The Ministerial Visit.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3532, 21 April 1880, Page 2

The Ministerial Visit.

The Trip down the River.

The Ministerial party, including the Hon. Minister for Public Works, Messrs J. B. Whyte, M.H.JR,., John Blackett, Engineer-in-Chief North Island, and James Stewart, District Engineer, left Omahu at 7 o'clock yesterday morning for the Thames by the smart little launch Biro Eiro. They were accompanied by the indefatigable County Chairman, Cra Coutts and Thorburn, and Mr ■A. Aitken, County Su^eyor, who hajl proceeded to Te Aroha to meet the visi- r tors. The farms of Messrs Thorpe and Austin were visited by Mr Oliver, and from the limited time at his disposal, he' could not see a deputation of Paerba residents, who wished to lay their wants before him. The journey from Paeroa to Hikutaia wns completed in the Te Aroha, and en arrival at Hikutaia carriages were found to be in waiting, the Mayor and other prominent officials having gone on. to meet them. The drive into town was very pleasant. The report of the deputations is KJven below :— Deputations to the Minister of Public Works. 1 THE EAIIWAY..

A deputation, consisting of representatives from the Borough Council, and Harbour Board, "waited upon the Hon. the Minister for Public Works yesterday afternoon, at the Pacific Hotel, on matters affecting the welfare of the district. Mr Speight, M.H.R., introduced the deputation. The Mayor said the people of the Thames were much concerned about the railway, and feared that the Government dfd not intend to proceed with it. He was glad to hear from Mr Oliver's lips that .such was not the intention of the Ministry, and he was sure that when this went abroad the people would rest easier, but still they wanted an earnest <of it. His Worship quoted figures showing that only £16,000 had really been spent on railway works here. Dr Kilgour recapitulated the circum stances connected with the Thames Valley Railway, and brought his remarks to a conclusion, by urging on Mr Oliver the great benefits the place would derive if the line- were made.

The Mayor said that if the Thames were connected with the Waikato by rail they would have no occasion to- go hundreds of miles to procure their supplies of food. Mr Speight asked, _on behalf of the people, tuafc some earnest should be given of the intention of the Government to proceed with the railway. Mr Oliver said he was pleased to hear from the last speaker that he believed a certain amount of unjust odium had been cast-on the Government for their action in regard to the railway.' The Government had been misrepresented in that lespect; it was not their intention to discontinue the work. Ever since taking office they endeavored to do justice to all districts—to treat them alike, and in order to do that it was extremely necessary that the state of the finances should ba carefully watched. When they came into office they found that the five million loan had been forestalled, and the position in which they stood now wes very much more difficult than the late Government occupied. His proaecessor in office had well-tilled coffers at his command, which he had not, and he (the speaker) was not, therefore, in so good a position as Mr Macandrew was. The desire thoy had expressed for a railway was similav to what he had heard -ip all parts of the colony, it not being an unusual thing (9 hear that a community was desirous of being placed in railway communication with tae rest ,of the colony. From what he had just seen in the district he should have little hesii4tion in saying that the railway should be made; but ho regretted that he was not possessed of discretionary powers, aad could not give the deputation an assurance that the line would at once be continued. The Government recognised the importance of the Thames district, bat unfortunately the amount va~

maininjj in the colonial coffers would not suffice to carry out the existing contracts, arid he could uot, therefore, say whether the line would be continued at once. Government proposed to issue a Koyal Commission to commercial gentlemen, for the purpose of bringing up reports as to how the money left should be expended. They had been appointed, and were now prosecuting enquiries. The intension of Government was not to go on with any mo.re important works until the report of the Commission had been made. The last Rtfeaker had remarked that the members of the Commission would have a will

of their own, and certain lines would be ; made in consequence. That was not 1 correct. The Commission, would make' an independent inquiry, and make a I report as to the proper course to pursue in future in regard to railways, and it would be for Government to lay it before Parliament, with recommendations. Any person having the good of the country at heart would see that any Government holding office at such a critical period j occupied a very difficult position, and that it was necessary much judiciousness should be shown in the financial department, that the purse strings should be heli with a tight hand. With this.in view, he visitad the Thames and Waik&to districts, not for the purpose of settliug the railway question, but to make himself acquainted with the country and the public works that were-going on ia them. The visit had been a hurried one, but it was so in consequence of the small amount of time, at his disposal. In order to give Parliament a better opportunity of considering the financial position of the colony, it had been decided to summon the numbers together earlier than usual so that the votes might not' be expended before they met. # Government had only had a recess, of four or five months, and therefore he had not much time to visit the different centres of population ; but he thought it was better to pay them a hurried visit than not at all. The country was very beautiful, and capable of supporting a large population, and he looked, forward with interest to the recommendation of the Koyal Commission. He thought it must be favourable to the Thames. He hoped their efforts would be attended with the best results. He could rssure them that the Commission would make an impartial report and do justice to the Thames district. Mr Oliver then explained that although some of the sleepers had been taken to Whangarei, they would be charged to that line t>ad not against the Thames.

The Harbour Board.. Mr Brown, who acted as spokesman, explained to Mr Olirer the position of the Board, and asked whether Government would advance then £SCOO or £6000 from the Trust Fund, the security to be the debentures. The speaker stated that the Board were in a very impecunious state, and will not even be able to have a few snags or debris removed, as the bank would not cash any other than wages cheques. The revenue was increasing, and they would be able to pay off the overdraft; but it would take some time to accomplish. If the Government lent them the money, they would be able to pay the overdraft off ft once, and go on with some very necessary works. The whole of the revenue was hypothecated by the Bt>nk of New Zealand to reduce the overdraft. Mr Oliver asked whether it would not be advisable to sell the debentures ? The Mayor said he did not think so. They had heard that the present was not a favorable time to do so. Mr Oliver said that he would bring the matter before Government next week. He might tell them, however, that he thought there was little chance of a loan, be^g obtained from the Trust Fund. The deputation thanked the hon. gentleman for his courtesy end withdrew. \

A Deputation* Nonplussed. Mr Speight then intimated to Mr Oliver that a deputation of persons engaged in business at the Themes wanted to be iutrciuced to him, as they were anxious to lay before him their views regarding the completion of the Thames Railway. He believed Mr McCullough and Mr Howe had been appointed their spokesmen, aud he had much pleasure in introducing them. Mr MoCullough was about to speak, when Mr Oliver said that having already gone into the matter at length a few minutes previously, he did not feel himself called upon again toeater on the subject, as time pressed, and he had to leave by steamer for Auckland. Mr McCullough said if such was the case perhaps it would be a loss of time to reopen the subject, and the deputation withdrew.

Parawai Deputation. Mr Carpenter, Chairman of the Parawai Highway District, aocompunied by Messrs Head and Osborne, members of the Board, were then introduced by Mr Speight, M.H.R., and discussed matters in connection with moneys voted for roads in native districts, and promised to them by the tt late Native Minister. Mr Garpenter explained that on the faith of this promise money bad been expended on the roads. The hon. gentleman explained that the vote lapsed at the end of last session, and he would advise them to see Mr Sheehan, and endeavour 4 to get the money placed on the Estf "nates for the ensuing financial year. .

The deputation then withdrew Mr Oliver and party left by the Entei prise for Auckland yesterday evening at six o'clock,