KATIKATI REQUIREMENTS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLII, Issue 6023, 4 March 1914, Page 3

KATIKATI REQUIREMENTS.

During the recent visit of the Ministerial party to Katiknti the following matters were laid by deputations before the Kiglit Hoik W. 1\ Massey, Prime Minister. The Hon. Vk . Herries. Member for the district, was also present.

Mr M. V. Welsh urgod the immediate commencement of the construction of the Waihi-Athenree section of the East Coast railway.

Mr G. V. Stewart expressed thunks |to the Minister for Public Works and to the District Engineer, Mr Hannah, for having changed the loeatiou of the Atbtnrcc station from a hill at the Hikurangi Gorge to a *ilat on Mr Ulingwortirs property in the direction of Katikati township. Mr Stewart produced the county map, showing tlie line oi railway, and location t»f station, lie expressed the opinion that th- re would be considerable passeng r tmtlie on the section from the g'>H.i ids to the seaside. Hon. W. F. Mas^cy intimated that the work of construction would be proceeded with immediately.

.Messrs X. Henry and K. Morton advocated the opening up of Crown lands in the Katikati district. .Mr G. V. Stewart referred to the action in this matter previously taken by the Beard, and pointed out that surveyors were already at work in the district, as the result of promises made to the Board by the Prime Minister. Mr Massey intimated that the representations would he attended to. Mr E. Earl made.out a strong case in favour of the Government acquiring the land of absentees in the To Puna and Aongatete districts, aud | throwing some open for settlement. ! Mr Massey promised that this matter would be attended to next session. . The question of increasing the subsidy o:i the metalling loan in the j Kiitikati Kiding from £2oQ to £500 j was asked for by JSJ r Stewart. He pointed out that contracts were let for £1000, and asked that the extra money be paid out of the Consolidated Fund from the grant for main i roads.

Tho Prime Minister promised to place the request before the--Minister of Public Works.

Mr Stewart asked for a grant of ,£2O to provide a wide verandah to the public library. Mr Massey promised that th« money would be voted next session. Mr Stewart requested that £100 be granted to complete the access road to the Katikati domain at the Heads. Mr Massey's reply was considered satisfactory. llcv. D. Albert, Mr J. Hume, and Mr G. V. Stewart, representing the Katikati Branch of the Bible-in-Schools League, presented a resolution passed by the League, asking the government to take a referendum on the Bible-in-Schools question. The deputation referred to the corres ? pondence on the subject between Mr Hoimari, Premier of New South Waies, and tho Anglican Bishop of Auckland, as appearing in the Auckland Herald, and asked that the democracy be allowed to express their opinion.

Mr .Massev's answer was non-

committal, but he stated the matter would be discussed by the Cabinet. Mr C. T. Dunne requested that the Public Trustee should advance to the Road Board £200, as promised, for the installation of a telephone system in the district-

The Prime Minister promised to look into the matter.

Mr J. Hume pointed out that Thompson's track was in good order in the Tauranga,County, but in bad condition on the Piako side. He also asked that a sum be voted to fence the stock reserve, on ,the road. The Minister promised that the representations would be considered.