HON. J. G. COATES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 131, 26 May 1921, Page 6

HON. J. G. COATES.

MINISTER’S VISIT TO NAPIER. 'The Hon J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, who has been on a three weeks’ tour of the East Coast, arrives in Napier this evening by car from Wairoa. Early to-morrow morning he will visit the railway works, accompanied by Mr J. V. Brown, M.P. Several deputations will wait on the Minister to-morrow evening, or at some period during his visit. To-night deputations from the Patangata County Council, and Waipunga settlers, will bring matters under his attention. The Napier Chamber of Commerce and Hawke’s Bay County Council will also meet the Minister, probably this evening. AT WAIKAREMOANA. NO SLACKENING OFF IN PUBLIC h OR-KS. Wairoa, May 26Ihe Hon. G. Coates, accompanied by Mr. K- S. Williams and the Hon. Ngata Al.P.’s, arrived last evening, accompanied by Mr. Furkett, Assistant Cycretary of the Public Works Department, and Mr. Armstrong, District Engineer. Ihe party left Kuatahuna at 5 a.m. and arrived at the Head of Lake Vaikaremoana at 11 a.in-, travelling a considerable distance on a road tliat rias not been maintained for the last 20 years. They reached Lake House at 1 p.m., inspected access roads and power kite, Hydroelectric works anu met a deputation of workmen an the roads construction.

Ihe Minister and party, besides being charmed with the scenery were gready impressed by the vast potentialities of ihe lake and the importance of conserving the bush areas to the sky lineAfter dinner the Minister received a large number of deputations. Hie Minister made a lew promises and gave every indication that there wouid be no slackening off* in public works which were to yitaiiy affect \v airoa, including tne Wairoa-ixapier and trie WairoaUisborne roads, tne Waikoaopu railway and iijdro-electricity. Tne unemployed deserving men wnl all be placed next week oa the Wliarerata road. A large gathering of citizens entertained tne Minister, the Mayor (Mr. J. Corkill) being in the unair. The visitors’ speecnes were felicitous and optimistic. Great stress was laid on tne scheme to consolidate Crown and native interests in the Urewera country. The large party left for an inspection of the Waikokopu Line this morning. « The Minister reaches Napier tnis evening-