ACCESS. Mr R. Alexander asked for relief in-connection with the damage done by cutting off his and L. Alexander’? .access to their farm at Hikutaia. The Minister viewed the claim with sympathy,, and promised that relief would be given before any work was commenced in that locality. , AT THAMES. The Ministerial party jourtneyed on to Thames, and was welcomed at the Borough office by the Mayor, Mr T. W. Rhodes, and several deputations were heard. WAITAKARURU-POKENO ROAD. Cr. C. W. Harris, of the Hauraki Plains County Council, waited upon the Minister and asked that a grant should be made towards the cost "jf metalling some five miles of the Wai-takaruru-Pokeno road from Waitakarurn to Maramarua. The road was one of the most important in the country, and was impassable eveiy winter. The Hon. Mr Coates said that Parliament had not given the Department any money. Mr Harris asked the Minister to do his best to have the money placed on the Estimates. In reply to the Minister Mr Baker, the district Public Works engineer, said that the Hauraki Plains County could not transfer any grants. Mr Harris asked, providing sufficient money could not be granted to do all the work, if it would not be possible to provide sufficient to metal the cuttings only, so that the service car could get through all the year round. The Minister said that he would go into the matter with his officersMANGAT ARATA BRIDGES. Cr. C. W- Harris said that the Ministers of Agriculture and Internal Affairs had travelled over several bridges near Mangatarata and had promised to whisper a kindly word in support of a grant for renewing these bridges. The Minister said that the Public Works Department granted the county council a lump sum annually to be expended on whatever the council thought, fit, provided it , was approved by the Department. It was for the council to decide if this work was mere important than others for which they had applied for a subsidy. NGATEA POST OFFICE. ' Mr T. McLoughlin brought under the notice of the Minister the inadequate size of the Ngatea post officeThe Hon. Mr Coates replied that he would get a report on the question. The office, was only a temporary affT.il* telephone costs. Mr ri McLoughlin asked the Minister to do what he could to assist the settlers of the back-blocks to get telephone connections. It would cost six settlers between Patetonga and Torehape £l2 each per year for x party wire. . The Minister .replied that he would have the matter looked into, KAIHERE-OHINEWAI ROAD. Mr T. MteLoughlin said that a grant had been received for the KaihereObinewai road on -condition .that th 3 county found a certain sum, but they, however, were unable to do sb. He therefore asked that the grant be

made a straight-out one. Mr Coates suggested that if the Public Works Department gave its share this year the council’s share could be found next year. PLAINS WATER SUPPLY. Mr C. W. Parfitt spoke in reference to the proposed water supply, and said that the Pipiroa area had discussed going in for a scheme of its own. He asked if a subsidy would be available. Mr Coates replied that he thought it a matter for the Lands Department. The Public Wor.ks Department had no authority to vote money for a water supply. He would have to discuss the matter with the Minister of Lands. POSTAL FACILITIES. Phe Postmaster-General was approached by a deputation of Thames businessmen and asked to consider securing a site in Pollen Street for the purpose of erecting an up-to-date post office in a place where it would be more useful. The business of the town had shifted since the present office was acquired. The present office was an old, dilapidated building that had not been erected for a post office. The Minister said that he would have inquiries made as suggested.