DEPUTATIONS.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 51, 24 May 1884, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS.

(From the "Auckland Star," May 19.) Fkou 10 o'clock this morning until 3 30 this afternoon tho Hon. E. Mitchelson was busily engaged in receiving and conferring with deputations upon a great variety of matters, the particulars of which are set forth below.

Diversion of Main Sewer. A deputation consisting of the Mayor, Town Clerk, City Engineer, and Crs. Mai shall and Mackechnie, waited upon the Minister at 10. 00 for the purpose of urging upon him the advisability of paying over at once the balance of the Governments promised contribution towards the main sew er. The Mayor, in opening the business, said that the necessity for the extension of the main sewer, long apparent, had now become imperativethroughtheleasingof a part of the foreshore tr the Freezing Company. Plans had been prepared for the scheme, which involved a diversion of the sewer as well as its extension, and the Council nov^ desired to know if the £897, balance of the sum originally voted for the purpose, was now available. Mr Mitchelson said that he had received a telegram from Wellington desiring him to settle the matter during his present visit, and he had since then telegraphed for particulai'S, which had duly come to hand. There was no doubt that the Council had a claim upon the Government for the work, and as the sum was available for the purpose it would be paid over at once.

Stanley-street Drain. The Mayor remarked that the opportunity might now be taken to also urge upon the Government the advisability ot assisting the Council to remedy the state of the Stanley-street open drain, which for a long time past hnd been a serious nuisance through the sewerage from the Hospital which found an outlet there. Tho Council proposed to put in a sewer. O. Aickin pointed out that the existence of the drain u as a great danger to the h< alth of the cit} r , and that it was exceedingly necessary to do something for the purpose of rendering it'innocuous. The continuance of an open drain from an institution like the Hospital — which very often was the seat of infectious disease — was a gravo menaco te ! the health of the whole place. Tho Mayor stated that the construction of a sewer to the culvert in Mechanics' Bay would involve an expenditure of £4,000, while to carry the sewerage out to deep water would cost £10,000. Mr Mitchelson asked that an official statement of the representations made by the deputation should be written out and forwarded to him at Wellington, when he ■w ould see that the matter was fully inquired into. The Town Clerk mentioned that letters had frequently been written to the Government on the subjectjbut that no replies had yet been received. Mr Mitchelson promised to have the matter attended to if the statement he had indicated were forwarded to Wellington. The deputation accordingly promised that this should be done.

Control of tbe Domain. The Mayor then introduced the subject of Domain control. He expiained that the Council had, in accordance with resolution, written to the Government to request that the control of the Domain should be handed over to it, but that no answer had yet come to hand. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson replied that the matter had been referred to him, and that he had strongly l'ecommended that the control of the Domain should be handed over to the city as requested. Cr. Aickin remarked that the proposal met with the general approval of the citizens. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson added that he would see that an immediate reply was returned to the Council's request. He considered it absolutely necessary that the Domain should be handed over to the city. The deputation then withdrew.

Crossing at Pokeno. Mr Hoar interviewed the Minister with reference to the construction of a crossing at the point where'the railway line divided his property at Pokeno. The Government had long since promised to do the work. Mr Mitchelson to inquire into the matter on his return to Wellington with the object of having something done,

Sparks from Railway Locomotives. Messrs John Buchanan, Walter McCaul, and Samuel Stuart then waited upon the Hon. Mr Mitchelson to represent the damage and danger caused to property along the Kaipara lino through the escape of sparks from the railway locomotives. Mr Buchanan having introduced the deputation, Mr YV. McCaul proceeded to say that the subject was one upon which ho had frequently written to the Government. His property near the New Lynn Station had suffered very severely through the sparks from the railway engines, but his object now was not to seek recomponse on that account ; only to obtain a remedy for the evil in future. During the week before last his grass as ignited, and the flames spread to his orchard, where they destroyed 150 new fruit trees w hich had been planted in place of 137 destroyed in a similar way last year. Posts and rails, live fencing, and a 6J acre paddock had also been burnt. He was kept constantly on the alert lest his homestead should also go. His property had been so much depreciated in consequence that he could not get 2d r year as rental for it. He had mad inquiries into the matter, and ha( ascertained from engineers that tin escape of sparks could not bi prevented unless Newcastle coal wore usoc instead of the New Zealand article. Hi had also been told that a large Fairli< engine was the one which gave out themos sparks. Messrs Stuart and Buchanan corrobor ated Mr McCaul's .statements as to th< damage caused by the locomotives, anr mentioned losses that they had experiencei thereby. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson said that he had already inquired into the matter with the object of ascertaining if the settlers could be protected in any way, and he had been assured both by the General Manager oi Railways and tho local manager hero that every possible means had been taken to prevent the escape of the sparks. There was a pteep grado near Mr McCaul's place, and tho unusual pressure of steam thus rendered necessary led to the showers of sparks. The engineer's opinion, al«o, was that tho evil would be lessened by the use of Newcastle coal, but of course its expensiveness was a bar to tho adoption of that plan. In answer to questions put by Mr Mitchelson, Mr Coom, railway engineer (who was present), said that the Fairlie engines did not emit more sparks than Class J. Mr McCaul also complained that the grass was not kept clear of the lino. The Hon. Mr Mitchelbon promised to make careful inquiries into both matters, and see what could be done in the way of remedying the evils complained of.

Newmarket Requirements. A deputation from the Newmarket Highway Boaid, introduced by Mr F. J. Mass, M.li R., and consisting of Messrs XV. J. Suitor, F. G. Clayton, Keetloy, and Jas. Mason, then waited upon the Minister in reference to a number of local wants. Mr Suiter, who acted as spokesman, explained that the fiist of thoir requirements was- the improvement of the approaches to the railway line at Newmarket People from any part of the district had to cross the rails in order to get to the station, unless they chose to make a detour of some 500 or )600 yaicl.s. The changing fiom the trains, in the morning, too, was exceedingly hazardous, for it was generally done while another train was coming in. The other day Mr Hay, of Papakura, in endeavouring to save himself from an approaching engine, fell down and broke his collar-bone, while he himselt had saved a little girl from being run over in the same way. A similar state of things occurred at night, the evil then being iiiten^iiied by the imperfect lighting of the place. The goods shed also was placed in such an awkward position that accidents to horses and carts were rendered very easy. Mr Mitch elsox said that he was acquainted with the state of affairs at Newmarket, and promised to consult the Department with the view of adopting means of remedying the inconveniences complained of. Mr Suiter then wont on to urge the desirability for a new and more ornamental fence to bo erected on the Newmarket side of the railway enclosure. They wanted something more a>sthetic. Mr MiTGiiKLsoN thought the people might supply the want themselves, so as to carry out their ideas of the beautiful. Mr Suitkr next advocated the erection of lamps at the railway crossings in New-market-street and the old Manukau Road, the construction of a footway at the side of the railway bridge on the Kjber Pass Road, and the extension of the footpath to Seccombes brcwei'y. The most important matter of all, however, was the necessity for a water supply and a drainage scheme. Although the thing was desirable, there was no immediate probability of their joining the city, and they therefore wished to know if the Government would introduce- a bill during the forthcoming session of Parliament to enable the Newmarket Road Board to borrow a sum not exceeding £'S,OOO for drainage and water supply, and to levy a rate for the purpose of paying tho interest and other charges upon it. The necessity for a water supply had been shown by the fire the other night, which, but for a providential change of wind, might have devastated the whole place ; while the health of the people suffered greatly from the want of a proper drainage scheme. Mr Mitciiklson said that with regard to the minor requirements which had been communicated, he would make inquiries and have them brought under notice in his department. As for the loan question, he had suspectod something of the sort, and the Premier would have been present had he not engaged himself to speak to-night. Still, he had agreed to hear and communicate to him the representations of the deputation i after which the Premier would let them know whether tho Government would accede to the proposal. A discussion ensued as to the desirability of bringing Newmarket under the operations of the Town Districts Act, the deputation being favourable to the plan, provided the tewn were exempted from county rates. Mr Moss also stated that last session Major Atkinson promised to get power for the raising of the loan, but had forgotten to do so. After some further discussion, during which the advisability of draining from the gully to the sea was spoken of, Mr Mitohelson assured the deputation that he would lay their representations re the loan before the Premier, and also attend to the other matters.

Abolition of Tolls on Roads and Bridges. Messrs J. Dilworth, W. F. Buchanan, and F. Lawry, waited on the Minister of Public Works as representatives of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Mr F. Lawry read the motion passed by the Association in favour of abolishing the tolls at Newmarket and Panmure Bridge. Messrs Lawry, Buckland, and Dilworth spoke in support of the resolution. Mr Mitchelson replied that if the people were prepared to take over the roads, the Government would be very glad to accede to abolish the toll-gate, As for the Pan-

mure Bridge, the Government would abandon "the collection of tolls and hand it over to the local board. Mr La wry thought that the Government should provide the means for maintaining those roads. Mr Mttciielson replied that the Go vernment would not at all events for some time to come, expend money on roads. If he saw his way clearho would agree to abandon the collection of all tolls at once. The tolls on the Onehunga Road, however, had been leased, and he understood the lease would not expire for nine months.