THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 29, 6 February 1901, Page 2

THE MINISTERIAL VISIT.

HON. T. Y. DUNCAN, MINISTER OF LANDS, AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The Hon.. the Minister of Lands arrived in ftew Plymouth by the Mail train on Monday evening accompanied by bis private Secretary, the UnderSecretary of the Lands Department (Mr. A, JEUrron), and Mr. Hursthouse, Surveyor, During the past week be travelled op the central line and then struck into the Wanganui Rivet at Pipiriki, Here ha went up the river to the Tongarakau preceding by way of the latter river to Whangimomono. Mr. Duncan states thit the scenery on the Tongarakau is far before tbat on the Wanganui. From Wh-ingimomena he cama eut to Sfcratford via tbeOhura Road.

Yestsrday (Tuesday) morniDg he was engaged with Mr. Strauchon in dt-pu-t mental work and receiving! deputations. Several gentlemen, including Mr. Drake of the Taranaki Bacen Factory, waited upon him in reference to the shipmeat of pork. It was pointed out that if packed in salt llcwt, filled one ton of f p'ico arul nndo tlie freight very costly. I f wn« proposed to try frePzing it, an"l it was thought the Government bhtjuld give tome assistance. Mr. Ouccan 6,'iid if those interested would give him some idea of tho quantity they expected to handle he would bring the matter before tho Cabinet and sea if the Government could give a guarantee or subsidy, but in any case the shippers muss expset to take some risk themselves.

A deputation from the Clifton County Council waited upon the Minister re the Otema Road, and the Junction Road. Mr. Piggot, Chairman of the Council, explained the position and the Minister said the balance available for the Otoroa would be handed to the Council to fperid. Mr. Piggot further asked for a £ for £ subsidy up to ,£750 for the Junction Road, east of Tarata, after hearing the facts of the case, the Minister p'omised to grant tho sum required, and als) to increase the thickness of metal from C to 12 inches. Mr. H. Okey, Chairman of the Tar+naki County Council, then waited upon '-.ho Minister re the Junction Road, oast of Tnjlewood. In the course of a conversation;'.! discussion whicb owuueJ. T* &.:< pointtil oi'i; iu- t 5

[Government had agreed to the Council ' spending J,500, biit on feeing shown that -£SOO was unsuffieient, they agreed to give another £550 conditional on the Council raising £550, It was pointed out that this ■ ould not be dona as the settlers were ilready in one loan. That the road was a main County roar 1 , only 11 miles of it being under the control of the County. The Cuuneil had done all in its power to raise monf y, They ha 4 anven tollgates and raised £2OOO from j tolls, while the rates received were only about ,£3OOO, Unless the road waf> made geol the country behind was ali locked up. After hearing what was said, Mr. Duncan said he would strike out the condition re £ for £ giving the Council £IOSO to spend on the road. The question of the r >ad to the harbour was then dis ussed, and later in the day, after the M'niater had visited the harbour and heard Messrs. Connctt and King on the subject, an arrangement was arrived at by which the Council agreed to take over the road as a County road, the Harbour Board to give the stone for repairs and the Government contributing £IOO to the cost of putting it on. The Minister, in addition to visiting the harbour, was taken out to the lagoon on tie Barret Road, where he was asked to acquire a block ef native land round the lake and declare it a public park so as to preserve the native bush and give a public recreation ground. The Minister expressed his sympathy with the proposal, and promised to give the matter consideration.

On returning to town the Minister visited the Recreation Grotind, and later on left for Urenui on his way to Auckland via the Awakino road. Mr, B; M. Smith, M.H.R., introduced the deputations, Mr. Thos, Kelly, M.L.0., being also present.

Speaking ef the Awakino Road, Mr, E, M, Smith informs us that the Minister stated to him that in addition to the ,Tongaporu*u Bridge, for which tenders were accepted a short time back, the contract has been let for another bridge in the Awakino district and that tenders will be at ones called for the Awakino Bridge. This will complete the bridges required and leave only the Mok*u riv>r to de<l with. On this river the t>unt w : ll be fitted with an oil engine, so 1 hat no delay will be caused iu crossing. The question of metalling will als) receive consideration,