The patience with which backblock settlers wait for roads and railways was arnuisngly illustrated by an anecdote told by the Hon. E. McKenzie at the Caledonian Society's banquet at Wanganui. The Minister said that recently, in the Taranaki backblocks, he was waited on by some settlers in reference to local needs. Among the deputation was a lad, who spoke up towards the close of the interview, and said, "Mr McKenzie! Do you think we will get a railway here before our lease runs out?" "How long is your lease for?" asked the Minister. "999 years, sir," replied the lad. The Minister added that he was forced to laugh himself, and on asking the boy's age, and learning that he was nineteen years old, told him he thought he could promise that the district would have a railway by the time he was 29.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19100910.2.39.2
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King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 293, 10 September 1910, Page 6
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143Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 293, 10 September 1910, Page 6
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