MINISTER OF MINES' VISIT TO REEFTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7756, 7 March 1905, Page 2

MINISTER OF MINES' VISIT TO REEFTON.

£ A SERIES OF DEPUTATIONS. '« OPENING OF NEW HAILWAY BBIDOB. ,' (Per Press Association.) n UEEFTON, March «. Mr McGowan, Minister for Minos, t- arrived at Kocfton on Friday afternoon and occupied the evening in rea ceiving deputations till midnight. :e The County Council dei>ut»tion le strongly urged the completion of the d ltoef ton-Marua road, a distance of 14 l- miles, pointing out the urgency ot e connecting the hot springs by rood e to enable invalids to avail iheind I selves of their curative qualities. Numbers of people from all parts of g the Island had, under great existing ), difficulties, availed themselves of the ~ {advantages derived from the' hoi i- j baths, and were loud in their praise* -, of the benefits derived from them. It •- j was a matter of notoriety that in [ the past a number of people, prittcie pally males, had derived great relief e from a course of bathing. Female*, however, suffering jtrom ailment* are i in a large measure unable to tako s .advantage of the baths by reason oi the hardships and inconveniences eoe tailed in travelling here. u Mr McGowan, while in sympathy with the request, pointed'out to the it councillors that the matter came un--1 ]der the control of the Lands and i! Tourists Departments. On Saturday morning Mr McGowan formally opened the Inang»hu« Lending railway bridge, in the presence of a large gathering, the christening ceremony being performed by Miss O'Regan. The bridge is what is . known as a truss bridge, set in connected iron cylinders, it is 280 feet long and 15 feet wide, the upper l structure restsng on a steel girder , 11 inches in depth by I inches in width, and has all the appearance of . great strength. I Tho Minister left for Creymouth . by Saturday afternoon's train.