MR MITCHELSON AT WOODWOODVILLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1646, 28 March 1884, Page 2

MR MITCHELSON AT WOODWOODVILLE.

(From the Express.) The Hon Mr Miichelsoh,. Minister of Public Works, arrived in Woodville by. coach. last night, accompanied by Mr Knorpp, Deputy Engineer-in-Ohief. He was met at the Club Hotel by Mr Smith, M.EE,, who had come up from Waipukurau, and accompanied by Mr J. T. Can*, Resident Engineer, had driven on from Makatoka. On the arrival :of the Masterfcon coach on Mouday, several of,the delegates of the Settlers' Association' were in waiting to interview him, but it having been ascertained that the Minister intended remaining here, Mi Smith asked him when he would be prepared to receive the: deputation. It was finally arranged that the interview should take place at half past eight o'clock on Tuesday morning. . • ' At the hour appointed the deputation —consisting of Mr Oarlile" (President of the Association), Mr" Hall (VicePresident), and : also' Messrs Ohamier, S. Hutchins,, and : Jlaggen—waited upon the Hon Mr"Mitchels6n, the deputation being introduced by Mr W.

0. Smith. MrCarlile acted as spokes man, aud introduced. the following. matters:— ■• : u . ''■:'*:■:.

.':••>.'.. . ,In reply to the 'deputation the Hon Mr Mitchelson said it was now within twO months of the' time when this work. should be completed and only £3OOO of work was yet done. It was the iutention- of: Government: .that if the contractor did not progress more satisfactorily they wonld take it oyer and finish it themselves. • : LOWER FERRY. . i ; » Mi- Carlile said; the Government had voted £2OOO in timber for this bridge, and the timber was still laying there. He thought that 1 there should be a, free bridge there seeing that it was such an important: highway! and the ferry charges were so high. ' ijne Hon. Mi' Mitchekwm replied that he was about to visit, tlio ferry to see about it, and as for .a free, bridge, they seemed to be having free bridges' everywhere now. He would consider 'the matter, '. , < GORGE LINE, The .deputation wished to know whether it was the case that the Minister had informed Mr .Macarthnr" that he would place a sum on the Estimates for'the Gorge' Line, The Hon;■ Mr Mitchelson replied that the Government had promised to consider the matter, but lie found when he looked it up that it was never ' intended to construct this line at pre sent, and there was no money available lor the purpose out of the £3,000,000 loan, Mr Macarthur had given the information to the newspapers •himself, Mr Smith said he understood the intention was to finish the line to Woodville in the first place.

The Hon Mr Mitchelson said it would take all the money to complete the line, as; far as Woodville, and the proper course would be to complete the line as far as the money would go. So far as the line from, the Masterton

end was concerned he'did not think there was sufficient money to take it as far as Ekefcahuna, '

In reply to Mr Smith, ho said he intended placing oh the Estimates the balance of the money allocated under the Loan Bill to complete the line to Woodville. RAILWAY SURVEYS. In reply to representations on this point, the Minister said the survey of line to Woodville would be completed in ample time to have the line completed in time for the session, and he would instiuct Mr Blackett accordingly. . , Iu reply to Mr Smith,' the Minister said the intention of the '' Government was to put the balance of the three million loan on the Estimates.this session, and the works for which it was allocated would be pushed on until tlie amounts voted for them were absorbed, 1 Mr Carlile said it had been stated that the £64,000 vote for the completion of the Woodville line would cany it over the Awapuara Bridge. ! •

The Hon. Mr Mitchelson said it would be very expensive. ~■!.. Mr Smith pointed out that the ground was level and the embankments at the bridge, which had been done, were the heaviest part of the work, so that the formation would not be expensive. ■•

Mr Carlile also pointed out the fact that the valuable blocks of Crown lands on the other side of the Manawatu river would bo opened up in this way.

The Hon, Mr Michelson pointed out that there was n great deal of expense in laying permanent way, which was rarely taken into account, OPENING THE RAILWAY. J Tho deputation then inquired as to when the line would be opened to Tahoraite. The Minister replied that from what he had heard, probably not till October; and as regarded opening to Matamau he would go' down the line and come back by the road to see what saving would bo effected and he would give them a a reply on Friday on his return, PRICES OF CROWN LANDS, This was next dealt with, Mr Carlile expressing the opinion that though the matter of Crown Lands was not in the hon. gentleman's department, .it was one ho might properly bring before the Cabinet. The upset price of some of the land were fixed as high as J2 15s and £3 5s per acre. By the Amendment Act of 1882, a special soiiedule was introduced for dealing with lands in Hawke's Bay, and by it the limit of first-class land was put at 20s per acre,, and he did not see how the Board could over ride the Act in this,

Mr Smith said he had had a great deal to do with the fixing of these upset prices mentioned in tho schedule, and it was never intended that the land should be dealt with as it was being dealt, with by the Board, In the Auckland province they were allowed to sell land asjow as 5s per acre; while in Hawke's Bay they could not sell adjoining land of a similar kind at less than 20s per acre; and the Minister then arranged for classification and fixed the prices of the various classes at the same rate as in Auckland. When such high upsets as those in question were fixed it prevented settlers taking upland. Tho Hon Mr Mitchelson thought bush land dear enough at a pound per acre.: ■■

Mr Smith said that considering all the open land in Hawke's Bay was' sold at ss, it was-very, hard on settlers: that they should be asked-tojay,'£2 10s to &1 15s per acre, '■' '' : /'

The Minister asked that this'shoul'd be put in writing when he .would represent it to the Minister of Lands.

BOUNDARY LINES,

~ Mr Carlile pointed out the difficulty that had arisen to settlers from block lines not being cut. This had beeni done formerly,: but had since.been abandoned- It was not much more trouble to the surveyors to cut the lines, aud would prevent a deal of inconvenience. :

Mr Mitchelson asked that this also should be put in writing and addressed to th'o Minister of Lands,

MAHARAHABA BLOCK, The delegates were anxious to know wkon this would be put in the 'market, Mr Smith explained that they were holding the land back till the railway came up.' The people said the Commissioner took it upon himself on the speculative principle of keeping it up until he got every penny for the Government, and he did not think it was the principle of. the Government to keep the land back in this way, and a little more exertion might have been put into it this summer to open it up, 'lt.was a question of, getting the utmost price for the'land, and he should say the price at whioh the land was put up was quite illegal, whereas'.the law: said it should bo fixed at a certain price, .This was also ordered to be referred to the Minister for Lands, . SPECULATIVE OFFICERS. Some remarks having been made as .to the. effect of officers of the department taking up lands by the benefit of their special knowledge and selliug them second-hand at advances, the hon. gentleman said he was quite satisfied that if the Government knew of it. the 'officers would get notice to quit, and if the settlers could prove it the Government would be very glad. MANCAHAO AND SIAUNGATAINOKO BLOCKS Reference was also, made to; the opening, up of these, and the Minister stated that'if the deputation would give trim a communication on the subject to tlio Native Minister, who had to deal with it, he would see it attended to,

The deputation then thanked 'tlio Minister and withdrew.....