THE PREMIER IN THE NORTH. LOCAL MATTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1908, Page 3

THE PREMIER IN THE NORTH. LOCAL MATTERS.

[BT TELEGRAM. — PRESS A3SOCUTION.] TE AROHA, 11th February. Sir Joseph Ward arrived in Te Aroha this afternoon from Frankton. En route the Premier stopped at Momnsville, where he was entertained to luncheon by the townspeople, and received a deputation on local matters. The chief subject brought under his notice was in connection with two large blocks oi' native land abutting "on Morrinsville township, which the seventy native owners wer? anxious to have dealt with by the Native Land Court and their interests individualised, so that they might' deal with Europeans for the land. The deputation urged that the request of the natives might be acceded to, pointing out that there was an area of 14,000 acres in the two blocks that had never been cultivated. In replying, Sir Joseph Ward said he could see no objection to holding the court at Morrinsville, and spoke of the detriment to a.l' concerned of native lands being idle or in indifferent use. Some reform would be made to ensure that Maori lands should not remain locked up for a lengthy period. [ Other local requuements brought under Sir Joseph's notice included a telephone exchange and post oilico, tb.9 appointment oi" a registrar of births, etc., a Magistrate's - Court, lifle range, enlarged school site, financial aid to town board, and roads for settlers in the P iako County. Mr) Masscy, leader of the Opposition, accompanied tlo Premier as far as Morrinsville, and from thtw Messrs. Herries and Greeni.lAdc, Al.P.'g camo on with him to Tc Aroh.t, where Mr. Poland, M.P., joined them. On arrival here Sir Joseph and Lady Ward were entertained at a garden party. In the course of an address, the Premier said- that since the Tourist Department assumed control of tho To Aroha domain in January, 1903, the receipts had totalled, £7347 and expenditure £17,304. He outlined the improvements made, and stated that proposed improvements include the erection of a nospital at an estimated 'jobt of £1200, for which a site had besn purchased at a cost of £275, and a nswj tea house to cost £600. Provision would be made for a new raihsa.v Matiui at Te Aroha in noxt year's estimates. He defended the New Zealand railway system against defamatory statements which ho Faid 1 had been published in certain American journals, characterising them as incorrect and disloyal. Financially, the Dominion's pic-ent position was sponger than ever before Sir Joseph leaves by motor car .in the tnoriiing s for Paeioa, and wil 1 visit' Karangahake in the afternoon, relui.iijig to Pr.eroa the same night. On Thursday he will proceed to Wai kino and ; Waihi, and at the request of the Mayor will accede to the desire of the Waihi people to givo an address there oi? Thursday night.

Henry Richp.rds. of Rnngiora Hip;!) School, who passed in ihe Education Board 's Senior >J h s li'n.hii> Examination for pupils mifi t sixteen years, is reported to be tho youngest competitor ■who has ever paFstcl v-ith distinction. ■ He was under thirteen and a half years at the time of the examination.