NORTH AUCKLAND'S NEEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 164, 11 July 1907, Page 3

NORTH AUCKLAND'S NEEDS.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

Some of the needs of North Auckland were brought before the Premier's notice to-night by a deputation introduced by Messrs. Houston (Bay of Islands) and Mander (Marsden), comprising Mfessrs. Williams (Bay of Islands County Council), Reid (Bay of Island Railways League), Vaughan (Hokianga County Council), McKenzie (Whangarei County Council), and Wilkinson (Mangonui County Council).

It was urged that the extension of the Kav.-akawa-Wliangarei line should be pushed on at greater speed, the speakers stating that a considerable quantity of timber, coal and general produce would be sent over it when it was completed. The Government was urged to take over about 60,000 acres of Native land at Kaikohe, and extend the railway through it to Hokianga. It was explained that the extension to this district would be 25 miles. Owing to bad communications settlers had to dispose of their timber and stock upon much less favourable terms than those obtained where roads were better. A telephone bureau. at Kawakawa would, it was stated, very much assist the development of the district. Sir Joseph Ward replied that he could not make any promise regarding railways, for this was a matter which would have to be considered by his colleagues, whose desire was to do th__r best where possible, always remembering that there was a limit to the total amount of money the colony could borrow every year, which controlled the Government in its final decisions. In regard to railways, the request for telephone extensions was on exactly the same footing, but wherever possible he was quite prepared to give telephone facilities in the country. He proposed during the next few days to present a return showing the amount oi telephone extension of the late years. It was, he added, really wonderful.