MINISTERS' MOVEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 254, 26 April 1912, Page 5

MINISTERS' MOVEMENTS

THE AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Yesterday. ' The Hon. (!. AV. Russell, at a confer* once with the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid 'Board, congratulated it on its administration and reduction ill expenditure. The Auckland Hospital was the largest and in many respeeti the finest in New Zealand, coinmen* surate with the great advance of a citjj where its future prospects would placfli it easily in the front of the cities of thq Dominion. He spoke of the importance of making better provision for mater* nity cases and inducing medical men tal reside in the buck country district*. The board would be absorbed by tkq t proposed provincial council, but the coun* oil would be empowered to appoint persons outside to advise on special mat* ters. He desired to see rest homes established for the treatment of tern* porary mental aberration. THE HON. A. MYERS. i A PUBLIC RECEPTION. Auckland, Last' Night. A complimentary reception, tendered to the Hon. A- M. Myers by the citizen* of Auckland, on the occasion of his elevation to Ministerial rank as first lieutenant of the Prime Minister, was held ia the Town Hall to-night. About 3000 persons attended, and the proceedings were < marked with the greatest .enthusiasm. The speakers included the Prime Minister, Hon. G.W. Russell, the Mayor of the city, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Elliott (chairman of the Harbor Board), Mr. Gunson, and Mr. Long. The Mayor read a handsomelybound address prepared for presentation 1o Mr. Mvers and congratulated him upon tii • high honor bestowed upon him. He reftrred-to his past services and: ability. Mr. Mycr-, on rising to reply, waa greeted with a storm of applaus'e. He " heartily thanked the great gathering for their tribute. In the course of his speech he said that the motto on the banner of the Mackenzie Ministry waa "Honesty of purpose and efficiency!" All recognised that the time had come for efficient administration. Even the other side held it to be one of the planks of their platform, and it had been accepted • by the Mackenzie Ministry. The conclusion of his gfTcceh was greeted with great cheering. The Prime Minister was greeted with, great applause. He strongly advocated in his speech the vigorous need for a rapid settlement of the land, and emphasised the benefits to be derived from bringing into cultivation the kauri and other lands. The Hon, G. W. Russell also spoke. THE HON. LAURENSON AT MOKATJ. (From our own correspondent.) The Hon. Mr. Laurenson paid a visit to Mokau on Tuesday last. The visit was an important one, as our settler! had matters of urgent moment to lay before the Minister. The. party, including Mrs. Laurenson and Mr. AV. T. Jennings, journeyed to the end of the metal near TJruti by motor-car, and from thence to Mokau by vehicles supplied by the Mokau folk." The party arrived' here about 5.30 p.m., the weather being wretched. A deputation from the Mokau River Trust -Board waited on the Minister and explained the unsatisfactory manner in which they had been treated by the Department in the past. Our visitor seemed a good deal surprised, and promised to give the matter his attention. After discussing the snagging of the upper reaches of the Mokau river, a work that the Minister seemed to concur with, he was met by the full complement of the Mokau Harbor Board. This body had grievances (<. vent in connection with flie dilapidated state of the wharf through the ravages of sea-worms (torcdo) in the piles. The foundations of the structure have been eaten away, and the wh:uf wis just about in a collapsible state. The' Board had neither rating power nor endowments to renew the work, nnd was powerless to meet the trouble without substantial assistance from I lie Department. After hearin:.' all particulars the Minister promised to give what support he could, seeing that the Board was so severely handicapped. On Wednesday morning the party was taken for a trip up the lovely Mokau river, in Messrs. Jacob and Black's launch. This craft was specially constructed for negotiating the rapids. As the weather was very rough the party decided to return, after a twelve miles run. The return journey was made in good time, and the party set out for AVaitara, which place they reached in the evening.

The people here were greatly pleased and satisfied with the cordial manner in which the Minister met them, and congratulated Mr. Laurenson and Mrs. Laurenson and party for the plucky manner in which they had faced the rough journey and inclement weather. .

Too much cannot be said in praise of Mr. W. T. Jennings' activity in bringing the party through to attend to the district's needs.