DEPUTATION FROM THE WAIRARAPA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2464, 30 November 1886, Page 2

DEPUTATION FROM THE WAIRARAPA.

POEIY.MIIEBUBHROi.Di The Hon. E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, and'the lion. J. Balance, Minister (or Lands, received a deputation yesterday morning consisting of representatives of public bodies situated in the upper Wairarapa District. The gentle-

len present were :-Mr T, Mackay Jhairinan County Council, Wairarapa' last), Mr VV. Jcssen (Chairman Mauriceille Road Board), Mr D. Crewe (Chairlan Pahiatua Road Board), Mr Eli with (rntaber. of the County Council,: Vairarapa East), Mr -Aler Beese :epre3entative of the Maiiphoakpeojial ettlement);' Mr W. W. McOardle Wairarapa fJaat.OountyCuunoil), Mr C! \ Richmond (Secretary 'Wellington pedal Settlement No 1), and Mr Ji R, lorgan .Wellington Special.' lettlement.'No 2). Mr Maokay, inintro* luc'mg the mißinesa wnich had nought him to town, said that he chief' object, was- to. ask the Jovernmont to give them assisance in (lacing tho road through; the Forty Mile 3ush in a state of repair. The road at iresent is in a most disgraceful condition, iiid the settlors were anxious that before he next winter set in something should ie done in the" mattor. He desired to joint out that the Government had coniributed some little'assistance in keeping ;he road in repair, but the subsidy was lot sufficient for the purpose,. and dthough the, road in fine, weather ippeared to' be in a moderately good condition, yet after a fall of rain it was, owing to itebeing bo narrow, ina terrible state; It was,.he remarked, quite but of the question the local jxjdies'cduld plaoo the'road |iu "repair,..for at present the ratepayers were taxed to the utmost oapacifcy allowed by lavf. Mr Richardson pointed out that so far baok as February 1877, the Wsifarapa East County Council

ad taken ovar the road fronrthe Governlent, a part of the agroement beiaij that lie .Corporation referred to should mainain tho road. He could see no reason, onßideririg that the district was 1 being apidly settled, why the increased ates, accruing therefrom should not ie sufficient to keep the • road., in, epair. The Govoinment recognised the act that the traffic betwoon Maurico'illo anil Mungahoa, owing to the carting >f timber for the railway extention works iad had the effect of cutting up that porion of the road, and tho department was luito willing to repair tho road so far.' tie could not, however, promise anything further. Mr Ballance suggested ;hat the County Council chiefly interested ;nthe maintenance of the thoroughfare .night establish a toll. RAILWAY SLEEPERS. • The question ot falling timber in the Upper Wairarapa district for railway sleepers was next brought' uuder the attention of the Minister of Lands. The deputation, statod that special' licenses; might be issued for falling totara on Government lines abutting the line for railway sleepers. Mr Ballasce pointed out that a suitable timber, more especially .totara, was spi'inkied throughout tho land selected for special settlements, and he .considered thit it would not ■ be fair to handicap small Settlors by issuing timberfalling licenses on Government lands. Settlers he believed might increase their earnings' by selling sleeper J to tho Government. If, liowover. he. found, ■from ' enquiries he intended to make that suitable timber cduld not.be obtained from privato sources he should put iu.force the foroat regulations In answer to a question by a member of the deputation, Mr Riohardson remarked that the officers of the Railway Deprfcment intended to use whito pine ; fftr railway sleepera whdre practicable. BAILWAY CHAKGEB. . the notice of the Minister for the disability which, he said, traveller labored under in travelling on tho Wai rarapa line through being charged extri for nve miles owing to the steep gradien up the Summit', Mr McOardlo pointei out that the Masterton line was tine o the beßt paying ones in the Colony, am 'he felt convinced that unless tho Govern ment made some slight concessions, th traffic would inevitably bo diverted fror Palmurston North and on to the Welling ton and Manawatu Railway Uo.'a line The Minister, in reply said the matte would recoivo his'graveat consideration. KAIOTAY STATION. Mr McOardle said there was ono othe subject the deputation desired to brin under tho attention of the Minister c Public Worka, and that waa tho distauc at which it was proposed to place th proposod railway station from the town ship of Pahiatua. The residents of th place complained of tho great distanc they would have to travel in order t reach the Btation, and considered that suitable site for a atatioa could be selei ted within half a mile of tho townshi] Mr Richardson, in reply, promised I consult with tho officora of the Depar ment on the subject, and forward tl result to Mr McCardle. Tho deputation thou withdrew.—Posl