KEREPEEHI AFFAIRS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5115, 15 April 1927, Page 3

KEREPEEHI AFFAIRS.

REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTERS. MANY MATTERS DEALT WITH. About a hundred Kerepeehi settlers were, present at the Kerepeehi Hall last evening to discuss matters affecting the welfare of. the district. Mr H. D. Jamieson presided, and prior to introducing the speakers made a very peculiar address which did not do the district airy good, as what he intended to be humour fell very flat and was generally resented. The representatives of the Government were introduced by Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P. for the district, who also briefly outlined the matters which would be introduced. He expressed confidence that the representations of the settlers would receive careful consideration by the Cabinet Ministers. THE KEREPEEHI BLOCK. Tlie first matter mentioned was the opening up of the Kerepeehi Block of 20’00 acres and the building of the Awaiti canal bridge. This, was touched on by Mr A. M. Samuel and elaborated at length by Messrs A. S. Fisher, J. M. Thompson, W. Booth, and H. D. Jamieson.

Arguments advanced were that the block was deteriorating through not being settled. Noxious weeds and tall fescue, blackberry and gorse, were already appearing, and unless tackled promptly would become a serious pro-/ position. The land was equal to any in the Dominion, and its settlement was an economic urgency.

Dealing with the bridge, tlm Minister said he had been advised that it would be almost impossible to have a bridge over the canal until the construction work was completed and the necessity for moving dredges up and down the canal had passed.

Referring to the settlement of the block, Mr McLeod stated that if the advice of the officers of th© department in respect to the opening up of land had been taken in the. past instead of the voice of politicians being heeded there would be many more satisfied settlers in the Dominion, and in the Hauraki district in particular. The advice of his officers in regard to the Kerepeehi block was that the time was not opportune, as the land was still subject to flooding. The moment it was fully protected no time would be lost in putting it on the market.

Mr Samuel urged that something be done to protect the block from becoming infected with tall fescue. The Minister, said that the matter would certainly be investigated. CROWN LANDS.

Mr H. D. Jamieson also asked for consideration of the matter of‘opening up other Crown lands, near the township.

The Minister said he did not know what class of tenure would be advisable for the small areas of Crown land near Kerepeehi. The opinion of th'e department was that this land should not be opened for lease with the right to be made freehold, seeing that it was so close to the township. However, the matter of opening it in five or ten-acr.e. blocks would be considered. SCHOOL ROAD METALLING,. The matter of metalling the road to the Kerepeehi school having been mentioned by Mr Samuel in his opening remarks, the Hon. A. D. McLeod said that he was under the impression that the school road had already been metalled. When last in Ke,repeehi representations ifiad been made to have all the township roads metalled, but at the time he? was not sure who would be responsible. However he would repeat that the work on School Road would be done. THE DOMAIN. ' The matter of exchanging the present domain area for a more suitable site, was again brought before the Minister of Lands, who on his previous visit had promised to investigate the matter. The Minister stated that he was responsible for the delay. He would take steps to expedite the matter, for he had been advised that no objection could be raised to an exchange. If there was a piece of Crown land available it would be exchanged value for value. POSTAL FACILITIES. A request that representations be made by .the Minister of Public Works to the Postmaster-General for improved postal and telephone facilities for the township was made by Mr D. Shilton, Mr J. M. Thompson, and Mr H. D. Jamieson, who pointed out the various disadvantages of the present office and facilities. Replying, the Hon. K. S. Williams said that apparently the Post and . Telegraph Department considered Kerepeehi was not the place at which to centralise its operations. Howe.ver, the representations would be made as requested. DUAL RATING. The fact that his land was rated by the Lands Department and also by the Elstow Drainage Board was brought to the notice of the Minister of Lands by Mr H. D. Jamieson. Replying, the Minister stated that the matter had been mentioned in othej- districts, and a conference on the subject would be arranged. PAYMENT OF WAGES. A plea for the payment of wages to non-permane.nt employees of the Lands Department for the time not able to be worked on Anzac Day was next introduced. Tlie Minister stated that Anzac Day had been declared a statutory holiday, and was looked upon as a Sunday. Wages were paid to men compelled to work on that day. TOWNSHIP FOOTPATHS. Mr W. Booth brought up the matter of forming the township footpaths, and stated that the Minister of Lands on his previous visit had promised to have the work undertaken. The Minister said that the speaker must have misunderstood him, for no promise had been given. Whatever responsibilities were undertaken by the department would be carried out, and since his lasta visit the department had formed footpaths on loads which were being formed.