MINISTERS ON TOUR

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 13 January 1913, Page 5

MINISTERS ON TOUR

THE EAST COAST DISTRICT. (By leieyrapti — frr** AMociaiitm GJSBORNE L.vt Night The Gisborne Times' iv.-.'e:-.pondei.t telegraphs that the Hons. lloivies and Eraser arrived at Opotiici l:y motor car yesterday afternoon. The Ho i. Mr Herries received a large deputation of Maoris, and the Hon. Mr Fra ser was waited upon ;>y representatives of the County Council, Bailway League, and Settlers' Association, with reference to railways and district roads. In reply to a question asto tho proposed loan of £4OOO for a dray road to Waioeka, Mr Fraser said that until the Hon. J. Allen raised a loan he would only have half the amount required to meet the votes on the estimates; but as soon as available money would be found for tho work in question. The Railway League asked that the railway be started at Opotiki or its vicinity," and : t was suggested' that when the Gis-bomo-Rotorua line reached Motu, the whole of the money available for the lin« ha, K pont in the Bay of Plenty, and that the comparatively Tin-settled nortinns between Motu and Opotiki be Jinked' up last. The Minister said he could not say whether the money would be divided between tho two ends of the line: but there was something in the argument that Opotiki should bo connected with the port of Ohiwa, and he would give the matter consideration. He expressed the oDinioir that there was'agreitt- ftfture' before this country. 'Plie Minister's were entertained* at a social in the evening.