The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5018, 11 February 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1885.

The Hon. John Ballance is paying the district one of those visits which should be made a steady practice with Ministers duriag recess, so as to enable. them to ace for themselves what they cannot possible gain a complete knowledge of from official documents. Owing to the large extent of territory embraced within the area of the duties appertaining to the offices held by Mr, Ballance, his time in each district is necessarily limited, and therefore every care should be taken to systematically and promptly lay before him the details of the immediate requirements of the district, so that the shortness of his stay here may not preclude the possibility of his obtaining all available local information in connection with any one r matter to the\ exclusion of another. The continuation of the Thames Te Aroha Rail way beyond Kopu, wjhich cannot but materially aid tlie settlement of the many acres in the vicinity of the propesed line, is one of those local works requiring the immediate attention of the Government. Of course the Native Minister cannot but be aware that the Government has pledged itself to call for tenders for this work during the recess, yet the steps to be taken in such a direction do not appear to be approaching fastly. The importance of the construction of this line, with all the necessary, bearings on the advantage it will be, not only to our immediate district, but to the inhabitants and land owners for miles around us, should be plaiuly laid before the member of the Cabinet who visits us, and no perfunctoriness displayed in pushing under his consideration the many arguments which may be used in showing the neglect the Thames district has always suffered at the bands of previous Governments, which should in itself cause our just claims to be investigated by the present one. The question of land settlement is another of absorbing interest, and one which will doubtless be brought under the notice of the Minister, and various other matters of ■importance in connection with the goldfields, which,although they belong to the department of another Minister, may be considered and reported upon by the visiting one. Doubtless the greater portion of Mr Ballance's time will be taken up by the consideration of native affairs, but when we consider his aptitude for work, and the graceful attention he invariably pays to all matters placed before him, we are satisfied .{that it only remains necessary for the committee appointed by the public meeting re the Bailway, and others interested in items of importance to the district, to lay their wants before him to have them carefully considered.