PREVIOUS OUTBURST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1189, 26 July 1911, Page 8

PREVIOUS OUTBURST.

A CHALLENGE AND A THREAT. AUCKLAND'S '"MEDDLESOME Yesterday is not the only occasion on which the Hon. R. M-Ivenzie has displayed his peculiar ideas of courtcsv Some time ago a deputation from tlie Auckland Railways League waited on the Minister for the purpose of urging that the scope of the Royal Commission to be set up to inquire into l.ie proposed deviation north of M'Carroll's Gap on the North Auckland railway route should to extended so as to include an investigation into the proposed deviation south of M Carroll's Gap. The proceedings were very lively. 3lr. M'Kenzio declined to accede to the request, saying that it had been made too late. Mr. Marnier, M.P., challenged Mr. M'Kenzie to prove that the western route was, the shortest, cheapest, and best, and said he would put up .£IOOO if the challenge were accepted. A passnge-at-arms took' place between Mr. Marnier and the Minister, the latter threatening to have the member for Jlar.iden ejected from the room.

About the same time a somewhat remarkable statement was made by the Hon. H. M'Kenzie,at the conclusion of a banquet in his honour at Whangarei. He then stated that the North Auckland Main Trunk railway was being pushed on quicker by the South Island than by Queen Street. They were a meddlesome crowd there, he said, and when they met him in regard to the deviation question ho would show them they didn't know their business. There was something deeper than on tho surface in the attitude they were taking up, and the people in the north did not want their interference.