THE HON. R. M'KENZIE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1082, 22 March 1911, Page 4

THE HON. R. M'KENZIE.

AN EAST COAST TOUR. (By Telcßraph.-Pross Association.) Gisborno, March 21. The Hou. R. M'Kenzie, who is visiting the East Coast, north of Gisborne, paid a visit of inspection to the Waiapu* Hospital yesterday, where everything waa found to be most satisfactory. A deputation of tho Waiapu County Council waited on the Minister regarding the wants of the district. Special mention was made ot the bridge over tho Waiapu River, and the construction of a road through Native land. The deputation also askod the Minister if there was auy possibility of getting a reduction in the duty oil steel, for which they had had to pay heavily for bridge construction, hi reply, tho Minister said he would advise the deputation not to proceed with the road through the Native lands until permission was obtained, as it might be ttepped. He considered Native lands should be loaded for roads, or else should pay rates. Tho Minister expressed himself as greatly pleased with the district, but considered it should be carrying fifty times as many settlers. He adyiscd the deputation to got Mr. Carroll and Sir Joseph Ward to visit the district. In regard to the duty on steel, he advised the deputation to do as the Government did, import the raw material and work it up, as the duty waa only on the finished article. Mr. M'Kenzie returns by steamer from Tokomaru to-morrow evening, when he will be entertained by the Chamber of Commerce. ,He will leave on Thursday overland for Wairoa and Napier. The present occasion is tho first time a Minister has visited the coast directly north of Gisborue. To-night the Minister was entertained at dinner by Mr. K. S. Williams,