MR FOX'S VISTT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1109, 16 February 1872, Page 2

MR FOX'S VISTT.

— . ♦ Yesterday^ the Hon^ Mr Fox, Premier, his private secretary, the Mayor and Mrs Wickes, Mr Revell, , R.M. , Mr . J. Kilgour and others paid a visit to the South Beach, Paroa, and Marsden. The proprietors, of the Greymouth, Paroa, and Marsden lines of tramway very courteously placed special carriages at the disposal of the party, and afforded them every assistance during the trip. On the way but a halt was made at Keith and party's large water-wheel claim on the. South Beach, and the workings were carefully inspected. At Paroa a deputation from the Paroa Road Board received Mr Fox on the platform, consisting of* Mr O'Connor, Chairman, Mr J. Dowling, and Mr Walters, secretary. The County Chairman opportunely arrived on-his way to Hokitika. .After the usual introductions had been made, the secretary read the following address :— "To the * Honorable William Fox, Premier of Her Majesty's Government of New Zealand. "Honorable Sir,— On the occasion of your visit to the Gold Fields of Westland, we, the District Road Board of Paroa, beg to tender you a most cordial and respectful welcome, and rest assured that your visit will enable you to recqguise, in the vast mineral resources' of this district, the elements of a prosperous and permanent pettlement-=-a necessary condition to the promotion of which is the construction of traoks into the interior. "We refrain from occupying ,your : valuable time by going into details, as a memorial of the combined Road Boards of Westland will be shortly, or has been already, submitted to your Cabinet, and we trust that your decision on the various questions contained therein will enable this Board, as well as all similar bodies, in Westland, to again receive their due share of the County revenue, unrestricted by conditions distasteful to their constituencies. "We beg to assure you, Honorable Sir, that nothing would give us greater pleasure than the long-continued exercise of your distinguished talents in the service and for the benefit of the Colony. "We have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servants, . " Maurice O'Gqnnqr, Chairman, • " John Dowling, Hugh Barnhiil, Thos. Colton, E. Butler, Thos. Colltns, Members o£ the Paroa Road Board. " H. W. Wolters, Sec. " Paroa, February 15, 1872," ; Mr Fox said he was not prepared to make an officjalrepiy to an address presented so unexpectedly, but at the s,am.e time he thanked the members of the Road Board for their courtesy, and warmly reciprocated the kind expression of feeling contained in it. He was very glad that he had visited the prosperous communities on the West Coast, and believed that if more intimate acquaintance had been established between them and the members of the Government years ago, it would have been for the benefit both of the Government and the people. With regard to the matter touched upon in the address, he assured the gentlemen present that it was the anxious desire of the Government to see that every justice was done to the Road Boards of the Colony; and for this purpose the Acts passed last session were framed so that the various districts might receive their fair share of the. money voted, and he would take time to inquire into the 'conditions which were stated by the Board to have been imposed, which were distasteful to the community. He again thanked the deputation, which then retired. .....*. The party then proceeded to Marsden, and, accompanied by Mr James Hamilton, visited the spot where the main road from Hokitika terminates at .the righthand branch of the New River. After returning to the township, Mr Hamilton invited the party to dinner in his hotel, and paid every possible attention to his visitors. The return trip was made early \n the afternoon, 'arid, the Premier expressed himself highly pleased not only wifch, th.c gauntry whicji he had seen but also with the kindness which he had met with at the hands of the residents. Mr Fox intends leaving Greymouth for Ahaura on Saturday, in company with Mr Warden Whitefoord, and on Monday . will proceed as far as Reefton. He will then descend the Biiller Valley to Westport, and go from there to Hokitika by steamer. „'..,. , , ; :