Ministerial Visit.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 409, 9 April 1909, Page 2

Ministerial Visit.

BON. A. W. HOGG. On Saturday last the Hon. A. W. Hogg, Minister for Roads and Bridges —accompanied by Ml* T. Burd (Dis- , triot Roads Engineer) and Mr Mas» Lin noy (Private Secretary)—paid a visit to Kawhia, the journey being iccomplished overland from Te Awamutu. AT TE RAU A-MOA. After luucbeou Mr Ormsby and several other settlers waited on the Minister with regard to local requirements. The various speakers asked •.hat the Pirongia West Road be wi dened ; that a bridge be erected over tbe Wai pa River along tbe Kawa Road, whioa would save a day in the matter of mails; that the Hauturu Road be repaired, so as to let suppliers get to the factory. The difficulty of getting m?6al crushed was also pointed out. Mr Ormsby complained of the dilatorinii® in opening up native land, stating that he had some land surveyed and the plans sent in 12 months ago, but so far they had not been pt :sed. Mr Hogg, in reply, said he would bring the various requests for improve m.ents to roads before the Chief Engineer for Roads for enquiry and report. He realised that funds were required; but be had to do bis best for the coun try generally with the limited amount at his di?p)3. He unders’ood there were two stt e crushers in the possession of tbe Roads Department and be promised to make enquiries and see if it would be possible to provide one for use in the (’'‘strict. Matters in connection with native lands ha would refer to tbe Native Minister. AT KAWHIA. PUBLIC BANQUET TENDERED The bon. gentleman arrived at Kawhia about 6.15 p.m.. being met by a’l tbe members of the local bodies and many settlers and residents. There were about 50 present at the banquet, Or W. -I. Shaw, Chairman of tbe County CoiziK-l, presiding. The tables were most tastefu’'y arranged and the menu provided re flee ted credit on tbe caterers, Mr and Mrs R Sircombe.

After the loyal toast had been honoured. the Chairman proposed that of “ The Guest,” stating that it was gratifying to see the Minister for Roads and Bridges so interested in the Kawhia district as to pay it a \ isit, and the Dominion was to be congratulated upon hat.ng such a. Minister. The progress made in the reading of the district during the pas'; year had given great satisfaction to the settlers, and he trusted that ihe good work would continue.

In replying, the Hon. Mr Hogg ex pressed pleasure at the hearty welcome extended to him and the manner in which the toast had been honoured. Ha had been travelling the country lately endeavouring' to discover if New Zealand was progressing as it should do, or whether that state of stagnation which was heard so much about rea-ly prevailed. From bis observations he could say that the lands looker brighter and healthiei.* and the settlers were in a happier mood now than be bad ever seen them before. He had often beard of Kawbia's magnificent harbour, and was now pleased to have the opportunity of seeing it and of meeting :he settlers face to face. In bis trip across that day be bad seen the good work of the settlers, but he also noticed great pictures of desolation—the large areas of native land that were lying idle. The.a was far too much of it. (Applause ) It was a shocking state of affairs wheu their Wtts the cry for laud and the unem ployed question, yet these valuable areas lying idle. He had only seen one factory oh the wfi.y over, but the country be passed through should be studded with butter and cheese factories, which would be the case if the native lands were opened. If it was within his power he wouiij settle the land at once, as it wig lamentable to see the Guuntry go’ng back. His ob jeflt was to see that where settlers were they should get one of the best benefits of civilisation—bridges and properly completed road ; by completed roads he meant metalled dray roads, without wnich dairying could not be satisfactorily prosecuted. If the Government gave him plenty of money he guaranteed to give good roads. The speaker than referred to the Lind question, gh.ng his reasons for being in favour of the leasehold. He hoped to be able to do good work for the settlers in the way of roads and bt : Iges. Dr C. Campbell Jenkins sp-ike io appreciative terms of the good work done of late by the Hoads Department, and asked that the work be continued. Or A. W. Babbage proposed the toast of " Parliament,” remarking tha|| although averyon© may uot sec eye te eye with the Government, the vast amount of road work lately done must be highly commended, A t.milar progressive move should be made in connection w’th native land*, which were at present killing the district. Th© Hon. W. W. M‘Cardie, M L.C., responded. He could, ho said, testify to the good work done by Parliament. Hs was pleased to welcome Mr Hogg to the district—for they were friends years ago—as he rocognissd in him a gentleman who wor’d do we" I in the position he occupied. The King Country had great needs, and a large sum of money would be necessary to atiiond to those needs, which, he trusted, would be granted by Parliament. There ware two works in the vicinity of Kawbia which he would like to bring before the Mini-ter—the need of a road between Kawbia and Oparau and a btldgp at the ferry ; h wa* not right that Jhe coach cool’d not he taken to Kawhie, and that the real fh phad at the ferrv , wait of tb*d “ local is-xke-.-.

was proposed by Mr Hogg, who paid a great compliment to members of local

t bodies throughout the Dominion, and also tc the time and energy they devoted to their duties and the good work achieved. Crs Jonathan and- Shaw, Chairman of the Town Board and County Council respectively, responded, each refer ring to the drawback of the native Hnda. The first-named said that this was the greatest hurdle that a local body had to get over. In the Eawhia Hiding of the County it w: 3 alr.*OBi necessary to get a microscope to find out where the rates were collected from ; the same thing applied in every riding of the County. The Maoris wanted to be placed on exactly the same footing as the Pakrba. Mr P. Beil, Marukopa, proposed the “ Trade and Commence of Kawhia,” emphasising the need of railway com munication between the Kawhia Harbour and the Main Trunk Line, and the need for keeping the steamer service between Marokopa and Kawhia going. Messrs Chase and Jonathan respon dad, the latter quoting some valuable figures and describing the various mutual advantages very lucidly. The other toasts were “ The Press,’’ “ The Ladies,” 41 The Host and Hostesb,” “ The Chairman,”

DEPUTATIONS. Tbe following deputations then waited on the Minister : Mr Noonan, urging that tbe native land question be settled. Mr Jonathan, asking that a sum of £l5OO ba voted for the Kawhia-Upa rau road, so as to enable the coach to get right to Kawhia; (that a bridge be erected at the ferry ; that Jervoia st., Kawhia, be completed; that £6O or or £BO be granted for taking tbe perment levels of Kawhia, as tbe work was too great for the County to undertake ; that the £250 on tbe estimates for the Eiwbia Aotea road be spent. Mr E. W. Buckeridga asked that a sum of £B, authorised to blow out rock] on the Pakoka shed, be expended; that the Pakokashed be put in repair ; that a bridge be erected at Pakoka ; that tbe Ruapuke Aotea road bs c?mp’eted, so *is to allow settlers to ur’ise the Aotea Harbor ’.

Mr W. Shaw requested that ihe recent good road work be continued. Mr Hartman asked that a sum of money be voted to continue the Tarr matatotara West road to complete it from its junction with the Kawhia Mahoenui road to the junction with the Te Maika road so that se.tiers could go in for dairying. Messrs Ball, Rose and Willison requested a grant of £l5OO to complete the Marokopa Valley road, between Km rima and the heads, Messrs R. Davies and Ellioit asked that about four miles of the AoteaWaitetuna road be completed; that more land be taken for a land’.ng at Oparau. Messrs A. Babbage and Robertson requested that a block of 1600 acres of land at Awaroa be thrown open to settlers,

Mr Hogg promised to look into the various matters brought under his notice.

On Sunday the party bad an excursion around the harbour and left on the return journey on Monday.