ROAD TO THAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1928, Page 7

ROAD TO THAMES.

MERCURY BAY'S NEEDS. NAME OF WHITIANGADELETION REQUESTED. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) MERCURY BAY, this day. The principal needs of Mercury Bay were explained to the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, by several deputations which met him iu the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Mr. N. A. Wells presented a petition signed by 259 ratepayers asking for the completion of the Tapu-Coro«ien road, which would shorten the distance to Thames by 12 miles. The settlors offered to supply the metal for a distance of six miles not already provided for. Mr. B. Woodhead, on behalf of the commercial fishing industry, supported the request, and said that 138 dependents of the fishermen and factory hands would be deprived of a living if the road was impassable.

The Minister said he would make no promises. His policy was to finish a job. The district was certainly deserving of better means of access, and he would go into the matter of the road with the engineers.

The changing of the name of the post office at Whitianga to Mercury Bay was asked. Mr. E.-Chadban, for the Swordfish Club, said tourist business was often lost on account of the post oihces recognising the Bay only by the tame of Whitianga.

Mr. Wells asked for a. £1 for £1 subsidy for the new wharf, and Mr. Woodhead urged that the reserve c-11 Mercury Island be reserved in perpetuity for the use of fishermen and yachtsmen. He also suggested that Mercury Bay, as a tourist and fishing resort, be included in the advertising matter issued by the Tourist Department. The Minister said he would bring the various requests to the notice of the Ministers concerned.

Yesterday the Minister and his partv, which included Messrs. A. M. Samuel and T. W. Rhodes, M.P.'s. were the guests of the Mercury Bay Sword fish and Mako Shark Club. Owing to the Minister's time being limited, no catch was made.

"Mr. Williams to-day visited Colvillc and Port Charles.