HON. MR RICHARDSON'S VISIT TO TEAROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 138, 23 January 1886, Page 7

HON. MR RICHARDSON'S VISIT TO TEAROHA.

Reppec-ting the visit of the Minister of Public Works to Te Aroha on the 13th inst., we now add some further particulars, unavoidably omitted in last issue, owing to pressure of other matter. The Minister, accompanied by Messrs J, B J Whyte, M.H.R., Maxwell (General Manager of Railways) Hudson (District Traffic Manager do.), Coom, Private Secretary etc., and also by Mesila'nes Richardson and Maxwell, arrived soon after ten a.m. by special train, which landed the passengers on the town side of the river $ being the first passenger train which has crossed the bridge. The visit was a very brief one, less than an hour, and only admitted of a brief inspection of the station &ite now in coursp of construction, and an adjournment to tue Palace Hotel for lunch* The following deputations waited upon the Minister, and were introduced by Mr J. B. Whyte. The first Deputation representing the Te Aroha Improvement Committee comprised Messrs Jhs. Mills (chairman of Committee) Dobson, J. Comes, Frazer and Robson. Mr Mills acted as spokesman, and first referred to the desirability of having the railway line through to the townsiiip opened with all possible despatch. 2. Ihe desirability ef having the new coach road towards Tauranga via Thompson's Track formed withas little delay as possible, as it would be the means of diverting a great deal of traffic to and from the East Coast via Te Arolui, and prove a great public benefit by greatly shorteuing the jonrnny. 3» The "noon t .at would be con f cirel on country resi lents in the district by the issue of ehe ip return tickets to and fnun Auckland, which would undoubtedly be very largely avaiie I of, and have the effect of considerably increasing the railway receipts. 4. The urgent need of a water Mipply ror the tn.vnship, both for the convenience of householders and also as a means of suppressing fires, and in connection with t is subject the speaker pointed out »»uat natural facilities existed at Aroha lor an eJlictent water supply at a com |i iratively small outlay, and enquired of any Government aid in die toim of a a grnnt might be looked for towards hay in Of ■sncli provided. In ivply tne Hoa Mr Richardson * id ;—l.; — 1. The Government "weie most anxious to have the line opened >j»eedily. in order that as much of the summer tourist ti.ififc nnsj'it l»e sejUi- I a-* po-^si. le. 2. He would give his attention to the requ -*t, an 1 ?••!> that n • ti ne was lost in carryi % out the work. 3. The desire of fie Government was to make tlie railways a great ben. fit to the public, an i the sugp^vStion with respect to cheap return tickets wouhl receive every consideration. 4. Mr Richardson expressed surrrised that Te Aroha had not been constituted a Borough and strongly uige^pthe advisability ol having such formed^ as until some form of local self government wei'e adopted, it was not possible for Grove-n-ment t n aid in the way suggested. On being informed efforts had recently been put forth to form a municipality, but fell through, owing to their being an insuffi cient number of inhabitants, he remaiked that defect was certain to be remedied as soon as the railway was completed. The deputation having thanked the minister for his attention to their needs, withdrew. Mr G. Wilson (chairman) and C» Ahier were next introduced as a deputation from the Thermal Springs Domain Board, and invited the minister to inspect the Domain and hot baths, an invitation which, owing to his brief stay (being anxious to push on to Oxford), Mr Richardson was unable to accept on the present occasion, but expressed his intention of returning to Aroha soon, when he would have more leisure and be pleased to do so. He remarked be had heard a great deal of these wonderful springs, and believed them to be of great public importance. The deputation thanked the Minister for the assistance his Government ha 1 given them by the grant of £1000 for I developing 1 the Domain and springs. j The party left about 11 o'clock, Messrs NVhyte, Maxwell, and Hudson returni?^' saiue evening to Arolia lor a short stay, tint Minister, Mrs Richardson, and private secretary proceeding to Rotorua.