VISIT TO PLAKO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 48, 26 February 1901, Page 3

VISIT TO PLAKO.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

THAMES, Monday.

The Hon.. J. McOowan, Minister of Mines, and the Hon. Mr Duncan, Minister of Lands, arrived at the Thames yesterday morning- by train from Te Aroha, accompanied by Mr Mueller, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr Hurst house, Government Surveyor, and also the Ministers' private secretaries. After breakfast at the Pacific Hotel, the party were driven to Shortland wharf, and left for Piako by the A T.S.S. Company's Patiki, which had been chartered by the County Council for that pnrpo.se. The party on board included Mr T. A. Dunlop, County Chairman; Councillors Bagnall, I. MeEnteer, Corbett, Kilgour; also Messrs Bag-nail, Elliott, Haszard, Jackson Palmer, M.H.R., and Barron (Surveyor General), and Captain Mair. The first stop was made at Pokatunawhenua settlement, some four miles from the mouth of the Piako River, where the p%rty landed for the purpose of examining the land. The next stop was at Kiripaki, eleven miles further on, where there is a Maori settlement. On landing1 here tlie party were met by the Maoris drum and life band, and escorted to the Rununga House, recently erected, where the formal reception took place, Puhata, the chief, welcoming* the Ministers in a speech which was translatpd by Capt. ,Mair. Allusion was made to the death of Queen Victoria, and her influence for good and peace. Messrs Duncan and McGowan replied, the Maoris loudly applauding the speeches. The procession then reformed, and headed by the band, returned to the landing, embarking in the launch Alert, the river being now too narrow for the Patiki. A final stop was made at Te-Awakerea-Paka, 28 miles from the month of the river, where the party remained nearly two hours examining the land. Owing to the falling tide it was not possible to proceed further, which was regrettable, as the best land in the district lies eight miles higher up, running along the foot of hills, and abounding in old Maori cultivations. The launch made a quick run back to Kiripaki, where the party transhipped to the Patiki. Here Puhata came aboard, and in a speech expressed pleasure at the object of the visit, and placed the new Rununga House at the disposal of Government whenever needed. The Thames was finally reached at 10 to-night, after a most enjoyable day. After dinner on the Patiki, Mr Dunlop spoke, thanking the Ministers for the visit, and hoping* that good would come therefrom for the whole district.

Mr Duncan, in thanking Mr Dunlop .and the County Council for the completeness of the ararng*ements in connection with the trip, which had given hdm much pleasure, said that the land was well worth'cultivation, but until it was properly drained was almost worthless. On his return to Wellington he would go .into the whole matter of drainage, and see if the Government was prepared to go to the necessary expense. The nature of the land i such that no man could take up sections without capital, but the Government would be justified in making* an attempt to drain and throw open the Piako swamp for settlement. He would be glad to pay another visit later on.

Mr McGowan said that if Mr Duncan said 'the land was worth draining, the latter could depend upon his support in Cabinet. He hoped tbat Mr Duncan would take early steps to obtain from the Maoris the land now in their hands, so that a drainage scheme could be taken in hand. Mr L. J. Bagnall spoke of the sucesssi which had attended his firm in turning swamp land at Turua into remunerative property. The whole arrangements for the

trip were in the hands of Mr Dunlop. who is lo be highly complimented on the complete nature of the arrangements. To-morrow the Ministerial party will visit Omahu and Wharepoa districts, aud Bagnall Brothers' property and mill, Turua.