The chief works on the suggested route would be two bridges - namely, one over the branch river and the other over the Wairau River. A large party of about 30 citizens left Blenheim yesterday and motored to Hope Junction so as to make themselves thoroughly conversant with the unformed portions of the road.
The West Coasters, who must recognise the many great advantages of this suggested route, are invited to join in representing the matter to the Government, with a view to the road being constructed and a motor service established.
If the latter were arranged it would be possible for people to leave Greymouth or Westport in the morning and catch the steamer at Picton and get to Wellington the same night.
This would provide a faster service to Wellington than the journey via Christchurch. Mr Perkins will bring the matter before the Greymouth Borough Council at its meeting on Thursday.
• On arrival here next Saturday from Sydney, the Manuka will remain in port for a week or two, owing to a falling off in the Dunedin-Melbourne passenger bookings.
There will consequently be no passenger steamer sailing from Dunedin for Melbourne on Sunday, but in order to cope with the cargo offering the Union Company has decided to despatch the Kaituna on Saturday for Melbourne. She will return to Wellington via Hobart, Dunedin, and Lyttelton.
• Quite a legion of unemployed have within the last few days passed over the door mat of the Labour Department (says our Wellington correspondent). Fifty men are being sent by the department to the railway works at Huntly and Awaroa.
Twenty-five have already gone. Preference of employment is being given to local married men who are used to pick and shovel work. A number of men have been placed by the Labour Department with the farmers, especially in the Taranaki district.
A difficulty in dealing with the present situation arises from the fact that many of the men applying for work are young men who have no settled trade and are quite unsuited for the heavier class of unskilled labour.
Some are stewards, rouseabouts, etc. - the class that may be employed when rush time comes in the country in the summer, but who are not fitted for work where the stipulation is made that a man must at least be able to milk.
• The Clutha Presbytery at its meeting last week agreed to ask the Assembly to make a substantial addition to the very small retiring allowance at present granted to aged and infirm ministers, requiring at the same time such an increase in the yearly premiums of ministers and congregational assessments as would make the scheme financially sound.
It was also agreed to recommend that ministers be allowed to retire from the active duties of the ministry on attaining the age of 65.
- ODT, 12.8.1913.
