MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1918, Page 2

MINISTERIAL VISIT.

TO NEW PLYMOUTH. Tim Minister of Railways (the Hon. .W. H. Hcrries) wlio was accompanied by ilr. Crowe (private secretary for railways) ami Mr, Baluears (private secretary for Native Affairs), was met by the Mayor 6f New Plyjnoutli yesterday morning at nine o'clock, and toircther with Mr. H. J. Okev, M.P., and Crs. G. \V. Browne, \V. A." Colli.;. E. Grilliths, \V. F. Short. F. J. Kill, .1. \V. Ilaydcn, and J. Clarke, the borough engineer, the olectrical engineer and tramways manager, and the borough accountant, the Minister was sliowiy- the improvements made along the foreshore FORESHORE IMPROVEMENT. Mr. Heroics wan first shown the amount, of reclamation work that had been done in order to divert the railway line from its old route and bring it along the sea front. The party then motored to Kawaroa Park, where Mr. V. H. Real, chairman of the Park Committee, explained to the Minister what had been done by means of public subscription, picnics, and entertainments since the reserve had been vested by the Borough Council in the Park Committee. The Minister inspected the grounds and the bungalow and expressed appreciation of what had been done.

From, there the party motored to Ngamotu where Mr. J. W. Hayden, chairman of the Seaside Committee, explained what had been done there in order to make the place attractive not only to residents of New P]ymoiii.h but also to visitors from othei parts of Taranaki. He stated that the cottages had during the past season been occupied by visitors from all over Taranaki, and also from Feildmg, Palmerstoii, and places as far away as Wellington and even Dannovirke. and pointed; out that that meant revenue to the Railway Department He said it was the intention of tile committee to make a road right along the sea front from Ngamotu to Bayly road.

NATIVE CEMETERY. The Minister then walked along the, beach to the Native settlement, where a deputation waited on him to ask that the present burying ground should be reserved as 'sifth for the descendants of those at present buried there. Mr. .1. 11. Walkei spoke foi the Natives, apd said that the ground had been gazetted a cemetery in 1840. All the deputation asked was that the descendants of those buried there should be allowed to be Buried in the same ground. Some of the ancestors of the present Natives had Leen buried there, for hundreds ot years The last burial had taken place about December 30, 1917. Being a public cemetery the ground should not have been handed over to the Railway Department. The Natives would undertake,to keep theg round clear if it was reserved for thoni, The reason it had got untidy was that directly a start was ma'se to do anything to the grounds someone would come along and tell the Maoris that they had no right to (ho land because it belonged to (ho Railway. Rangi Maturi also addressed the Minister, supporting Mi. Walker.,. Mr. Herries. in his reply, said lie was there in a dual capacity. A3 Minister of Railways the land was vested in him, and as Minister for Native Affairs ho had to look after the interests ot the Natives He would inquire how the Government came into possession of the land Dr, Pomare had already drawn his attention to the fact of there being a cemetery here. He would instruct the Railway .Department to look into the title of the land and if it was found, as stated, that, the land had been vested in anyone lis a. public cemetery he did not see how it could have ceased to be

one If it had been closed, and vested in the Bailway Department, then the closing would have to stand. It it was rot a public cemetery then they were perhaps breaking the law by burying there unless with this permission of the Minister of Internal Affairs. In that respect he would confer with the Hon. Mi Russell. The future of the cemetery depended on the result ot the investigation ot the original titles it it was found that the Railway Department was rot likely to \vant land, he would see if it was possible to reserve the portion in Which the graves were at present. Whether it could be declared a. public cemetery again was a matter for the Interna) Affairs Department The Railway Department wmttl take care that the present graves would not be disturbed if that coula possibly be avoided. He pointed-put, however, that New Plymouth might become a large city and :here might be houses all the way from Moturoa to we town. There might be considerable railway construction, and the land might actually be wanted for railway purposes. He knew of no objection to their keeping the graves in order He would let them know as soon as possible the results of the department investigatioriM.

DEPUTATIONS. At the Soldiers' Club at II o'clock the several deputations presented their requests to the Minister. There were represented the New Plymouth Borough Council, the Taranaki County Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Technical College Committee, Harbor Board. Laborers' Union, AVatorsidcra' Union, and the meat freezing industry. Die Mayor presided and welcomed the Minister to N[e\v Plymouth. Ke then placed before Mr. Hcrries the request of the Borough Council that the Eail-vay Department should vest in the Council certain land on the foreshore along the Moturoa-New Plymouth railway The portions suggested tn lie so transferred were shown by means of a map, and the Minister had been taken over the ground earlier in the morning. What was really being asked was that the hind which the Railway Department did not requiro should be vested in the Borough so that they could improve it and make it attractive.- The land at present, leased by the Borough was on a three-monthly tenure and under such conditions it was impossible for the Council to spend the ratepayers' money upon improvements. He knew the Department would say they would probably need the land in order to duplicate the breakwater line and also for accommodation in connection with the New Plymoutli-Opunake line, and also tor harbor extensions. There were., however, after all the requirements of the Railway Department had been met, certain portions of the foreshore which it was felt could never be used by the Railway, and it was these portions that the Borough desired to get something in the nature of a secure tenure of Those portions would lend themselves to ideal seaside improvements, and creation of excellent recreation areas which would be of benefit to the whole province. ; There was in all some five miles of j sea front to New Plymouth, and it might [ lis made one of the finest watering places

in tJiG Dominion. It was already called the playground of Taranaki: The workof the committees on the foreshore was evidence of what eould bo done. -Thousands of people made New Plymouth a holiday resort, and that meant direct benefit ( to the Railway, Department, which should encourage the' provision of attractive seaside facilities. The'Coun-' ci) wanted such a tenure of the land as would Warrant it in spending money on improvements. He quoted letters i'rom the Mayors of Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham. and Fawera, and the chairman* of the Taranaki Education Board, all of whom supported the Council in its endeavor to secure the land on the foreshore. The ambition of the people of New Plymouth, was amply shown, and they really hoped that some day there would be a road almit; the ; ea front from the breakwater tc the. 'IV Henui. There were other attractions about New' Plymouth which induced railway traffic, in. finding the North Egmon't mountain house, sports grounds, and parka, and when the Stratford-Main Trunk railway was opened .New Plymouth would be the port for the Main Trunk district of Ohuva and also the watering place for the people of that district.' He urged, therefore that the Minister, should take the Council's application in serious and careful consideration, and he hoped they would receive a favorable reply. The Hon. 0. Samuel supported the Mayor, and said the people of New Plymouth had shown an appreciation of their responsibilities and a derive to improve the natural advantages of the place. Ho thought the Mayor had removed all possible grounds of objection by the Minister when he stated they wanted only the areas which the Department could not use.

I ■ . MINISTER'S REPLY. Tn his reply. Mr. Hemes congratulated the borough on tlje progress since his last visit three years ago, which he characterised as phenomenal. He also complimented the town upon having such worker;;, who spared neither trouble nor expense to effect the'improvements he had been shown during the morning. There was a lesson in that for larger, towns. As far as the Government was concerned they would always encourage those who were working for themselves in that way. If it was possible ho would, at once accede to the request. Though they had asked only for what the Department did not want, it would be very lia.nl to say how much of the foreshore the railway would not require. It was his belief New Plymouth would become a centre. Its port would be probably the largest West Coast port in the Dominion. There would also eventually be the traffic fronuthe Oliura and from Opunake. lie understood also large harbor improvements were contemplated, and the Railway Department would have' to lay itself out. to meet new needs in that.direction. The ideas of 20 years ago of what would be required in the future had all become out of date. He knew of instances where the Railway Department had had to buy bade land with which it had parted in-the belief that it would not be required. He felt justified in asking the Council to wait until some of the proposed schemes ..of development should be consummated, before deciding to part with any land. They might re. quire even more land than was at present available and have to do reclaiming into the sea. When it could be determined what wa:- -"P-- *-«nuu\. .» would be prepared to favorably (-insider vesting any surplus (here might be in the Borough. Council.