Premier’s Visit to Patea,

Patea Mail, 23 January 1882, Page 3

Premier’s Visit to Patea,

We understand that the Premier, Mr Hall, will arrive in Patea to-morrow, per train from the south. His present visit along this Coast is in his capacity as Minister of Public Works (still holding the portfolio. resigned by Mr Oliver); and we believe he is making » tour of observation for the purpose of preparing the annual Public Works Statement to submit to the new Parliament. It is desirable that a deputation should interview the Premier about noon tomorrow. The reasonable claims and requirements of the Patea district have never yet been brought under his notice by a local representative body, such as a deputation would be. Other parts of the Coast will doubtless have their own case to set forth in their own way ; and it is desirable that all reasonable claims of various kinds for local works should be placed before the Premier from a popular point of view, relying also on Major Atkinson to give effect as far as he can to the local desires. Railway completion is the first ner cessity. This might be urged in two aspects. Firstly, the section from Waveriey-to-Patea, being a short and easy work, could be finished for opening in time for the next wool season, instead of the construction going on at a dawdling rate which is very provocative to fanners through whose land the line runs, by keeping their paddocks open and causing vexatious annoyance and losses. The slow method of constructing the Kakaramea section could be held up as an example to be avoided, for it has given rise to intolerable grievances among settlers, by keeping their paddocks open an excessive period, by bringing on to the land a class of impudent loafers and their dogs, causing the death of many sheep, and by long postponement of any compensation . for various losses incurred. To repeat such experience in another part of this district would be a deplorable infliction on settlers, and a vexatious delay to all interested in developing local resources. In this connection, it would be desirable to show that the short link from Patea to Manutahi might be 'finished and opened at an early date, as a means of reducing the heavy traffic on roads, during winter, and cheapening the delivery of merchandise in the new district opening on the Plains. It could be urged too that by completing the Waveriey section expeditiously, the whole south railway would be opened not merely at Patea, but nine miles further north to Manutahi. The other nine or ten miles to: Hawera would be the ; only remaining link to complete the railway system from Fdxtpn to Waitara. In a fertile, district that is becoming populated rapidly, the completion: of that small link should be insisted on as a work that is urgent politically and commercially. The whole through traffic of the West Coast, and a great deal of local traffic, would be blocked by the nine-mile gap between Manutahi and Hawera.

; Next in importance to the railway is the opening of the back country within the Patea district, adjacent to the harbor. Roads to the Momahaki are being cleared, and that land should soon be accessible for sale and settlement. Another road of great necessity is one to connect the Whenuakura block by bridging the river opposite Nicholson’s farm, and thereby connecting the existing roads on each side of Whenuakura river. The official promise as to exploring for a good track along the University reserve is still only a promise, there being no evidence of beginning the work. The University reserve itself should be dealt with by leasing—or still better by selling—in farms of moderate size: and the importance of this matter should be urged strongly on the Premier. It is a positive blight on the local population to have land lying next to the port-town kept locked up in the shape of a huge unexplored reserve. While (Government are supposed to be

favoring education by reserving this land for some future University, the Government are thereby creating a serious bar against present settlement, and repressing the natural growth of a sea-port. That unexplored area of ten thousand acres might be the immediate feedingground for developing the shipping facilities of Patea harbor. To impress the Premier with the capabilities of this port, it would be well to refer to the river as capable of being made navigable to interior lands that are known to be excellent and extensive, including two blocks belonging to Government beyond the confiscated line. The urgency of having the eel-weirs removed by Government order—an order which might be given at once—could be mentioned in connection with the difficulty of obtaining reasonable help from Government for placing Patea on equality with other harbors less capable of improvement. The importance of resuming the system of nominated emigration might well be mentioned, in connection with the understood intention of borrowing to complete the main railways of the colony. A politic and well deserved congratulation could be offered on the success of the new method of dealing with native fanaticism. If those who intend to form a deputation were to confer previously, a prudent programme might be arranged. This is an occasion when personal and party jealousies should be patriotically sunk.