THE ROADLESS NORTH

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 7

THE ROADLESS NORTH

VISIT OF THE HON. J. A. MILLAR. LEFT BEHIND BY THE STEAMER. LENGTHY MOTOR-CAR TRIP. (BT TELPORATB—SPECIAL COEItESPONDENT.) Whangarel, February 2.

I(i: his first visit to this part of the province' in his new capacity of Minister for Railways, the Hop, J. A. Millar has had to-day an experience of the difficulties of locomotion in the "roadless north" that was not anticipated by him whon he decided to make this'tour. Mr. Millar, who had arranged to proceed to Whangaroi from Auckland by the s.s. Ngapuhi last evening, was engaged in transacting Departmental business during tho evening until shortly beforo half-past nine, the hour announcod for the departure of tho steamer. He drove to tho wharf, and arrived there between half-past nine and 20 | minutes to ten, just in time to see tho , Ngapuhi (which had left striotly on time) baokmg out off tho end of tho No. 2 Jetty. Mr. T. Ronayno (general manager of railways), who is accompanying tho Minister on his inspection of tho railways, had'previously gone on board. On the arrival of the Ngapuhi at Whangaroi this morning, considerable disappointment was occasioned by the non-appearance of tho Minister, as a programme to occupy him during the day had been arranged. Surprise was also expressed by sevoral people that the steamer had not waited for the Minister, it' being stated that it has been freqnontly'known to wait a few minutes for passongors. Later on in the forenoon telegrams wore received by tho Mayor and Mr. F. Mander, M.P., from Mr, Miljar. stating that ho was proceeding from Auckland to Whangarei, by motor-oar, and that ho expectea to roach horo shortly after, midday. The deputations that bad been arranged for eleven o'clock were consequently ■ostponed, and a" lunch at Kamo was also cancelled. The appearance of tho Minister was' awaited in vain during the afternoon, and it was not until ialf-past seven this evening that tho party arrived, after a long, hot, and dusty .drive from Dovonport. Tho party consisted or'the Minister, his private secretary (Mr. R. D., Thomson), and Messrs. Goo. 'and JV-Henning. A start had been made from the North Shore at half-past seven this morning, the journey thus occupying just twelve hours.

"I would not undertake the same trip again for a thousand pounds," was Mr. Millar's declaration after arrival Here. _ The journey, which had beon made in a Diamler 43 I b.h.p., driven by Mr. G. Henning; was not attended with any serious mishap, but, as was anticipated by the residents i here, considerable difficulty and delay was experienced in negotiating the stretch of heavy sand of whioh the great north road is composed for a distance of about two milos to the north of Waipu. The car was brought to a standatill by this sand, and in' order to' cross it) it was neceEsary to cut down a of tea tree, and spreading it in front of the car in order to got it to grip.Tho starting of tho car on each occasion' required a push by the combined strength of tho party, and tho use of a spade had also to be brought into requisition on sever-al-occasions. The tea tree had to be taken up and relaid every two or three chains, but the four occupants of tho car 6tuck manfully to their laborious task, Mr. Millar showing by the full share of the work acoepted by him, that although no longer Minister 'for Labour, be has not forfeited tho right to be classed as a worker.

The first length of heavy sand encountered was got 079; ,by, hatf,a,dozcn,apurts of about fifty yards eaoh, and there woro.twor>|aubs'& quent shorter lengths. The road generally ,from Devonport was rough, and tho Minister gained an excellent object-lesson as 'to the conditions of thai mam thoroughfare of the northern peninsula. , " '. .. Tho Whangarci County Council has lately been endeavouring to secure a deviation of tho road to avoid the sand on' the Waipu beac' 1 that stuck tho party up, and has applied to the Government for a grant to assist in securing the land necessary to make a detour. A hope is expressed that tho application will he granted in view of to-days's experience of the party. _ < Mr; Helming states that he believes this is the first occasion on which the distance between Devonport and Whangarei has been coverod by motor car in one day. In alluding to the Bteamer incident at the banquet tendered to him tins evening, Mr. Millai said that of course ho was primarily responsible for not fulfilling his engagements aB the boat was advertised to leave at half past nine. A Minister was, however, sometimes prevented by ciroumstances over which he had no control from_ being on a wharf to the minute, and on this particular occasion ho had been detained at tho Grand Hotel until nearly half-past nino in attending to important official telegrams. Ho arrived on the wharf at four minutes after tho half hour, but tho steamer was then lying out from tho wharf. Ho had been previously given to understand from tho manager of tho Northern Company that the boat would wait for him if ho was not thcro to tho minute. He did not blame the manager, who had always shown him every consideration, but he thought that those in authority on the steamer might have waited five minutes or have rung up the hotel to ascertain whether he had lift for tho wharf.

{M' fSUCKAPtI—!>KSH ABSOOtmOIM ' Whangarel, February 2. The, Hon. J. A. Millar, who arrived here this evening from Auckland, will make a visit of inspection of the Whangarei-Kawa-kawa railway tft-morrow. He was entertained at a complimentary banquet hero this evening. He, will return to Auokland on Thursday.