THE HON. R. M'KENZIE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 5

THE HON. R. M'KENZIE.

EAILWAY CONSTEUCTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Gisborne, March 22. The §on. E. M'Kenzie, who is on a Tisit to tho East Coast, north of Gisborne, returned to Gisborne this evening by steamer from Tokomaru. Ho was entertained at a large and representative banquet by the Chamber of Commerce at which Mr. Justico Chapman and Mr. W. •A. Barton, S.M., were present. Mr. M'Kenzie expressed himself as greatly pleased with the potentialities of the district he had visited and emphasised the necessity for closer settlement instead of the large areas at present held. Referring to railways tho Minister said that in a few mbnths there would be astart at the Gisborne end, and at the Napier end, with tho Gisborne-Napier railway, and it would bo one of the most important lines in tho Dominion. He said the the East Coast Main Trunk line would get to Motu inside 18 months, and when connected up would eventually be one of tho most profitable in the Dominion, tapping vast, areas of rich country. Tho railway Tauranga would probably reach Opotiki at tho same time as tho railway from Motu would reach Opotiki. The Minister leaves early in the morning for Napier overland, via Wairoa to follow the route of the Napier-Gisborno line.