THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2111, 19 January 1886, Page 2

THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

The Hon. Mr Richardson, with Mrs Richardson and Mr Godden, Private Secretary, returned to Cambridge on Sunday from Rotorua in one of Mr Carter's conveyances. A special train in charge of Mr Hudson, Traffic Manager, came up from Auckland on' Sunday, and in this the Ministerial party left Cambridge at 9 o'clock yesterday morning, arriving at Hamilton at a little before ten. A halt was made, and the patty came into the town, where a stay was made at the Hamilton Hotel for about an hour. No formal deputation waited on the Minister at the hotel, but several gentlemen called upon him and in a conversational way touched apon various topics of local interest. Replying to a question about the proposed footway on the railway bridge at Hamilton, Mr Richurdoon said he understood the matter rested with the people affected, who had engaged to raise half the cost. It whs puintedout that people were continually cribbing over the bridge and that an accident was bound to result some of the days, as nothing short of a wutchman constantly on riutv would put an end to the traffic. Mr Richaidson admitted thin, but rein.irked th.it tlms • who crossed knew the ri-k they w«re running, and the Department omild nut be blamed if an accident occurred. Mr Hudson said there was another matter to consider. Were the train to run over a person on the bridge it was not unlikely that it would be thrown off the metals. The other day a man, in attempting to alight while, the train was in. motion at Newmarket, got under the wheels, and not only was lie killed but one <>f the bogie carriages was de-railed. Mr Richardson Raid he had certainly not thought of such an eventuality as that. Hearing that Mr Richardson was anxious to see Capt. McPherson with a view to us ascertain what steps the Taot&oron Road Board had taken in reference to the Gorton road, Mr T. G. Sandes the Engineer to the board, who happened to be present, s»id he had received instructions to call for tenders for carrying out the necessary repairs. He said the board thought it rather hard that they should have to maintain a road over which so much purely colonial traffic was carried. Mr Richardson said the Government would soon relieve the board of that, as the Rotorua Railway would be opened as far as Oxford about the Ist of March, or as soon as the necessary buildings were erected. In the course of further conversation, it was ascertained that the Aroha line would be opened for traffic about the same time, and Mr Hudson informed these present that so soon as that event took place the new looal service, having Frankton for its centre, would be inaugurated. On his way to the station the Minister was met by his Worship the Mayor, to whom he stated that the Government were arranging a railway service to enable Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Te Aroha residents to visit each other's places and have 5h hours to spare in each several township, "making Hamilton a railway centre, its position rendering it the most suitable to the purpose. The question of freights was discussed. Mr Riohardson said it was a question of finance. His Worship contended that railways should bo considered as highways, apart from revenue. His Worship thanked the Government for handing over to the borough its lands. The Minister and party left shortly after eleven en route for Auckland. The General Manager, Mr Maxwell, states his intention to return to Waikato shortly and go into the several suggestions made ra railway matters fnlly, in order that as far as practio&JbJetbe ills complained 'of jn&v be met wad remedied,