DELEGATES FROM THE KING COUNTRY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 39, 19 July 1907, Page 3

DELEGATES FROM THE KING COUNTRY.

. —— Deputations to the Ministers-

The delegates from the various local bodies of the King Country have been spending a busy week at Wellington. Their attendance at the Counties Conference finished at the end of last week, and on Monday, Major Lusk (Chairman of the Waitomo County Council), Mr H. G. Shaw (Chairman of the Kawhia County Council), and Hon. W. W. McCardle, M.L.C., together with Messrs Jennings, Greenslade and Lang, M's.H.R., interviewed the Minister for Lands, with regard to the throwing open for selection of the Kawhia Harbour Endowment of 7000 acres at Waitomo. The Minister promised to move in the direction suggested, but stated that the preliminary work would take some little time as special legislation might be necessary. The deputation also waited upon the Acting Postmaster-General (Dr" Findlay), regarding the need for telephonic communication between Kinohaku and Marakopa Heads, and the recent wreck of the s.s. Kia Ora in that locality was advanced as an additional reason for making the request. Dr Findlay, in his repl}', stated that during the past year there had been a very large expenditure 011 telephones, and the vote had been somewhat exceeded. To "do what the deputation asked would involve rn expenditure of £6OO. lie would, however, look into the matter, as he recognised the special importance of establishing telephonic facilities along isolated portions of the coast line. The Minister also promised to look into the request advanced by Mr Greenslade for telephonic communication between Te Mata and Ruapuke. Major Lusk urged the desirableness of the erection of a new post office at Te Kuiti, for which, he said, a suitable site had been offered as a gift from the natives. If the post office were to be erected on the other side of the railway line, as had been rumoured, it would be very inconvenient.

Mr W. T. Jennings stated that he had already submitted correspondence on the subject to the department. Dr Findlay said that it would be a great mistake to refuse the offer of a site, and he promised to look into the matter and see what could be done. The question of a telephonic bureau at Waitomo was also mentioned by Major Lusk, and the Minister suggested that a formal application be made.

Mr Jennings also referred to the necessity for telephonic communication between the Mokau coal mines and Awakino, and the Minister said that he would obtain a report on the subject. »The Acting Minister for Public Works was also interviewed regarding road matters in the Kawhia, Waitomo, and Awakino Counties. Special representations were made in respect to the main central routes, and it was also asked that a £1 for £1 subsidy be given on the loans recently raised in the Kawhia and Waitomo Counties.

Mr McGowan stated that the representations would receive due consideration.