Mr J. Stevens, M.H.R., at Rangiwahia.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 188, 12 February 1896, Page 2

Mr J. Stevens, M.H.R., at Rangiwahia.

(from a correspondent.) According to the advertisement Mr J. Stevens, M.H.R., addressed his constituents in the Rangiwahia Town Hal] on Friday evening last. Mr Stevens address was similar to that delivered in Feilding. After his speecd he invited questions. Mr Moffatt wanted to kno« if a home once registered under the new Act could ever be sold by the owner oi by order of a Court. Mr Stevens replied No. Mr A. Hickf ord asked if Mr Stevens would support the Old Age Pension Bill and the latter replied that it would receive his most favourable considera tion. He believed in a pension for tht aged who through misfortune were mr able to help themselves. The Govern I ment were now considering this measure Mr Pemberton wanted to know on whai part of the Kimbolton road was tht Government grant of £250 to be spent the letter he held from the Minister ol Lands did not locate any particulai portion of this road, but merely mentioned Kimbolton-Wairikei road. Mr Stevens said he would attend to this importani matter and endeavour to get the monej spent on the worst parts of this road Mr Ritzman said be hoped the Kiwitet County Council would not have th« spending of this grant, as they did no spend the money fairly, and it was ver] noticeable in times past that where th( County had spent .£IOO on a road, th< Council had done damage to the exten of £400 to other parts of the road. H< would prefer the Government to hav< the location and spending of this grant under Captain Turner's supervision. M; Stevens said that in the past Govern ment had had full control of their grants which were under the supervision o Captain Turner. He believed that Goy eminent intended handing over thii grant of £250 to the Kiwitea Counti Council. Mr Carey said the Kiwites County Council was dealing unfair witl the settlers in this back country, anc suggested if it was legal that the Gov ernment be instructed to seii& th( County rates and put this portion of the road in good order. Mr Stevens thoughi this could be done according to the Counties Act, but said it was purely c private matter between the ratepayers and the Council, and if a committee was formed and the chairman put into communication with him, he (Mr Stevens) would be most happy to assist them it any way possible. Mr Moffatt wanted to know if there was any livelihood oi obtaining a telephone service to here Mr Stevens said if sufficient business warranted it he would do his best tc effect this change. Mr Pemberton. said that the Postal Department had made two surveys of this district for the purpose of obtaining the best route. The residents bad done what was asked oJ them and the matter was now lying in the hands of the Kiwitea County Council, who cared not to give a guarantee to the Postal Department. He asked Mr Stevens to look into this matter, which Mr Stevens promised to do. In reply to Mr Taylor, Mr Steyena said" that a grant of £500 had been made by the Government last session for the Mangaweka bridge, and only just the other week, at a full Cabinet meeting, the expenditure of this Government was authorised, which usually meant that works under such grants would be continued at an early date. In all probability the road and the Mangaweka bridge will be pushed on rapidly. A vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr Stevens was carried at the conclusion of his address.