MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 205, 27 February 1914, Page 4

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

A BUSY DAY. Despite the fa-et that lie was receiving deputations on many and various subjects until a late hour on Wednesday night, the Hon. .fas. Allen, Minister for Defence, I'inanco and Education, was abroad early yesterday morning, and spent a very busy day.' At 8.30 a.m. he was taken to the Moturoa oilfields by Messrs C. Curler and ,T. I>. Boy (members of the Advisory Hoard) and L. Keith (field manager) of the Taranaki (X.Z. Oil Wells (Jo. fitd.) Mr. 11. J. 11. Okey, M.l'., who has been acting as cicerone in chief to the Minister since his arrival, also accompanied the parly, with Mr. Matthews, private .secretary to the Minister. Mri Allen made a complete inspection of the chief points of interest in the field, and was much interested in what he saw. He then paid a fleeting visit to the West Knd School and to the site of the proposed school at Vogeltown, in order to help him in considering the views of the deputations which waited 011 him regarding these matters. The High School Board of Governors showed him over jlie Boys' and Girls' High Schools, and the Central School, where Mr. Allen made himself very popular with tlie children by the bestowal of sundry holidays. He was then taken to I'ukekura Park, St. Mary's Church and Marsland Hill. A visit to the Taranaki Agricultural Society's show lllled in the afternoon until 4.30, when Mr. Allen received a deputation in the Coronation Hall in connection with leasing the hall to the Defence Department. A busy day was brought to a conclusion by a smoke concert in the Brougham Street Hall, tendered to Mr, Allen and the autumn show judges by the Taranaki Agricultural Society.