TE KUITI RAILWAY STATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 262, 25 May 1910, Page 2

TE KUITI RAILWAY STATION.

Deputation to Mr Jennings, M.P. A deputation consisting of his ship the Mayor (Mr James Bodurc) and the members of the Borough Council waited upon Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P., this morning at the Hotel Grand to place before him the urgent need for improved railway station facilities and loading yards at To Kuiti. Mr Boddic said that this agitation had been going on for a long time. The present condition of things was most unsatisfactory with the stock yards immediately opposite a popular boarding house and facing on to the main street. If figures were available it would be found that a greater number of stock were handled at To Kuiti than at any other place, hardly excluding Palmerston North between Auckland and Wellington. The crossing of the trucks of a night was absolutely dangerous. The fence of the railway premises was abutting half a chain on to the main street. The County Council had suspended any movement in the matter, on the understanding that it would be moved back by the Railway Department, but nothing had been done. On behalf of the Borough he had written to Mr Millar, urging him to break his journey at To Kuiti and he asked Mr Jennings to be present at the same time, when they could go into the whole matter. They were very pleased to see Mr Jennings there that day. They knew that they could depend on him to do all he could in the interests of To Kuiti. They were placed in such a position as to be compelled lo be rather aggressive as was natural with such large schemes of roading before them, one of which, the Waiteti road, a main arterial road, was in urgent need of attention. Mr Jennings said he was glad to meet the Mayor and members of the Council and do all he could for To Kuiti. The last time he saw Mr Ronayne he understood that plans were being p-cparcd for dealing comprehensively with Te Kuiti, Otorohanga and a number of other stations in the district. During the recent borough election he was away in a remote corner of his constituency and saw enough sights in the way of bad roads to confirm all that had been said before on the subject. In one place a young lady was teaching eight children on the footpath, the log whare not being big enough to hold them. In another place a settler who had been on his place for over three years and had paid .£llO in rent had still HO chains of road uncompleted. He congratulated Mr Boddie on his attainment of the high position of first Mayor of Te Kuiti. He knew the strides this district had taken, and ho urged and prayed the Council not to indulge in any "boom and burst" policy. They know what had happened in ->thor places, and they should take care that residents and ratepayers were not taxed out of existence. He congratulated the members of the Council, and particularly his friend, Mr Pcpene, upon their success in the elections. Te Kuiti had a warm corner ot his heart. The matters they had mentioned he would place before the Minister in Wellington. With regard to the Waiteti 1 road, he understood the settlers were preparing a petition which he would lay before the Minister. He trusted the Council would work together for the common good. Under the new State Guaranteed Advances Act they could raise a largo loan. With careful management Te Kuiti had a great future before it, and at all times he would do what he could to help the borough. Mr Jennings then left for Pio Pio, where he lays the foundation stone of the new butter factory this afternoon.