THE PREMIER at AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1767, 1 November 1883, Page 2

THE PREMIER at A UCKLAND.

TIIK XOHI'H JhIANM) THL'NK H ULWAY. A DKi'urvnoN consisting of the chairman and membeis of the Auckland Chamber of Cointneice, and tlio Northern members of the House of Representatives now in Auckland, waited on the hou. Major Atkinson, at the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, to uige on the Go\ eminent the necessity for pushing forward the survey of the alternative routes of the pioposed tiuiik railway. The chairman, Mr Nathan, also piesented .1 resolution from the Chamber, strongly advocating the loute fiom Te Aw.unutu to Waitara. Messrs Peacock, Aitkin, Firth, and the Mokau chief Weteie to Reronga also spoke, the latter declaring that no native obstacles remained m the way of the line to Tai.vnaki ; it was in the Wanganui district where the natives opposed the line. The Premier assured the deputation th.it no unneccssai y delay would take place in the .survey. He felt mii c that Government would be in a position to submit to the House next session plans sufficiently advanced, if not complete, to enable the House to determine upon the route, and proceed with the work. "With regard totheioute Major Atkinson said, speaking as an old Taranaki settler, the people of that provincial district w ere just as anxious as those of Auckland weie to see the two places connected by railway. The course of the Government was, however, a cleai ono. Their business was to have the country thoroughly explored, and then make such a recommendation to the House, bearing in mind the w hole of the ciicumstances, both for the general interests and the advantage that the colony would deiive by such expenditure. The deputation also madeiepresentations on the need for greater railway facilities near Auckland, on the subject of the illtreatment of cattle in the trucks between Waikato and Auckland, and in regard to various other matters of local interest, concerning all of which the Premier piomised that the consideration of Government should bo given. He pointed out, however, that home of the concessions asked for involved the expenditure of money, and drew attention to the low state of the colonial exchequer! TUX HMih \ >> -WAT PA HO A I ), A deputation consisting of the Hon, Mr. Chamborliu, Mr. F. A. Whitaker. M.H.R. ; Messis. L. D. Nathan, S. E. Hughes, R. C. Greenwood, R. Keesing, T. B. Hill and W. Powell waited upon the hon. Major Atkinson for the purpose of representing the con, nition of the main load fimn Whatawhata to H<iglan.— Mr F. A. Whitaker said the distance from Whatawhata to Raglan was 2~) miles. It was only some 14 miles of the road that was impassable. The slips had fallen down and the road in had weather became impassable. All traffic was stopped. Them was a sum of money voted last year and during the past session for the purpose of this road. — The Premier : Does this load pass through native land ?— Mr Hill : A very small portion of it may, but it is principally Crown land in that district.— The Premier : Then you will get the rates on thes,e Crown lands very soon. — Mr Hill ; The r-afcus (H'Q vary small. The mail pa.sses over that r-oad, The ooaqh oaimot go when the road is so bad, and when the coach cannot go the mail has to be carried by packhorses. This is a Government load, — The Premier : Yes ; but there are so many Government loads throughout the colony. We can only make roads according to the population which they are intended to serve. — Mr R. Keesing : The Government have taken money for these lands. — The Premier : So they have all over the colony. Wo borrowed three millions, to be expended at the' rate f)f 3. million a year. But the demands made on us are at the, ratjp of five millions a year, and the cry everywhere is, let us have the money at once when the fine weather sets in. The tendancy now is to refuse altogether to expend money on roads.— Mr Powell : A sum of £GOO was voted last year, and £500 this year.— Mr F. A. WhifcakV 1 You will let us have the money voted ?— Mr Hajes, (District Engineer ) : A bum qf £500, or £GGO expended upon the load wqultj iijake \t "pa^satye, aiuj. put if in repair for wine jiime to come, it is an ordinary glay road.— Mr Hill : It is necessary to keep $he. channels c}ear. A man m|ght bp em])l<}ye,4 t ( > do that.— The Premier ? I shoujd say fch.<ff9 woujd be no diflieuliy about getting Ihtj money voted. I shall communicate with the Minister for Public Works on the > subject, and see what money there is available. I shall then instruct the Engineer to repair the road as far as the money will go. — The deputation thanked the Premier, and withdrew., '

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