PRIME MINISTER.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 January 1913, Page 3

PRIME MINISTER.

VISIT TO THE WAIROA,

The Prime Minister left Auckland on Monday by the express, on his Northern tour as Minister of Lands, and was met on arrival at the Helensville terminus, by Mr Jas. McLeod (Chairman of the Town Board), and Messrs J. A. Wilson, Jas. Stewart, and Jas. Hand (members of the Board), and several citizens of the town, to welcome him personally as the Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who was first sent to Parliament as representative of Waitemata, Helensville then being in that electorate. The party included Mr Strauchon (Under-Secretary for Lands), Mr Skeet (Commissioner of Lands at Auckland), Mr Coates (M.P. for Kaipara), Mr Thompson (Private Secretary), Mr Furby (Ass. Secre • tary), and a Star reporter.

Mr Massey thanked them for their congratulations, and was sorry time would not allow at the present juncture for accepting their kind invitation to a social gathering, but stated that he would visit Helensville at a future date, when he would gladly accept their hospitality.

The party, shortly after arrival of the train, proceeded by the s.s. Aotea to Dargaville, being accompanied as far as Shelly Beach by Messrs Jas. McLeod, J. A. Wilson, Jas. Hand, and F. Tucker (acting Town Clerk). Mr McLeod pointed out the improvement that had been made to the Kaipara River by the removal of rocks in the channel, and asked for a landing stage at Shelly Beach, where he intended to offer a reserve of 26 acres to the people of the district as a pleasure resort. He also pointed out that the monument erected on the beach in honour of the Treaty of Waitangi, some 25 years ago by the Government, was sadly in need of repair, and that the copy of the Treaty which was let into the monument and mounted with glass, was almost obliterated by exposure to the weather. Mr Massey, who seemed pleased with the outlook of Shelly Beach as a camping ground, said although it did not come within his department, he would do what he could in the matter of forwarding the project and getting the monument put into repair. After the deputation had left, the party proceeded to Dargaville, where they attended a residents' banquet in the evening. On Tuesday a visit to Waipoua State forest was the main item. On Wednesday, January 15, Mr Massey will attend the Albertland jubilee celebrations at Paparoa. His parents, though not Albortlaud settlers, caniG out in the same year, under similar conditions, and took up land in that locality. January IGth lie visits Bickorstafi'e Estate, and. roaches Auckland in the evening. He will make no party speeches during his travels. The Bickerstofto Estate, in North Auckland, is to be visited to examine 2,000 acres of land withheld from settlement because it was thought it would Le of value to the Agricultural Department. The Department have not, however, been able to utilise it to the extent anticipated, and Mr Massoy, as Minister of Lands, will see if the area cannot be resumed for closer settlement. He will inspect the Waipoua State forest near Dargaville, and make himself familiar with the facts concerning a suggestion that certain areas are reserved for forest which might bettor be settle 1 Tho bigger question of afforestation has also drawn the Prime Minister to the locality, and he states that tho proposed Cominis > sion on Afforestion will be appointed upon his return to Wellington. The party will return via Maunga-* turoto 'and Kaiwaka, on Thursday, arriving' in Helensville to catch the 4.20 train for Auckland, from where Mr Massey proceeds to the Thames on Friday.

It is the intention of a deputation representing the Helensville Eacing Club, to wait on the Premier on the return journey, and point out that the Club wish to be granted a totalisator permit, there being no permits at present in the whole of the Kaipara electorate.