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Manawatu Herald, 9 January 1894, Page 3

will evr»r pvay, AC. Mr J. R. McMillan, (Foxtni), said as a matter of form he would move " That it is desirable, in the interest the inhabitants between Foxton .d Eketahuna, to petition the (iov%rnment to form tbat portion of the road that lies between these townships." He then suggested that a requisition be placed in the three townships for signature. As for Foxton he thought that place would support it to a man. In a few years there was no doubt Foxton would be a' seaside resort, and a company was already forming to build a number of cottages on the sea beach to enable families to visit afc a . reasonable cost. >- m v t ; Lind, (Shannon), seconded the motion, and said he concurred in the remarks of the previous speakers. It was unnecessary for him to say more. " • Mr Venn (Makerua) thought that before a resolution like that was passed they ought to procure some data to work upon, such as grades, levels ,&c. He was not an advocate of running to the Government for everything, but this district had been neglected by each . successive Government, and while other districts had been roaded, bridged and railed, this one had been formed entirely by private enterprise. It was time the Government did do something for the West Coast, as the East Coast was well provided for.

Mr W. C. Nation did not agree with Mr Venn that a community should bear the burden of expense in getting a survey made. Ho believed that Mr Carkeek, in the days of Mr Macandrew, was instructed to examine the passes throughout the Tararua Range and report upon them. Mr Carkeek did so, and those reports ought to be available now. Apart from this he (the speaker) thought the Government would undertake a work that would link Foxton, Shannon and the East Coast together, with the intervening village settlements. The circulation of a petition should not be confined to Shannon. It should be sent to Foxton and the East Coast. Then a deputation to Wellington should follow, and this ought to include Messrs Wilson and Hogg, M.H.R.'s, the chairman of the interested Road Boards and County Councils, and one or two citizens from Foxton,

Shannon and Eketahuna. Get the road through, and the bridging of the Manawatu would also be accomplished.

The Chairman quite agreed with the previous speakers that it was high time the Government did something for the district. The resolution was then put and passocl unanimously. The Chairman said the next matter was the selection of a deputation. Mr Williams said the Premier had pvo>misetl to come down to Foxton, he expected some time in February, and he thought it a good time to open the subject to him. Although the Premier was not the proper man to go to he had the pulling of the

strings no doubt. As for bridging the .• Manawatu Biver he would like to see the " road between Shannoa and Foxton com pleted by a bridge. Mr Venn was of opinion that it would be better to go to Wellington and see the proper man, than to go to any member of the Government. Mr Williams thought that when one of the Government came into a district it was not only to express the views of tho Government, but to enquire into the wants of that distriot. Mr Venn cited Palmerston as an instance of what persistent asking and deputations had done, and compared that township with Otaki and Foxton. Mr Williams considered that it was Palmerston's geographical position that caused it to forge ahead. Mr Nation said they could go to Foxton and talk the matter over with the Premier, but the Minister of Lands must be waited upon also. In Wellington reference could be made to maps and plans, and definite information would lead to definite results. Mr Williams explained that he did not intend to imply that the petition should be presented at Foxton. Mr Casaie (Shannon) thought all should got to work at onoe, and as soon aa tho petition was ready, go to Wellington and present it. The Premier could be seen and talked to afterwards when he did come to Foxton; The Chairman was decid«dly of opinion that the projected interview with the Premier should not stop the other work, but th§ talk could do no harm, and might do a great deal to help. . Mr Stephens considered that Eketahuna should be communicated with. The Chairman said that was part of the business they were doing now and it was most important that Eketahuna should co-operate. Mr Wells (Shannon) suggested that a committee be formed.

Mr- McMillan said a committee was necessary. He would say that the com. Vmittee should consist entirely of Shannon 'men, aB it would be a centre committee. One should be clerk to write to the different local bodies, and ask them to Bend

representatives to join the committee. Moved by Mr Venn, seconded by Mr r Stevens, that the following gentlemen form a committee :— Messrs Cassie, Nation, 'Lind, Gascoigne, Venn, Stephens, and McPherson. Carried unanimously.

BRIDGING THE MANAWATU.. The Chairman said that a bridge over the river had been mentioned as a necessary work. Six months ago he wrote to Mr Wilson, M.H.R , concerning this matter, .to try and get an amount placed on the ■Estimates to assist the work, if not to do ■ all. The advantages of a bridge would many. Mr McMillan had pointed out some, and one advantage of having it between Shannon and Foxton was that it would not block the river in the case of steamboats wanting to come up the river, as no doubt they would before long. .»,. Mr Nation considered the spanning of r" the river with a bridge as a work of coml mercial value to both Shannon and Foxton. To Foxton, as a seaport, it would be invaluable. If Shannon grew in size and prosperity commerce with a seaport would be a boon and the revenue that Foxton wonld derive could not be estimated. The days of punts were over and every settler 9b ould exert hirasdf to better the prese^

state of thing?. Along the railway line lower down the setttlers were moving in the direction of getting the rivers in that direction bridged ; then there was talk of a Wirokino bridge. If the Foxton people were in favor of it that was their business, but if there was any idea of getting that bridge at the expense of one near Shannon he would not countenance it. The people of this town wanted communication for business purposes, for seaport facilities, and to get to the seaside for pleasure seekers and invalids ; and he thought the Foxton people would quickly perceive what these desires meant in other ways. To them it meant a stream of trade, when the road was opened, right back to the East Coast.

Mr Williams said he had looked forward to the road to Eketahuna for some time past, for it cut through country that wanted opening up, Foxton would become, not only a pleasure place, but the port of the district for grain, coal, stock, and other freight. It would be a great advantage to the East Coast farmers to be able to send their stock to the West Coast of the other island when better prices ruled, and Foxton was the most direct port to that coast.

Mr Nation suggested that a committee consisting of representative men of Foxton and Shannon should be formed.

Mr McMillan thought that the Shannon committee might write to the other bodies and thus a joint committee could be formed.

Mr Venn pointed out that a separate committee was necessary, as one would have to do with the Minister of Lands and the other with the Minister of Public Works.

The Chairman was of the same opinion. The Shannon members could be selected now, and no doubt the Foxton Borough Council and the Manawatu County Council would then send members.

A committee was then formed consisting of Messrs Gascoigne, Cassie and Venn, to confer with the Foxton Borough Council and the Manawatu County Council in connection with obtaining si bridge over the Manawatu River.