PIO PIO-ARIA ROAD COMMITTEE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 591, 6 August 1913, Page 5

PIO PIO-ARIA ROAD COMMITTEE.

Own Correspondent

On Friday afternoon a meeting of the Pio Pio-Aria road committee was held in Mr Kiigmu's boarding hot.se, there being present —Messrs Collins (chairman), M. A. McKenzie. Nelson, C. J. Riddle, Keighley, D. C. McDonald, Davidson and Peine. An SDology was received from Mr S Riddle.

Correspondence was read to and from the Prime Minister. Minister for Public Works. Mr C. K. Wiison, M.P., Mr C. J. Ryan, E. Tolme. and Barrnet. The secretary also reported that he had britten to Mr Massey, asking him to"corroborate from his visit were the reasons advanced in support of the petition: and to Mr Laurenson, M.P., giving him all the information in regard to the road.

Immediately after the committee meeting a meeting of subscribers to the Pio Pic-Aria road fund was held for the purpose mainly of hearing the report of the delegates to Wellington, Messrs M. A. McKenize and Petrie. They reported that they had the willing assistance of Mr C. K. Wilson, member for the district, and Mr Hine, M.P. for Stratford. The Hon. Mr Fraser, Minister for Public Works, listened attentively to the reasons and arguments given, and in reply said he fully understood the conditions under which the farmers worked, and felt sympathy with them in their struggle againßt many difficulties caused mainly by the bad means of communication. He referred to the large sum of money that had been spent in the Taumarunui electorate last year, none of which he begrudged, but at the same time his purse was limited. He would carefully consider the petition of the settlers, and whatever was possible to be done would be done. His Government existed to help the development of the less favoured parts of the Dominion. The deputation thanked, on behalf of the settlers of Aria ar.d surrounding districts, the Minister and members for the time and help they had given, and expressed their confidence in what the Minister had said.

The treasurer reported that £lB 12a 6d had been received from the subscribers and that £l3 6s 5d had been expended, leaving a credit balance of £5 6s Id. The balance-sheet was passed. The meeting passed a very hearty vote of thanks to Messrs McKenzie and Petrie for the manner they had presented the petition to the Min ister. TELEPHONE CONNECTION. When Mr Massey, Prime Minister, visited these parts Messrs Collins and Petrie requested him to have thn telephone bureau of Kaeaea connected with Waitewhena.a distance of nine miles. A reply came to hand the other day to the effect that there was another connection. It was resolved to Mr Wilson to re-open the question as the present wire between these two place wag 129 miles in length and passed through five offices, neceaitating notice being given and causing inconvenience generally. It was imposible to effect a speedy connection. As a result of this quite recently a child :iad died. It had eaten matches and the father was unable to get the doctor's advice over the wire and had to gallop to the nearest doctor with the child, but it died en route.