The Argus at KellyGang 1/5/1880

From KellyGang
Jump to: navigation, search
(full text transcription)

MINISTERIAL VISIT TO BEECHWORTH

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT)

BEECHWORTH, FRIDAY

Mr Bent and Mr Clark arrived here last night. They were waited on previously at Wangaratta station by a deputation in reference to the Tarrawingee sludge channel Mr Bent in answer to the deputation said that on inquiry he found that a portion of the land through which the proposed channel ran had been selected at £1 an acre and the holders now required £5 an acre for it. He therefore absolutely refused until the land was handed over to the state free of charge to give anything towards the work. He promised to give £20 towards the fencing in of the bathing reserve at Wangaratta and to consider the necessity for a clock tower in the some town. The hons J A Wallace and R D Reid, M L Cs, and Masers P B Wallace and Billson, M L As, accompanied the Ministers to Beechworth.

This morning, with Mr John Lang president of the united shire of Beechworth, and several councillors, Mr Bent and Mr Clark drove out two or three miles on a visit of inspection to the locality where the sludge commences to be sent down to Tarrawingee and thoroughly examined the locality and several experienced men there concurred in Mr Bent's opinion that it is possible to trap the sludge. Subsequently the Ministers were waited on by a deputation from the shire council at the Commercial Hotel, Beechworth, who asked for £1,000 to complete the very efficient water supply to the town obtained from Lake Kerferd. They pointed out that it was the only shire in the colony which paid the interest of 1 per cent on the loan and 2 per cent, towards a sinking fund, in accordance with the agreement. Mr Clark promised to lay the question before his colleagues at the earliest opportunity. In order to satisfy themselves of the claim, they afterwards visited and examined Lake Kerferd and the supply races; then went on as far as Stanley, where a number of persons waited upon the Minister of Mines in reference to matters relating to mining.

It was shown that with a plentiful supply of water, an immense territory in the locality was available for mining purposes. Mr Clark said he would give the matters every attention. The council and people are generally much pleased at the visit, and the manner in which the Ministers promised to attend to their wants. They were entertained at a banquet at the Commercial Hotel in the evening by the president of the shire and a number of the leading residents. Mr Bent proceeded with Mr P Wallace and Mr Billson, M L A's, to night to Wodonga, and will ultimately go on to Kiewa where they will meet a deputation in reference to required roads. Mr Clark returns to Melbourne by the first train to morrow morning from Beechworth.  


 ! The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original.

We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged.

We also apologise for any typographical errors.