Ministerial Visits To Arrowtown

Lake County Mail, Issue 47, 28 April 1948, Page 2

Ministerial Visits To Arrowtown

A deputation from various local bodies gathered at the Council Chambers, Arrowtown, on Saturday morning to meet the Hon. Minister of Public

Works, Mr R. Semple, and put before him their representations regarding the contemplated tar-sealing of the State highway over Baird’s Hill, which would by-pass Arrowtown and be a retrograde step for the future prosperity of the town, whereas the sealing of the Lake Hayes-Arrowtown Junction road would obviate this.

The Mayor, Mr E. T. Thompson, welcomed Mr Semple and gave a brief outline of the objects of the deputation and entreated the Minister’s support on a matter of vital interest to the borough and district. Mr D. W. Thompson, Deputy Mayor of Queenstown, stated that his council were deeply interested in the matter in as much as the route was used constantly by tourist traffic and was the existing mail route. Arrowtown’s accommodation for tourists has been made full use of, and its historical interest was of great value to the tourist trade.

Mr W. Lindsay, member of the Queenstown Borough Council, also spoke in support of the petition, stressing the fact that the greater quantity of goods for the .district were conveyed over this road.

Mr Jas. McDonald, president of the Queenstown Progress League, also spoke in support, stating that Arrowtown had been of the greatest assistance to Queenstown in the accommodation of tourists.

Mr W. PJ. Saunders, president of Federated Farmers, stated that the road was in constant use by some 60 settlers of the Gibbston, Crown Terrace, Junction and Shotover districts.

W, J. Shaw, secretary, Arrowtown Progress League, stated that the league’s idea was to boost the town as much as possible; that the Highways Board had been approached regarding the proposal, and he had much pleasure in presenting a petition signed by some 230 people who were interested. The Mayor thanked Mr Semple for giving an attentive hearing to the deputation and for upsetting his programme in order to meet the deputation.

Mr Semple, in reply, stated that it was the duty of a Minister of the Crown to meet deputations and hear

their representations. He considered the request a reasonable one, and assured the deputation that he would give their representations due consideration and on his return to Wellington discuss the matter with his engineers.

On Saturday evening Messrs E. L. Thompson and W. J. Shaw, representing the War Memorial Committee, Mr E. J. Saunders, Arrowtown Borough Council, and Mr G. Ogilvie, Arrowtown Progressive League, journeyed to Queenstown to meet the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry. The deputation discussed the proposed memorial swimming baths with the Minister, and also the matter of tar-sealing the Lake Hayes, Arrowtown to Junction road.

Mr Parry gave a considerate hearing to both projects and expressed the opinion that the sealing of the road was of vital importance, in particular to the fostering of the tourist trade. On Sunday morning Mr Parry and party, which included the Under-secre-tary, Mr Harper, and private secretary, Mr Wheeler, paid a visit to Arrowtown and inspected the proposed swimming baths site and also the bowling green. The party were entertained to morning tea by the Borough Council at Thompson’s tea rooms, where the Mayor extended a welcome to them.

Mr Parry congratulated the members of the Bowling Club on thd wonderful job of work that had been done to the bowling green, stating that the last time he had seen it the section was just a mud hole, and the vast improvement that had been achieved by the voluntary work of the club members was an example that they could be proud of, and it was such projects, where the members were not afraid to work, that his department was prepared to assist, and the same spirit shown with the swimming baths would be a wonderful help. He considered the site chosen for the baths very suitable, having natural drainage.

Mr Harper also spoke in complimentary terms of the achievements of a small community in preparing playing areas and the camping grounds. The party left at 10.30 for Wanaka, via the Crown Eange.