HON. MR McNAB.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43084, 25 April 1907, Page 4

HON. MR McNAB.

SOME WAIHI DEPUTA* TIONS.

While in Waihi the Minister for Lands was waited on by several deputations. The. first was a committee of the Liberal and Labour Federation, with regard to the Waihi land tenure. Under the present system pf residence sites there was not sufficient security on. which, to borrow money. The Minister replied that he would bring the matter under .the notice °f the' Minister for Mines, in whose. Department the matter rested. Mir Mueller, a, member of the deputation, suggested that the present system of miners’ right should he abolished on the quartz fields, as they were only practicable on alluvial fields. A large deputation of prominent resident®,and members of the Borough Cbunoil then interviewed the Minister. Mr Donaldson urged that the lands outside Waihi should be surveyed and roadedi for small settlers, and let in sections up to 200 acres, the holders to be allowed to occupy under the Mining Districts Land Occupation Act instead of having to go, to the Land Board and then, to the Warden. He also urged that, the water conservation area .of 900 acres, on the Waihi watershed, be protected from any damage or 1 from any act, that Would militate against, the purity of the supply, as some of the mining companies desired to cut timber there. Mi" Gilmour. the Mayor, ashed the Minister’s influence towards getting the present Paeroa-Waibi rai'lwav extended to Tauranga. The Waihi people did not ask an immediate prosecution of the line, but wanted to see the work commenced. Mr Evans urged that the Government should immediately extend the railway to the eastern end of the town, or up to the Grand Junction mine. The BPrough Council was prepared to da the work of running the fine along the street if the Government, would run, its rolling stock over the section. Mr Foster brought under the Minister's notice the utterly inadequate post office accommodation at Waihi. and urged that "Waihi should be made the centre of the new police district to be established south of Auckland.

Mr McNab, in reply, said the Lands Department was often hampered in dealinc avith lands through mining restrictions. He did: not know what had caused the delay in the survey of the land .round the town, but thought it must be owing to the work of the two Departments, jcjon,flirting. He would look into it and see what, could be done. He also promised to carefully look into the matter of the water conservation area, as he recognised that pure water was a first consideration. He also, promised to refer the raihvay question to the Minister for Public Works. The post office matter he would refer to the Postmaster-Gen,era!, and the police matter to the Minister for Justice.