MINISTER OF WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1922, Page 9

MINISTER OF WORKS.

MR. COATES AT OHAKUNE. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) OHAKUNE, Saturday. The Hon. the Minister of Public Works arrived at Ohakune last evening and was tendered a banquet by the Borough Council at King's Court Hotel, the Mayor presiding. The Minister received deputations after the banquet. Mt. Coates, who was accompanied by the engineer-in-chief, Mr. Furkert, and other prominent officials, came through from Wanganui by motor car and was much impressed by the spread of settlement and the 'prosperity of this part of the district. He referred to the necessity for tbe Government doing all in its power to assist back-block settilers.

MR. COATES AT WAIHI. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) W__H_, this day. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) will .be passing througih Waihi on Anzac Day on his way to Paeroa, and the Mayor (Mr. Donaldson) is to arrange a deputation to meet him the' following day at Paeroa on matters affecting the borough of Waihi, tbe principal matter being the 'financial burden placed upon it by the River Silting Commission. No deputations can be taken at Waihi, owing to the fact that Anzac Day is 'being kept as a, Sunday.

HON. J. COATES AT TAURANGA. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.) TAURANGA, this day. Sir William Herries arrived here on Saturday night to meet the Hon. J. G. Coates on his arrival from Waikato, via Kaimai Road. Portion. of the journey on the top of the hill had to be done in a buggy. Deputations met the, Minister at Kaimai on local matters, particularly a request for a grant to improve the road. The Minister was accompanied by Mr. Furkert (Engineer-in-Chief) and Mr. Markman (assistant secretary to the Postal Department). To-day the party goes over the Maunganui-Matata section of the East Coast railway. To-night the Minister receives deputations here. He leaves to-morrow for Waihi.

KING COUNTRY DEPUTATIONS. - (By Telegraph.—Own -Correspondent.) TE KUITI, this day. Large deputations saw the Hon J. G. Coates at Te Kuiti and Aria on Saturday, the principal subjects discussed being a local Power Board for hydroelectricity, and unemployment in Ohuni district. The new post office at Aria was opened by the Postmaster-General after being introduced by Mr. W. T. Jennings. There was a large gathering of settlers. A banquet was held afterwards.

The official, opening of the railway from Okahnkura to Matiere is postponed until the second week in May.