MAGNIFICENT MOKAU

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 272, 7 April 1911, Page 4

MAGNIFICENT MOKAU

A SURPRISE FOR THE MINISTER. AND HIS ENTHUSIASTIC VERICT. By Telegraph.—Special tn News. Mokau, Last Night. The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister in charge of the Tourist Department, unci party, arrived ia ifclokau at 10.15 this morning in four motor cars. The party included the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie and Miss Mackenzie, Mr. Newton Kin? and Mrs. King, Mr. \V. T. Jennings, M.P.. Mr. Tisch, Mayor of New Plymouth, Mr. W. H. Skinner, Mr. W. J. Penn, Mr. T. C. List, Mr. R. Cock, Mr. L. (Jock, Mr. Reakes (Government Veterinarian), Mr. Hicks, and Mr. L. Johnston, the Minister's private secretary. The party went up the river by oil launch as far as the coal mines, 23 miles up. The conditions were most favorable, and a very pleasurable time was spent. The scenery was indescribably beautiful, the opinion of the whole party being summed up in the Hon. Mackenzie's judgment: "I consider the scenery the most magnificent 1 have seen in New Zealand—greater even than the lovely scenery of the famous Wanganui." The trip up took about 3'/» hours, and the return journey the same time, the party getting back in darkness and rain, which prevented their return to New Plymouth to-night, with the exception of Mr. Newton King, who pushed through. The rest of the party arc staying at Mokau overnight, returning in the morning. ' THE MOKAU BRIDGE. At Mokau a deputation, headed by Mr. Jennings. M.P., waited upon the Minister respecting the necessity for the construction of a bridge over the Mokau. Mr. Jennings pointed out that the river was the boundary of Taranuki and Auckland districts; that the traffic of sheep, cattle, etc., was increasing considerably; that the people were put, under the present ferry system, to great expense, inconvenience and delay; also that settlers would be willing to pay a toll for the use of the bridge if erected. The Government had placed £2-">0 on the Estimates for the bridge, which showed that the Government recognised the necessity for the bridge. The cost would be in the neighborhood of 01-2,000. He pointed out that the late Mr. Seddon had stated, ten years ago at Waitara, that the bridge was a national work and one of urgency, and promised to recommend it to the favorable consideration of the Cabinet. He strongly urged the Government to put the work in hand without I delay. Messrs. Nicholls and Walter Jones, members, of the Harbor Board, supported the representation. The Minister stated that a vote having been put on the Estimates, and it being still there, could be regarded as a commitment on the part of the Government to the work. Personally, he would be pleased to place the representations made before the Minister for Public Works. RIVER IMPROVEMENT. The members of the Mokau River Trust, consisting of Messrs. S. W. Nicholls, A. Kelty, and L. Jacob, also waited on the Minister in respect to securing greater Government assistance for improving the river.' Mr, Jennings pointed out that the Government had granted only about £6OO during the eight years that the Board had been constituted for this purpose. He contrasted this with what was being done for the Wanganui River Trust. The deputation also brought up the matter of preserving the banks of the Mokau river for scenic purposes, requesting thai only those portions unsuitable for settlement be so reserved. To both requests the Minister gave non-committal replies, though he said he would look upon both with a friendly eve. He thought, however, tlmt the private syndicate who had recently acquired ! the large estate abutting on the river I should bear a fair proportion of the i cost of improving the river highway.