ADVANCE GREYTOWN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 295, 7 September 1908, Page 8

ADVANCE GREYTOWN.

AN INTERESTING TRIP. BY A PARLIAMENTARY PARTY. (BT TELEGEAPH—SPECIAL KErOETEB.) Carterton, September 5. The hospitality of the Wairarapa will soon become a byword among Parliamentarians. Last year about this time a strong party invaded tlioMartiriborough district, and went .away , with tlib" plc'asaritest recollections, and ' to-day . another par,ty,,was introduced to the scenic charms, smiling plenty, and hospitable dents of the Upper Valloy. The visitors comprised tho Hon. J. A. Millar, tho Hon. J. Carroll,, the Hon. A. R. Guinness, and Messrs. T. Mackenzie,. Hone Heke, T. Y. ■Soddon, and Witty.-..-.r, Lunch and a happy little sing-song at iMr. Hornsby's house occupied the first hour or two'after the arrival, and advantage was taken of the gathering by the Mayor' of Carterton (Mr. W. Moore) to give the visitors a hearty welcome. The Hon. J. A. Carroll, who was the general acceptor on behalf of'the party of all kindnesses throughout,the day, fittingly and' [characteristically"replied.' ' Croytown, Ancient and Solid. ■ The aftornoon was agreeably spent in a drive under grey, threatening skies to Greytown, where the Mayor of that ancient yet happy and solid little town (Mr. D. P. Loasby) _ extended official welcome, surrounded Iby prominent residents, in front of the' new Town' ,'Hallj an exceedingly fine, roomy building,' with'evcry up-to-date convenience. Mr. Loasby greeted the visitors to tho oldest town in the Wairarapa., Greytown, he said, took its name from tho "grand old man" :of .New Zealand. Progress so far had not been as rapid as in the case of many other towns, but; the residents wero satisfied 'with'.solidity' and'a' sure-foundation. Nevertheless, .they hoped, that the result, of tho visit "would" perhaps" be'a few more crumbs for the district. (Laughter.)' He incidentally mentioned that' two bridges were very badly required, and would materially assist in opening-up the back country and feeding the town. They , also wished to show the party the' route 'of-the proposed railway, aud possibly,,the,co,urso;.of tho suggested railway line;, to W.ellingtoif ;to r obviate the heavy Rimutaka ;trip. i ■ lu-'a happy littlo "puff" of. the virtues of; Greytown, Mr. Loasby said that. not ono patient had yet been sent to the fever hospital: from' the town.

A Good Capital Sito; If . . Leaving' Greytown", tho party then drove on to the property which Mr. Thomas Kempton has offered to the Government for a capital' city sito. The property comprised tho Greytown trotting course, about, fifty acres in extent, and situated a little more than a mile boyond Greytown. It is a fine, flat property, sloping gently to tho Waiohino River, and fringed with stately pines. Some speeches were made, while the eyes of the 'Party wandered over tlio broad acrcSj and enthusiasm on the part of the visitors was judiciously tempered with fears of tho impracticability of removing tho seat of Government from Wellington-. Should it bo decided to locate the capital city away from Wellington, one or two members of- the deputation'will, 'for consistency's sako, require to vote for-the Moroa Plains. Entering tho five-horse drag again, the visitors were taken., to the charming residence of Mr. Kempton and of tho Mayor of Greytown,. and hospitality was dispensod at each place. Tho party then'returned to Carterton, where they woro b'iletted at the Club and Marquis of Normanby Hotels. Some Incidents.

•It might bo mentioned that Mr. Thos. Kempton, who has offered the Moroa Plains site to the, Government, has a pioneering record whic|i, ,in addition to his strong and ■interesting personality, gives him considerable distinction in AVairarapa. He is well past his three-score years and ten, but bears littlo visible indication, thattho years sit heavily upon him., "I turned the first.sod in Greytown," ho' told the party. "I was tho first settlor in Greytown, first set foot'on the, Tarauas,. and I brought tho first wheel ovor the Rimutakas." A still moro interesting recollection 'was. that ho had delivered 'tho first blow, in the cause of tho Queen's Wharf, Wellington. Some of tho piles for the wharf' were cut from among the heavy timber of-tho l Lower-Wairarapa Valley, said Mr. Kompton, and he himself in 1872 had been under engagement to supply logs to the sawmilling firm of Maclagg, who operated on the Trees' fallen under his axe had boon hauled'across tho Rimutakas, and the first of them-had been driven in where the Queen's Statue now stands. Could those hand-hewn piles but speak they would proacli an eloquent gospel of honest labour to tho smooth-palmed orators, who so often' declaim' from above them. The ' property : : which Mr. - Kempton proposed to give to the - Government is a portion,of a surrounding, estate of three or four thousand acres. Its approvers declarethat the suggested site has a natural slopo that would- afford excellent drainage, while tho Waiohino ' and Tauheranikau flow gently by two of its sides. .From the Waiohine could be ■ obtained sufficient energy to supply three capital cities—but first cot your city. -. " Mr. Carroll's Diplomacy.. , After the party had inspected the site, the Hon. Mr. Carroll, said- tho Hon. tho Speakor as head of Parliament, could most fittingly rotiirn. thanks for. what was undoubtedly a generous offer.. The, Nativo Minister then decorously stepped out; of tho littlo ring and walked .up and down the adjacent roads, tho Hon., Mr... Guinness .meanwhilo promising that if his casting voto wcro needed ho would givo it for this'charming site, tho claims of which ho recognisod. . (Loud hear, hears.) "Of .course,. ,you, know," ho added, "you have'a .terrible combination to fight. I seo :my friend, Mr. Tom- Seddon, laughing. Tho whol'o q'uestiori would .bo settled by Parlia;ment ,this session, but if not, and if tho people at next election ;decided in favour of a capital city, then, the-site offered would bo an. ideal ono."

, Mr. T. Mackenzie, .the senior member of tho party, said that the only place to rival tho preferred site would bo Waikouaiti— (laughter)—but he 'did 'not think there was any chancq of tho capital site being removed from Wellington — there wero too many things to bo considered. Ho appealed to tho Nativo Minister pacing tho road for his opin"Under consideration," muttered tho' Minister. -(Laughter.) Mr. Mackenzie proceeded that if. any site outsido Wellington was selected .it should bo Wairarapa. Mr. W. Udy (an old-pioneer): "Are you honest in that?" Mr. Mackenzio (with a gleam of the eyo): "As honest as you are." (Laughter.) Mr. Hornsby recognised that thero was a big " if" in tho way of the removal of the capital sito; but if such a proposal was considered ho would do his lovol. best for tho district. . At tho same, time, ho gave tho gathering, even whilo looking over tho magnificent offor, littlo hopo of realising their ideal. The Mayor supplied tho key to-tho position, by saving that, tho offer having been, made, it had been'their duty to placo that offer boforo tho Government. On Monday tho party will visit the Taratahi raco- | courso, - and will receive a deputation, and will -bo entertained at Tauheranikau. In tho evening thoy will attend a social, returning next morning to Wellington.