PREMIER'S PROJECTED VISIT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 69, 14 February 1908, Page 3

PREMIER'S PROJECTED VISIT.

Meeting at Te Kuiti.

A meeting was held in the Ilall, Te Kuiti, on Wednesday evening last, for the purpose of discussing matters in connection with the projected visit of the Premier to the district. There was a fair attendance and Mr Steel was voted to the chair. In outlining the object of the meeting the Chairman dwelt upon the necessity of extending a suitable welcome to the party, and trusted every effort would be made to entertain the Premier, and place before him the most important matters affecting the district.

Mr Darrow considered the first step to be taken was finding out definitely the Premier's intentions, and if the proposed visit to Te Kuiti was to eventuate, to ascertain the probable date. He proposed that the Chairman should be instructed to draft a telegram to the Premier with the object stated. The proposition was seconded by Mr Forsyth and carried. It was decided to elect a committee of five to arrange details in connection with the visit, and draw up a schedule of requirements to place before the Premier. The following were appointed on the committee : Messrs Boddie, Walsh, Phillips, Darrow and Steel.

Mr G. Elliott introduced the subject of the proposed railway deviation between the Ohura and the Main Trunk Railway. He considered that too great prominence could not be given to the subject, and hoped the Te Kuiti people would co-operate with the settlers further out in agitating for the deviation to bring the line out at Puketutu. The Ohura people were doing all they could to have the junction made at Ongarue, but overwhelming arguments could be advanced in favour of the deviation. The line would traverse a better class of country already closely settled for the greater part of the distance; the formation would be easy compared with the other route, and the heavy grade between Te Kuiti and the tunnel would be avoided, in addition to which the distance between Taranaki would be shortened by about 20 miles. Mr Jer. Ormsby said the StratfordOngarue line had been surveyed and authorised, and settlers in the Ohura had been induced to take up land on the strength of the projected line. The Ohura would be better served by the Ongarue route as, if started from Ongarue, Ithe line would reach the settlers in a much shorter space of time. He thought the settlers should meet and agree upon the most suitable route and co-operate in agitating for it. If the matter was to develop into a battle of routes there was no telling when the line would be started.

Other speakers agreed as to the advisability of one particular i - oute being definitely chosen by the districts affected, and strong agitation being made for the initiation of the work by the Government.

Committee Meeting

A meeting of the Committee was held in the Chronicle office on Tuesday evening, when the following telegram, received from the Premier by Mr Steel, was read : —" I hope to be able to visit Te Kuiti about the latter end of March. Regret, however, I am unable to fix a definite date at present." A list of subjects for putting before the Premier, b\ r deputation, was drawn up, and it was decided to call a public meeting for February 28th. when the Committee's report will be presented. It is hoped that those country residents who can find it convenient will attend and assist in bringing forward matters of interest. Messrs Boddie and Steel were appointed delegates to wait upon the County Council at next Council meeting, for the purpose of requesting the Council to strongly urge upon the Premier, in person, the claims of the main roads of this district for a portion of the special expenditure of £200.000 a year, for five years, as outlined in the Premier's recent policy speech at Auckland.