THE COLONIAL TREASURER AT FORTROSE.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 12, 17 June 1893, Page 9

THE COLONIAL TREASURER AT FORTROSE.

Monday last was a red-letter day in the history of Fortrose, witnessing, as it did, the arrival in the “village by the sea” of the Colonial Treasurer, who had been invited to a banquet by the Fortrose branch of the Seaward Bush Railway committee. The Hon. Mr Ward, who was accompanied by about forty citizens of Invercargill, left town per special shortly before 11 a.m., and on reaching Glen bam carriages, supplied by Mr. S. Richardson, of Wyndham, were - entered, and the rest of the journey performed by coach. A halt was called at Pine Bush, where Mr H. Carswell entertained the travellers at dinner in Newson’s hotel. Fortrose was reached at four p.m., and Mr S. Millar, chairman of the railway committee, welcomed the Treasurer, and read an appropiate address. A largely attended meeting was subsequently held in Beaton’s hall, at which a resolution urging the extension of the Seaward Bush line to Waixnahaka Flat was unanimously passed. It was supported by capital speeches from Invercargill and Fortrose speakers, the leading note being that the Bluff- is the natural outlet for the district, and Invercargill the town with which business relations should be established. As for the Glenham line, any reason that might formerly have existed for its construction had disappeared by the fact that farmers could get better prices for their produce at Invercargill than at Dunedin, to say nothing of the expenses saved in going to the nearer place. After the meeting came the banquet, the feature of which was an address by the Treasurer, who traversed the speech lately made by the Hon. G. F. Richardson at Mataura. Referring to the now famous “ marbles ” joke, he admitted that he was probably playing marbles in 1870, and he bad an idea that he won so many that they were afterwards sold for ship’s ballast—a bit of pleasantry that greatly tickled his hearers. Passing to more serious matters, the hou. gentleman claimed that in the legislation carried out by the Government no class in New Zealand had had their “interests more studied than the farmers. Regarding Mr Richardson’s proposal to revert to a borrowing policy, Mr Ward said that nothing more suicidal to the welfare of the colony could be suggested. His announcement that the smaller railways in the colony would not be allowed to remain at a standstill, in order to carry on the Otago Central and Ekctahuna-Woodvillo lines, important though they were, was received with cheers—renewed when he declared the money available would be equitably divided. He did not think the electors would oust the Government to make room for a borrowing party —men who had themselves taken office in the past on the ground that borrowing must cease, and then went in for raising millions. He denied that the Government had increased the public works expenditure, and quoted returns to show that bona-fide settlors were going on the land, and not shop-keepers and other unqualified persons, as Mr Richardson had asserted. The appointments to the Upper House, the co-opcrativc system for public works, and other Ministerial actions were also vindicated, and the speaker also took occasion to state that the Government were firm believers in intercolonial freetrade, and that there should he an interchange of products within Australasia, while leaving the tariff unaltered as regards goods from foreign countries. The Government intended to put life into the Forest Department, and have a system by which a tree would ho planted for every one removed. Farmers would also be interested in learning that the Government intended to bring two experienced veterinary surgeons from Homo, one of whom would be stationed in each island, in addition to which efforts were being made to promote the dairying industry. The Hon. gentleman concluded a “slashing” speech amid cheers. The party broke up about midnight, and the majority- were then driven to Glenham, where the special was in waiting, and in this they were quickly taken back to Invercargill. A later contingent who returned next day picked up a soft hat between Fortrose and Pine Bush. It had evidently belonged to a man with a cranium of generous proportions, and the finder remarked that it could only belong to one man, naming , a popular Invercargill boniface, The guess was a good ouo, for on reaching town the boniface in question was asked if he had lost anything, replied that he had, and was soon in possession of his chapeau. Those of the visitors who on this occasion made their first acquaintance with the district were delighted with the appearance of the country, and confident as to its future once the Seaward Bush railway is across the Mataura.