THE PREMIER'S VISIT TO KAWHIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 125, 28 May 1903, Page 4

THE PREMIER'S VISIT TO KAWHIA.

Th» Premier paid bis long-looked-for-ward-to visit to Kawhia on Saturday. Accompanying him were Mrs SeddoD, Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Minister for Lands), Mr G. Mueller (Oommissionet of Crown Lands), and Mr Greenekde (who contested the Waikato seat at the last general election.) At the entrance to the harbour the Hinemoa, with the Premier's party, was met by the local steamer with band on board, crowded with residents of Kawhia and the turrounding locality. The wharf was reached at 5 o'clock, where an enthusiastic welccma was given to the Premier. Headed by the band the party proceeded to the Public Hall, where several deputations were received on matters of local icterest. Chief among

these were requests for improving the district, for extending the whaif, for farther surveying and laying out the township to meet the demands consequent on the great iocrease in the growth of the population of Kawhia. In reply, Mr Seddon promised full consideration to the application for roads, but thought the matter of properly laying out and surveying the township, defining the streets and extending the wharf was one for urgent attention. This work should be put in hand without delay. The Premier promised to give every consideration to the requests for a steamer subsidy. The vast area of good land in the immediate neighbourhood of Kawhia -- was referred to by members of the deputation, and also the possibilities of the place as the centre of a large dairying district. One of the great needs of the settlers in this part is a better and more frequent steamer communi-: cation with both New Plymouth and Auckland. In the evening a large "social" was tendered to the Premier. Mr F. W. Lang, M.H.8., occupied the chair, a large number of ladies being present. Before the toast-list was proceeded with, a musical programme was gone through, the Premier contributing two items.

On rising to respond to the toast of his health, Mr Seddon was enthuslastic*lly received. He expressed great surprise at the remarkable growth and progress of Kawhia, and said there was a great future for the rising district. The land settlement extension policy of the Government had been more than justified by the striking advancement made within the last year. The Premier's announcement of Mahut&'s call to the Legislative Council and his appointment to the Executive Council was received with app'auee. Mr Seddon said it was a fitting termination to the native policy of the last ten years. Now thousands of acres of land would be p'accd in the hands of the Maoii Council to be thrown open for settlement, and great good would follow ""."to Both, faces.

She Premier was exceedingly p'eased at the warmth of his reception everywhere throughout the electorate. During Mr Seddon's visit a large deputation of ladies waited on him in reference to the evils if the sly grogBelling existing in the district Tbey represented a very bad state of affairs in this respect, and some system of control and supervision—preferably the Qothenberg system—should ba brought into effect. Replying the Premier deplored the reported state of aflairg. He- said that the sibject was one requiring the gravest consideration, and it was the intention of the Qovernment to deal fully with the matter. Almost any change would be preferable to the alleged state of affairs. He recognised that the deputation was ..ontirely disinterested in i's action, and stated it was the fixed intention of the Government to strictly enforce the law. By ao* doing the evils of sly grog-belling would, he hopad, be minimised as much as possible.