Deputation at Te Aroha.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2623, 4 May 1889, Page 3

Deputation at Te Aroha.

Thk Hon, R Mitchelson, Minister r.f Public Works, accompanied by Messrs McKorrow, Hudson, Hales, Blair, Col. tfrazer, M.H.R., T. McKenzie M.H.R., and Bagnall, Thames County chairman, left the Club Hotel on Wednesday morning, in order to view the great works in progress at Waiorongomai, and after being conducted over the Te .Aroha Silver and Gold Mining Company's works, by Mr Howell, the superintondant, and MrMcCosh Clark, one of the directors, they expressed themselves as highly pleased with what they had seen, and returned about 11 o'clock to To Aroha, where tlicy were met by a deputation from the Te Aroha Town Board, viz : Messrs Gallagher (chairman), Heathcotp, and Lipsey. Mr Gallagher briefly stated the object of the interview, viz., to place before, the Minister, on behalf of the people of Te Aroha, their great desire that the railway between Thames and Te Aroha should be completed. He pointed out that a large quantity of he.'uy machinery is to be put lip at the Tui, and at the present time 200 tons of quartz are bei.ig sent to England. Kefcrence was also made to the Waiorongainai works, which they had just visited, and the fact that a large quantity of machinery for the iKergnson syndicate is now on the way. Mr Chas. Ahier, stated that the river freight per ton, for quartz, is about Bs, and in reply to Mr Mitchelson, Mr Hudson said by rail it would cost -Is per ton. Mr Ahier pointed out that the river is shoaling, and will not be navigable in the course of five or six years. Mr Mitchelson remarked that Mr Mckerrow was there to see what the probable traffic would bd, it would be folly on the part of the Government to go on with the work unless they could see that the traffic w iuld be sufficient.

In the course of conversation it was mentioned that the river and rail traffic was about equally divided, that about 1,000 tons of stuff to and from Te Aroha annually l>as:;ed over the railway. Mr Hudson remarked that if they had the whole of the traffic they might make ±.'2,000 out of it. It wns pointed out by Mr Heathcote that the passenger traffic would be increased greatly, as the Thames people would come to the'baths and spiings in greater numbers. Mr Mitchelso.n said they had ascertained that over 20,000 baths had been taken last year, and Mr MeKerrow mentioned that he hud been informed by Mr Bradley at the Thames, that the average passenger traffic on the road from the Thames was three a day. The Minister then informed the deputation that be would let them know in about a fortnight the intention of the Government in the matter, and thanked them for their attendance. The deputation then withdrew, and after partaking of lunch the party left by special train for Oxford.