SOCIAL AT ROXBURGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 15

SOCIAL AT ROXBURGH.

On Tuesday, lTih inst., at Roxburgh a complimentary social was tendered the Hon. Ri M'Kenzie, Minister of Public. Works and Mines, by the Roxburgh Borough Council and the Roxburgh branch of the Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway League. The Mayor of Roxburgh (Dr J. R. Gilmour) presided, and the vice-chairman was John Bennetts, chairman of the Roxburgh branch of the Railway League. After ihe customary loyal toast had been honoured on the proposal df the chairman, Mr Walter Gow (Dunedin) proposed the toast of " The Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway," coupling it with the name of Mr J. Bennetts, chairman of the league. Mr Gow treated the subject judiciously, but nevertheless made a strong speech in advocacy of the speedy prosecution of the line, expiating in eloquent terms upon the development which would inevitably follow in the district upon provision being made for the speedy transit of tho produce. Mr Bennetts fittingly responded, and endorsed Mr Gow'e predictions as to the- future lying before the district. The toast of " The Ministry" was proposed by the* Mayor in a fitting 6pesch, and suitably responded to by the guest of the evening, the Hon. Mr M'Kenzie. The next toast was " Parliament of New Zealand," coupled with the n-am-es of Mr R. Scott, M.P., and visiting M.P.'s, proposed by Mr M'Pherson and lesponded to by Messrs Scott and Anderson, M.P.'s. The toast of "Tho Fruit Industry," proposed by Mr A. Moritzson, by reason of the subject being so closely allied with the long-desired prosecution of the railway line to Roxburgh, was naturally the most interesting matter touched on. Mr Moritzson eaid the mere growing of fruit did not represent everything. There were other matters {q be taken into consideration. In the first place, they had to find a market, and in the second place they had to have facilities' for transport from the district. But what,^ihe asked, did they find existing in regard to the latter essential.? The district had now been growing fruit for the past 40 years, starting in a email way and gradually leading up ,to ita present dimensions; but transport to-day was as bad as ever it -was. In most Oases, the fruit could not be gathered in a marketable condition owinrr to the nature of the journey it had to undergo after being packed. That was their argument in favour of being granted transportation by ru-il. The export of apples had been alluded to by the Minister. It was premature to speak of exporting when they could not supply their own demands. During the past two years apples had to be imported from Australia in April and May, and later on in th© season from Vancouver and California. Such a 6tate of things should not have obtained. They should grow sufficient to supply all their own demands, and the only way to bring that about wae ■to g-ive transit facilities by bringing - the railway into the district. As it was, the people were becoming di&heartened, and their sons were leaving for the North Island. They were simply asking that the Jine should be taken over the route which had beon sanctioned, and for which money had teen authori-jed. They demanded the railway ac a right, and the present Government was in honour bound to carry out the pledge of the previous Government. There should be no fear of the railway not earning sufficient to cover interest. The settlers had made it quite clear that if there should bs a deficiency they were prepared to pay double the freight, -and if rtaere was still a deficiency, to be even further taxed. As to the question of route, i£ the "Wa&aia people d«sir«d to continue theiv railway let them apply to the Government, ami in the same way the Edievale and Clutha Valley people. — (Mr M'Kenzie here asked^who was going to pay for all these railways.) — Mr Moritzson replie-J: "Not the Roxburgh people." There ehould be no dispute about the route now. That matter had long ago been settled upon, and the Lawrence-Rox-burgh route was the one that should be followed. Messrs W. Craig and C. T. Paterson responded to the toast very briefly, the latter being especially 60, as he said in a few words that he did not intend to abuse th« Minister for merely being the instrument in the hands of the Cabinet. " Pastoral and Agricultural Pursuits" was proposed by Mr MacFhail, after which "The Mining Industry" was honoured on tho initiation of Mr Veale, and Messrs Jas. Craig and "Waigth responded. Toasts of "The Ladies" and " Pres->" concluded the gathering. Inter^pereed amongst the toasts were musical items, the contributors being Messrs E. Orchard. Morgan, Haughton, Bennetts, and Orchard.

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