OUT TOWARDS THE EAST COAST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2014, 23 March 1914, Page 6

OUT TOWARDS THE EAST COAST.

SOME FINE COUNTRY.

BETTER OUTLETS DESIRED.

MR FISHER AT PONGAROA.

(By Trlesraph.-Specioi Correspondent.)

Pongaroa, March' 22. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher set out on .Saturday on his mission to inspect the Akitio and Aohanga harbours. He travelled by train to Eketahuna, and from there by motor bus and coach to Pongaroa. The distance from Eketahuna is' 42 miles, 30 miles of which is quite passable for the motor bus, which daily travels tho road with mails, passengers, and goods. At present, however, thero is a break of about four miles of the track which is unmetalled, and this is not to be negotiated by tho motor vehicle in wet weather. The rest of the road is tortuoii3 and fairly steep in parts, hut tolerably safe. Most of tho track is well maintained, but about half of tho last 14 miles has been allowed to get badly out of order, and is now only partly restored, and this part of the road will always bo difficult to maintain on account of tho friable, slippery papa formation of the hills in wliicb it is cut. Slips, as well as big washouts, are of not infrequent occurrence.

So much for the road access from Eketahuna. It is a long distance to begin with, and the road will never be an easy one. That to Pahiatua is shorter, but the grades are more difficult, and the track is accounted less safe over it. There is, however, a regular daily mail service by motor-car along tho Eketahuua road. The country is amongst the best in this part of the North Island. Nearly all of it is closely settled in holdings . f about 500 acres, not large areas in hill country some distance from the_ railway. Some of tho papa country is reputed to have a carrying capacity of three sheep to the acre. The settlers round Pongaroa are desirous of getting an outlet by sea- by way of Akitio or Aohanga; which ports are something less than 20 miles' distant by roads now not very easily negotiable in any weather, and alniost impassable after rains. These difficulties mnv be got over, it is urged, if better facilities for loading and unloading produce can be provided at either of the roadsteads at Akitio,or Aohanga. Mr. Fish-jr is accompanied Ij'v. Mr. R. W.. Holmes, Chief Public Works EngjUieer, and on this mission it will be his business, by the advice of Mr. Holmes, and his own observations, to endeavour to discover whether at a reasonable cost it .will be possible to civo the settlers in tho Pongaroa district; and between that township and the cpast, such facilities for receiving and dispatching goods by sea as will relieve them of the necessity of carrying their goods over indifferent roads a long_ distance to the railway. Certain it is that better access either by sea or land would lead to a rapid development of a largo fertile area. ... , On Saturday evening Mr. Fisher was banqueted at Pongaroa.- There v/ero about 100 people present, among them being the member for the district, Mr. G. R. Sykes, and also the member for the neighbouring district, Mr. J. H. Escptt: Mr. Gibson, chairman of the Pongaroa. Chamber of Commerce, presided. Responding to the toast of his health, Mr. Fisher made brief reference to tho recent industrial disturbances in Wellington, and the manifestation of revolutionary methods at: his recent'meeting in Wellington. One person who had disturbed his meeting had written to him: since that meeting to .inform him that neither he nor Mr. Herdman would be allowed to address a meeting in Wellington until afterthe general elections were over. This .did not alarm him. It would assuredly have thoeffect of driving all intelligent people into opposition to tho Red Federation and its supporters, and of strengthening the position of the Government. He felt certain that the conduct of the disorderly element at his meeting had had the effect of converting more_ people to his way of thinking than if ho had been allowed to speak for a week. In this country, ho was sure that right-think-ing people would insist on the traditions of British fair play being upheld, and it was going to be rough on them if their public meetings were to be broken up in this way. Regarding the action of the Government during tho strike, if anyone, deserved the thanks of the people of New Zealand Mr. Herdman did. When tho knees of other men would have knocked together, Mr. Herdman had stood firm and faced the situation. Whatever Mr. Herdman's future public eareer might he, concluded the speaker, he- (Mr. Fisher) would always consider that Mr. Herdman was entitled to the thanks of the community for his - action at that critical time. * There aro no Red Federationists at Pongaroa, and there could be no doubt about tho company's opinion iii approving the action of tho Government in dealing with tho strike. As one speaker plirascd it later, "God alone knows what would havo happened if their predecessors had been in power."