KING COUNTRY AFFAIRS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 327, 11 January 1911, Page 6

KING COUNTRY AFFAIRS.

c—®REPLIES OF MINISTERS. The Minister of Posts and Telegraphs writes to Mr W. T. Jennings, M.l'. : TELEPHONE AT WAITEWHENA. December 21st, 1910. "Sir, —In reference to your letter of the 30th ultimo forwarding one from Mr Albert Barnett, of Waitewhena, stating that the Ohura County Council is prepared to give the required guarantee of £24 per annum for five years for the opening of a telephone ofiice at Waitewhena: I have the honour to inform you that a form of bond has been forwarded to the chairman of the Ohura County Council. On receipt of the bond duly executed, instructions will be given for the erection of the line to be proceeded with as early as possible.— Yours obediently, J. G. WARD." POST OFFICE AT ARIA. December 21st, 1910. "Sir,—l have the honour to refer to my letter of the 19th ultimo, respecting the petition from Messrs F. El wood, I. Ilolloway, and other settlers at Aria for a post office build ing at that place: and to express regret that the business done does not warrant the building of a separate office at present.—Yours obediently, J. G. WARD." TELEPHONE TO WAITAANGA. December Ist, 1010. "Sir,—-In reference to your letter of the 25th August last, forwarding a memorial (returned forthwith) addressed to you by the settlers of Waitaanga, for the extension of the telephone line to that place: I have the honour to inform you that there are two routes by which the desired extension could be made. The shorter route *ia that from Kotare, a distance of eleven miles. The estimated cost of construction of the line by this route is £2BO. Interest, maintenance ami wording expenses are estimated at £2O arid the revenue at £(3, leaving a deficiency of £2O per annum. The alternative route is from Ohura, a distance of 15 miles, and the estimated cost of construction by this route is £IOO. Interest, maintenance and working expenses are estimated at £4l and the revenue at £6, leaving a deficiency of £.35 a year. It is con sidered that the connection with Ohura would be the mors suitable for the settlers. A telephone ofiice will be opened at Waitaanga on a guarantee being given in accordance with the terms and conditions set out on the attached sheet to pay a subsidy of £2O or £35 a year for five years, according to the route which may be chosen by the guarantors. — Yours obediently, J. G. WARD." The Minister for Railways writes: GOODS SHED AT KIO KIO. December 30th, 1910.

"Sir,—With reference to your letter of 25th November, and your further representations in support of the request made by the Kio Kio branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union that a goods shed should be provided at Kio Kio, I have the honour to inform you that as previously stated the traffic at the station is altogether insufficient to warrant any expenditure in the direction desired. If, however, the settlers desire to provide a goods shed themselves, as suggested by Mr Hudson, there is no objection to granting them a lease of a site at a peppercorn rental provided that the use of the shed when erected is granted fee to all users of the station and that it is built to plans approved by the district engineer. The district engineer will make the necessary arrangements for leasing a site on the settlers communicating with him. Yours obediently, J, A. MILLER." The Minister for Public Works writes: MANGAKOKOPU ROAD GRANT. December 14th, 1910. "Sir,---Adverting to your letter of the 30th ult,, forwarding communication received by you from W. H. Dines, of Moeatoa, Te Kuiti, in reference to the Mangakokopu road, I regret to have to state that I am unable to provide any further money for this road at present. The full amount of the vote of £l5O has been authorised for expenditure to the resident engineer. Yours obediently, R. MeKENZIE,"