WHANGAMATA SETTLERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5239, 15 February 1928, Page 3

WHANGAMATA SETTLERS

VISIT BY COUNTY COUNCILLORS. IMPRESSED WITH THE DISTRICT. In order to better understand the needs of the settlers, and for the purpose of meeting them personally the members of the Ohinemuri County Council paid a formal visit to Wnangamata on Saturday last. The council was represented by Crs. H. M- Corbett (chairman), C. E. Hands), C. E. Mace, C. Mason, W. F. Johnstone, J. B. Morris, and Messrs L. E. Shaw (acting-engineer) and R. W. Evans (county Clerk), and A. A. Jenkinson (assistant clerk). The guests of the council who made the trip were Messrs H. Lowe and D. Mackay, chairman and clerk, respectively, of the Thames County Council; C. W. Kennedy, Piako County Council; J. B. Beeche (president), J. Whitehead (secretary), and J. Lockington, Waihi Chamber of C.omrnercte; Mr W. E. Ward, Mr Otto BJerring, and representatives of the Hauraki Plains Gazette and Waihi Telegraph. The weather was ideal, and a good run was made to the Public Works depot at the Went,worth River. A halt was made there, and Messrs ?• Williamson’ (chairman), G. Palmer (secretary), L. G. Martyn, and H. Widdowson, representing the Whangam,ata Settlors’ Association, welcomed t.he party. After various matters of local interest had been discussed the travellers partook of morning tea served-under the shelter of pines* insignus trees by the settlers’ wivesThis being done full, justice to, on behalf of the party Mi* HL M. Corbett thanked the ladies for their generous hospitality. He explained that the trip had been arranged so that business could be combined with pleasure. It was the first time many of them had visited Whangamata, and thfey had all been favourably impressed with the district. It was clearly evident that some of the settlers* had been battling along under a severe handicap for many years, but it was the desire of the council that the district should go ahead, and so fax* as the. Ohinemuri. County Council was concerned- an assurance .would be givfen that it Would do .all it could to assist. The Government: .had undertaken a -large reading scheme, .and the council would (have to do its share. It was a pleasure to visit Whangamata and meet the settlers, ,and he hoped much good would come of it. At the call of Mr Corbett cheers for the ladies were lustily given.

In acknowledging tihe remarks Mr P. Williamson sjaid it was a pleasure to welcome the visitors, arid the settlers were deeply appreciative of the interest taken in them and their disr trict by the Ohinemuri County Council. It was the desire of the settlers, in the T'airua riding of the Thames County to transfer to the Waihi riding of the 'Ohinemuri County, mainly on account of thfe greater community of interest. It was hoped that the request would receive favourable consideration.

The speaker inferred to the valuable assistance given the association by the Waihi Chamber of Commerce, and paid a .special tribute to the work of Mr Whitehead. The settlers were .glad to extend a welcome to tixe visitors, and he expressed the hope that that visit would be the. .forerunner of others. Such visits helped and encouraged the settlers, and were also the means of making Whangamata better known.

After taking leave of. the settlers ths party moved oxi to the Whanga,mata Harbour, where the cars were parked and the visitors conveyed across the hiarbopr in boats to the Whangamata Hotel, ,where a hearty welcome wasi received from Mr Dillon Shaw. Aftex* a generous luncheon the visitors!- spent the time in inspecting points of interest and generally enjoying a peaceful rest until it was time to start the return journey." By the time this was* commenced the tide was sufficiently far out to allow the party to walk across the mudflats and tlie boats were . not required. The cars were reached shortly after 5 p.m-, and the trip back to Paeroa was made in good time,, and without any untoward, incident. ’