Visit of the Minister of Public Works.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1218, 20 April 1880, Page 2

Visit of the Minister of Public Works.

On Sunday morning' at 8. 30, Mr Oliver accompanied by Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R, Mr Whitaker, M.H.R. Mr Blacket, and Mr James Stewart, started on a tour of the district of Waikato. Mr B. Edwards hid provided a waggonette, drawn by four horses, and himself presided on the box. The weather was lovely, and well calculated to impress favorably a Minister whos." abode is fixed in the midst of the fogs of Dunedin. Ohaupo was the first point reached, aud here the party made a halt for half an hour. Alexandra was then visited, and Mr Oliver, accompanied by his engineer, made a minute inspection of the bridge, which certainly is iv a dilajjidatcd condition. It was resolved that the necessary repairs should be undertaken forthwith, aud we believe Mr Beero, C.E., will shor.'ly be instructed to get out the necessary plans and to call for tenders for the work. Luncheon was provided at Mr Lewis' hotel at Te Awamutn, and this busy township was reached at 1.30 p.m., where a really first-class repast awaits! the hungry visitors. From Te Aw.imutu a move was made to ICihikihi where the Minister and Mr Stewa:t took a ramble through the spacious mausion in course of erection for the chief Rcwi. This work is rapidly approaching completion, but it is not yet known whether the old ohief will deign to occupy it. It is ronorted that ho will pay it an | occasional visit, leaving it almost entirely in the ch-irge of the famous Mrs M«iv, hij> niece. A change of horses had been obtained at Te Awamutu, aud this enabled the party to push on at a good speed towards Cambridge through the magnificent district of Rangiaohia. It is really wonderful to see the way in which the grass holds out on the rich t>oil of this part of the district. At whatever time it is visited the same fresh greenness presents itself to the eye, and the undulating character of the country enables the eye to take in all its great beauties at a glance. Cambridge was reached, by way of Walker's Swamp, at 5.30 p.m., where an excolleut tea, provided by host Hewitt, was partaken of. Here the question of the Cambridge-Rotorua road was fully discussed, from its M:io;i aspect, with Mr R. E. M. Cunpboll, who has beon negotiating with the natives for the passage of the survey, &o , in the de&ired direction. Mr Oliver expressed his determination to proceed with this work with energy and determination, and thus open up overland communication between Auckland and the wonderland of the geysers and terraces. Thore can be no doubt that the matter will be pushed forward with the promptitude its importance warrants, and the Provincial District of Auckland will have to thank the member for Waikat-o (Mr Whyte) for the untiring energy and zeal which has so largely contributed to bring about so extremely desirable a consummation. At 9 o'clook the party " came to an anchor " at Gr Wynne's hotel, after having, through the admirable arrangements of " Ben," been enabled to perform the hitherto unaccomplished feat of visiting the whole of the Waikato townships, with the exception of Whatawhata and Ngaruawahia, in one day. The weight of Ben's influence was strongly felt by one of the front springs of the trap which collapsed under the superincumbent pressure ©f this Princo of Jehu's. jMr Blackett was, however, soon on the spot, and the fracture was speedily roduced with the assistance of the Minister of Publio Works, two yards of fetrong rope, aud a twitch It may be added that Mr Oliver was most favorably impressed with the whole district, and stated that he had previously no idea of the extent and quality of the available land of Wai* kato. To use his own words, " One thing is quite clear to me, if you plant anything in this soil it will grow." Yesterday morning, at 9.30, the Minister, accotn* panied, by Mr Whyte, ♦• third member fox

the Thames/ and Messrs Blaokett and Stewart, took his departure for Ohinemuri and Grahamstown. Mr JBrodio is expected to give him a warm reoeption.