THE BACK BLOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 200, 28 September 1909, Page 3

THE BACK BLOCKS.

THE 'HON. E. McKEXZIE'S VISIT. The Hon. R. McKenzie left Stratfori I. on Friday by special train to visit th, railway works. a- At Douglas Messrs. Walter, Chapman Jennings, Marsh, and Yule were intn duced to the Minister by the membei • fo r Stratford, as a deputation in sup port of a request for Government as sistance to cope with the drainagi ■which, the settlers contend, has become BOre difficult to deal with owing t< railway construction works. In replj to a remark that heavy traffic had sen ouslv cut up the roads in that locality the ' Hon. Mr. McKenzie asked why: Wheel tax had not been imposed. Mi Marchant said such a course lad beei taken, but the by-law was upset n Court. The settlers contended that th' Operations of the rsrtlwav constructs engineers had increased the bulk o Storm-water in the watercourses an: •caused it to overflow on to section Which had never before Been flooded EChe Minister said that if this could b proved, then the settlers affected wou.i lave a legal claim. Mr. Holmes sau the cuttini down of the bush had ac eelvrated the flow of watei after i gtorm. Hie Hen. Mr. McKenzie said i the appilcJiMls had onv legal clnini against the Government they shoun have put them in at the proper tiim (The position was that the Governmeu tad got to protect the taxpayers of th > country as a whole. He Could not un * derstand why the £3O offered by th B Government liad not been accepted. Mi fckfarchnnt said the reason was tnat th ;!£SO \v i- not enough. The Ministe then wanted to know why the offer 0 ISO yards of metal from the Departmen : had not been accepted, and was in formed bv Mr. Walter that to hav " put this metal on as suggested wouli have only made matters worse. Son of fhem would have to leave their far.n jf the difficulty were not overcome. Th Minister said he did not think theri was much fear, of that. However, thi portion of the railway line was out o his hands and under the control of th Minister for Railways. He would hav< the matter enquired into, and refer i to lis colleague. The run out to Kiore was continued and an inspection, of tW big tunic made Horses were provided for sonv k- of the party, who rode through th mud, and the remainder walked alon; L the line to Te Wera. Those who hj«„ 1 previously visited the works were as Itonished at the very marked progress made, and it is believed that the rail: nill be laid as far as Te Wera by Js T o

Whil< •: th« journey, at a suitable oprnv.'' , 'y. Mr.'Bine introduced Mr. to the Minister. Sr. Dobeon i the great public convenience of a * -"i.iil connecting link of a mile and ahalf of formation to enable the pvttlpi 3 in the PuTangi district to use the Ki.i-e atation, and contended that the benefit |Pto the railway by increased traffic would fully warrant the Government undertak ng the work. So far as he was con- « terned the boun'dary of his property' ■ *as one mile from Kiore station, anl i yet. owing to the want of a road, he t m obliged to cart his wool 28 milts to the railway line at Inglewood. Mr. Dobson's and all the' land in the vicinity had heen loaded for roads. The Minister said he .would ask the Resident Engineer to report on the matter, and Would then give it due consideration. I -w.