HON. TOM MACKENZIE IN TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 351, 8 April 1911, Page 5

HON. TOM MACKENZIE IN TE KUITI.

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER

Tlvj Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister in charge of the Tourist Department accompanied by Miss Mackenzie and Mr YV. T. Jennings, M.P., reached Te Kuiti from Mokau yesterday evening. Two deputations waited on the Minister with reference to roads.

Mr Jennings introduced Mr Jas, Boddie, who was accompanied by Messrs E. H. Hardy, W. S. King, F. L-I. Sims, T. E. Foy and Major Lusk. Mr Boddie cordially welcomed the Minister to Te Kuiti, and was very sorry there was not more time for him to see. this growing place. He wished to draw his attention to the desirability of opening up the road between Oparure and Waitomo. For a distance of five miles the County Council was metalling the road the coming summer, but there was a stretch of four miles which had had nothing done to it. if that work was done,

it would give a short way to the caves of under eight miles. At present it was not only an impediment to tourist traffic, but to settlers in coming to the sales.

Major Lusk confirmed what Mr Boddie had said. At present settlers had to travel over double the distance. When he was chairman of the County Council five years ago, Mr Hall-Jones said he would give it his favourable consideration. The only difficulty was that the. land it passed through was native land. This had blocked progress. Mr Mackenzie said there was no chance of the work being dons just now. The Government had been spending money on the Hangitiki road, and the County had entered into some arrangement in connection with it. They had great difficulty in getting the Hangitiki road into order, and consequently it had been expensive making it passable. To be quite candid, he thought they should finish that road first. Later on the proposed road might be made, but not just now. The Government could not spend money on two tourist roads, when many settlers had no road at all. The road from Hangatiki to Waitomo would reach settlers as well as the proposed road. He tendered thanks for the cordial welcome given him. He had no idea Te Kuiti was as near to Mokau as it was. He was very glad indeed to have the opportunity of coming through the country. Mr Foy drew attention to the desirability of a road between Te Kuiti and Lake Taupo being made. At present the road ran about 10 miles out of 35 or 40 in that direction. The country was being rapidly settled, and a very great extent of it was good country, retarded by want of roads. The land was partly native and partly Government. The road would be of very great value to the tourist traffic, which could come from Taupo to Te Kuiti and on to Waitomo. Tourists would also strike a point giving access to Auckland or Wellington by rail. He would be glacl if the Minister would take note of the matter for future consideration.

Mr Sims also spoke of the road as opening up the country and giving access to and from Taupo. The Government was forming eight to ten miles in that direction, opening up the Eangitoto settlement, and the further 30 miles was very easy country for road formation. Mr Mackenzie said no doubt the matter of connecting Taupo with the main trunk and reaching the Waitomo caves would have to be gone into very soon. He would be very glad indeed to get a report on the nature of the. country, and the possibility of making a road. Major Lusk said the Government had acquired several blocks of land in that locality, and it would be carrying out its own policy to carry the road further. Mr Mackenizo said he could see there would be a very considerable amount of Tourist traffic. He understood there was a possibility of putting canoes and steamers on the Mokau river, and a trip could be made to the Waitomo caves, down the Mokau, to New Plymouth and on to Wellington. He considered the Mokau was equal to any other New Zealand river he had seen. There were therefore possibilities in Te Kuiti being a centre for tourist traffic when the work was done.

Mr Jennings expressed the thanks of the deputations for the courteous hearing given them, and the deputations withdrew.