VISIT OF HON G W RUSSELL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 October 1915, Page 2

VISIT OF HON G W RUSSELL.

(minister of internal affairs) ♦ OPENING OF NEW BRIDGE ADDITIONAL BATHS BOWLING GREENS, ETC. Helensville Lauded to the Skies

The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister for Internal Affairs, accompanied by the Hon. W. Beeban, M.L.C., Mr Frank Lawry, and Messrs J. Gordpn Coates and A. Harris, M.P.'s* arrived from Auckland at Helensville South station on Saturday, 23rd inst:, at 10 a.m. The party was welcomed by Mr F. Dye, Chairman of the Waitemata County Council, Mr E. T. Field, Chairman of the Helensville Town Board, and many residents.

The bridge, which crosses the Kaipara River half a mile from the town, is 210ft in length and 24ft in width. It was designed by Mr G. A. Jackson, County Engineer, and was built by Mr T. Napier. The cost was £3000, the money being contributed by the Government, the Waitemata Council,', and the Helensville Town Board. —Opening the BridgeOn arrival at the bridge, where a large gathering had assembled, Mr Dye, on behalf of the residents gave Mr Russell a cordial welcome, and invited him to open the bridge. .Mr Dye said it1 afforded him very great pleasure to see so many present to welcome the Hon. Mr Russell, and he knew that all appreciated the Minister's visit. He then gave full details of the bridge- saying it was the largest bridge erected by Waitemata County Council (of which he was Chairman), but much of the credit was due to Councillor Jas. McLeod, who represented the Riding containing the grand structure, and also to him was due the credit of the present Ministerial function and other ceremonies to come off. Mr Dye then introduced the Hon. G. W. Russell, who went off inarattlinggoodspeech referred to the North which bore such a poor opinion from those in the South, but which was now highly spoken of and coming into its own. The present was his first visit to -Helensville and North of Auckland, and the little he had seen on his journey and the surrounding country gave him the general impression that things were very much better than what had been represented, and he was fully convinced that the North was progressing wonderfully. He congratulated the people of Heiensville and district on the new order of things, and the splendid structure, and then went on to give credit to all concerned in it, and the harships which the old pioneers of the district had gone through. Mr Russell then invited Miss Dye to cut the ribbons stretched across the structure, and declared the bridge open for traffic. Yards of the ribbon of red, white and blue, were then sold at half-a-crown an inch, for the patriotic fund, Mrs Oxley especially working hard.

Mr Dye presented Mr Russell with a gold medal, containing on one side a miniature representation of the bridge in relief and on the other an inscription, as a momento of the occasion.

The Hon. Mr Russell, after receiving and appreciating the presentation, then uncovered the beautiful marble tablets, with inlaid lettering, giving particulars of the bridge, opening ceremony, date, etc. Cheers throughout the proceedings (including to our boys at the front) were numerous.

—The New Baths-

Free conveyances then carried the crowd on to the Hot Springs, where an inspection was ma'de by the party of the new additional baths. Here again the Minister was loud in his praise, first of the mineral springs, and then of the beautiful domairf and its surroundings. And in the course of his address, the Minister said he understood the people of Auckland were striving to raise a fund of £250,000 for its WaiRelief Association, and intended to retain the whole of the money raised for administration within its own province. He suggested that the claims of the Helensville Domain Board for money with which to extend and improve the facilities ot the baths be placed before the Auckland Association.

—Selfish Auckland — He suggested that the Association be asked to assist the Helensville Domain Board with funds to provide accommodation for sick and wounded soldiers. If Auckland was prepared to assist, he, as Minister for Public Health and Minister in charge of the sick and wounded soldiers, was prepared to favour any proposal that had for its object the establishment of a convalescent home at Helensville. He was prepared to do his part in making use of the Springs as a -spot in which sick men might be restored .to health. Referring at a later stage to the administration of the

patriotic funds, the Minister said, he had been called upon to administer over £1,000,000 of accumulated money. He said that ' Auckland.preferred to "paddle its own canoe" and maintain a ..j provincial fund. He was not going to propose any element of compulsion in connection with ; this matter, but he desired to say < 4 that a National War Fund Council should be set up to administer the funds. He did intend to see that every soldier J$ who returned received a fair and equal proportion of the money collected. The West Coast .of the South Island, which was one of the , poorest districts in the Dominion, and had scarcely j raised anything for the fund, had \s* sent more men to the front than any other district in New Zealand in proportion to its population, i On the other hand, the Wair&rapa y, district had raised over £80,00^' He would be no party to ■ssej^M the boys from Wairarapa "sm6k-( ing fat cigars and living in luxury," while the soldiers from the West Coast went without comforts. Other gentlemen, including Mr Coates, M.P., also spoke upon various matters. —Opening of Bowling Greens— ' The beautiful lawns were then opened by Mrs E. T. Field throwing the Jack, Mr E. T. Field (Chairman of the Domain Board) replying to the Minister's good wishes and demand for three cheers for the lady. Other cheers called for the Minister, the Board, etc., were also heartily responded to. Play was immediately indulged in by Auckland ' and local bowlers. Afternoon tea was provided by the ladies, and was heartily enjoyed. . —The Dinner — < Given in honour of the Ministerial visit, took place at Mrs Little's, Parakai (opposite the Domain gates), about 100 guests partaking thereof in the large and handsome dining room. After all appetites had been satisfied, toasts and speeches followed, with Mr Jas. McLeod ably filling the chair.