MINISTERIAL TOUR

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1925, Page 5

MINISTERIAL TOUR

NORTH AUCKLAND INTERESTS,

PERSONALLY INVESTIGATED,

(Special to "Northern Advocate.")

After having thoroughly inspected the big drainage operations which cover an area of 25,000 acres of swamp lands-, at Hikurangi, and which will affect fully 50,000 acres of dairying country, the' Minister of Lands and several officers of his Department left Whangafei for Auckland by car at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. The road taken was through Ruakaka, Waipu, Kuaha, Mangawai, over Whangaripo, one of the highest points on the East Coast Road, on to Ma'takana and Warkworth, where the party put up for the night.

Leaving Warkworth at. 9 a.m. .'on' Sunday, the car travelled out to the Streamlands Soldier Settlement. This property, which consists of 1400 acres, and on which there are twelve returned soldiers endeavouring to live, was very thoroughly gone over, and the men discussed many matters with the Minister and heads of Departments who were with him. . En.route to Waiwera, where the party had lunch, a call was made at Puhoi Settlement. Shortly after 2 p.m. the.final stages of the journey were commenced, the road being through Or.ewa, Silverdale, Milford and Dcvonport, arrival being made in Auckland about 5 p.m.

With the.exception of a few passingshowers fine weather prevailed throughout the trift,xthe roads being in particularly good order, with one exception, that being on the Auckland side of Whangaripo Hill. MANY DEPUTATIONS. En route the Minister received many deputations. Mr McLeod was accompanied by, Mv.-H. J.; Lowe, Commissioner of Crown Lands for . North Auckland, and Mr, O. N. Campbell, chief drainage engineer.

At Waipuj Mr W. Jones, the newlyelected member for Marsden, intmduced several deputations, the first of which was headed by Mr J. W. Durham. It was explained to the Minister that there were two acres of ground belonging to the Education Department, right in the centre of the town facing the main street, which the settlers wanted the Government to freehold. It was contended that this property was holding the town back. The present lease was for twenty-one years with right of renewal. It w*as stated that if the freehold could not be granted, then perhaps the leasehold term could be extended to sixty-six years. The Minister replied that although his Department administered the land, the matter was one for the Minister of Education to deal with. He would put their representation before him, however, and see what could be done.

Mr. W. H. McKenzie, one of the trustees of the cemetery, approached the Minister for somo financial, assistance. The property was in disrepair. It had been given by one of the early pioneers, and it was now vested in a board of trustees.

Mr. McLeod said ho would look into the matter. He' would point' out, however, that it was the policy of the Government to invest such areas in local bodies, and ho thought that the Whangarei County Council should take control.

j Many matters affecting the kauri | gum industry were discussed and gone j into at Mangawaii. Hero the party

inspected some of the areas, and the Minister saw for himself how the gum is won from the soil. At Warkworth, amongst several matters which came before the Minister was one concerning the inadequacy of the accommodation of the Matakana Public School. Mr. McLeod said he would consult his colleague on the matter.

j "I had to walk six miles into court this morning," said a judgment debtor, appealing for sympathy (relates the Wanganui "Herald"). "Well, that didn't do you any harm," was all the sympathy he got from the Magistrate. !