THE MINISTER OF WORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10211, 13 April 1911, Page 5

THE MINISTER OF WORKS.

VISIT TO MASTERTON. The Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister of Piiblic Works, accompanied by'j\lr R. B. Ross, M.P., Mr Nathan (overseer of works), and' the Minister's private secretary (Mr Poison), arriv d in Masterton between four and five o'clock yesterday afternoon. left Pongaroa (having been banquetted by the settlers of that part on Tuesday evening), about 7.30 on Wednesday morning, and drove through the' back country to Alfredton, thence to Ihuraua Valley" and down the Wangqehu Valley to Masterton. . In conversation with a representative of the Age, the Minister stated that he was very much impressed With the potentialities of the country .through which he had passed during the last few days. He was surprised, however, to see so many largo estates which should be more profitably" occupied. It was not to be expected, he said, that the Government would construct railways through country which was so sparsely populated. Asked if -there were engineering difficulties which were very great in respect to the proposed railway route, the Minister said there was some rough country at the Weber end, and it would be very expensive to construct a railway in that part. He did not think the time ripe just yet for a railway. The Minister leavefe for Wellington by the early train this morning.