STRATFORD'S WANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1920, Page 6

STRATFORD'S WANTS.

DEPUTATION AT WELLINGTON. TRACK TO THE MOUNTAIN. • (By Wire,—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Two deputations urging the- formation and the metalling of the Stratford mountain track, and preferring a number of requests from the Ohura and Kohuratahi settlers, were introduced to the Minister of Public Works this morning by Mr. R. Masters. Mr. >T. B. Richards, for the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, drew attention to the possibilities of the development of the tourist potentialities of the mountain. An offer was made to the Government some time ago to find the money for a building 10 accommodate tourists if the Government would make the roa.l to give access to it. The Government accepted the suggestion, promised to metal the track, and placed £3300 on the Estimates for that purpose. No tender had been secured, and now they asked that the Public Works Department should undertake the work itself. The people of the district had incurred expense to the extent of floating the company, and were prepared to go ahead, but they wished to be assured that the amol'int pfcvipusly placed on the Estimates would go on again. Mr. Coates: "I will' see that the sum goes on again."

Mr. Richards said that they would like the Minister to Jielp the officers of the Department up there as much as possible with materials.

Mr. Coates said lie bad not had any application 30 far, but would see what could be done in the matter. He would get the officers of the Department to find out what the engineer recommended in the circumstances and let them know the result. POSTAL DIFFICULTIES. Mr. W. L. Kennedy, speaking on behalf of the settlers of Tahora, urged that their postal facilities should be at least as good as they were before the railway went through. It took a week to despatch a letter and receive a reply from Stratford. They felt also that tlicv ought to have a money order and savings bank office. t Mr. Markman, acting-Secretary to the Department, who was present, said that a money order office would be opened there in a few days time. After discussing the possibility of the co-operation of the Railway and Postal Departments in the postal business, it ivas suggested that the members of the 'Jppntation should consult the General Manager of Railways on the question. Mr. Markman said it would be possible to arrange an alteration of the railway time-table so that a tri-weeklv mail service would be possible. Two other mattfe mentioned by Mr. Kennedy were the cost of carrying stork on the public' works trains, and of a request that the quality of a metal deposit three, ijiiles from the line should be investigated with a view to its use for :-oiid work and for ballast.

Mr. Coates promised that both matters would lie given consideration. kohuratahi wants. Mr. L. Sutton asked. 011 behalf of the settlers of Kohuratahi, iliat p :;t<il facilities should be given to then:. They did not ask for anything very elaborate, but tiicv did ask that a daily postal service should be provided, and they wanted i> 111 connection with iha railway station. The revenue from the privfte telephone would be ilmost suilieient to support it, and, vviih the op wing of 1 wo blocks of land in the neighborhood, lhat revenue would be appreciably increased. Mr. Coates said that lie would luue the department find out what was the .iK irae of business at Kohuratahi, and would see if he would be justified in voting money in accordance with the request made. Mr. Masters said (hat, in his opinm. the better plan frqm the point of view i-l the settlers would be to have the post office apart from the railway sta--1 inn. The business * the district fully warranted a post oflice. Kohuratahi .•.'presented the best and most closely settled part of the district, and soldier ■t>( tloinent was .going on to a considerable extent in the neighborhood. Provision would have to be made for a post office there. Mr. Masters and the delegates interviewed 'the' (.leneral Manager of Railway's later in the day.