MINISTERIAL VISIT TO NELSON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 6 February 1909, Page 2

MINISTERIAL VISIT TO NELSON.

ME B. M'KENZIE 'S MOVEMENTS. BANQUET AT TAPAWEKA. Mr E. M'Kenzie, Minister for Works and Mines, was entertained at a banquet at the Druids' Hall, Tapawera, on Thursday night. Between GO" and 70 persons sat down to an excellent repast provided by Mr S. Wadsworth. The gathering was a thoroughly representative one, settlers being present from far and near. Cr. G. Jiacmahon presided, Mr J. S. Rutherfurd occupying the vice-chair. The hoalth of tho Minister was proposed by Mr W. H. Phillips, and supported by Messrs P. Best, H. InnesJones, A. Drummond, I. Tunnicliffe, J. Eatwell and the Chairman. Replying the Minister expressed thanks for his kindly reception. He regarded it as a great compliment that so many should have travelled such long distances to bo present that evening. Ho referred to the need of railways to enable settlers to get their products to a market, and isolated parts of the district deserved special consideration. New Zealand was- one of the finest countries on the face of the earth, and few could realise what the country would bo like in another 60 or 70 years. The Farmers' Union was an organisation that could do a great deal of gooa, as the farming industry was one _ of tho most important in the Dominion, and it would be a suicidal policy to ao' anything that wonH be inimical to the farmers' interests. The present Ministry was largely composed of country members, ana that should be sufficient to assure that the farmers' interests were not going to .suffer. Ho had been returned as a freeholder, ana he lookea upon the freehoia as the ultimate tenure oi this country. (Applause.) Speak ing of the. mineral resources of the district, lie said that in timo thej might have a population bigger thai the Waimeas anywhere between Col lingwood and Eeefton, as tho districi was rich in minerals. In conclusion Mr M'Kenzie thanked the people foi the honour they had done him, anc resumea his seat amia applause. "The Nelson Harbour Board" wa; prposed by Mr J. D. Rouse. Mj Eouse, who was a director of the N3I son Freezing Company, Ltd., said thai for a long time the settlers bad ex perienced difficulty in getting theii products to the markets of the world and even now they wore not in touel: with the Home jnarket. Cnptaii Bone, Marine Superintendent of the Shaw, Savill ana Albion Company, had tola him that they couia have a diract liner at the Nelson wharf provided about fourteen days' dredging was aone. Mr Bouse emphasised that It would be a great thing foi Nelson when thi9 work was completed, and he was suro Mr M'Kenzie would assist them in getting an ocean linei to the wharf. The question of whe should pay for this dredging was nol yet settled. The wharf was ownec by tho Railway Department; but Mi Eouso urged tho Harbour Board to d( the work, the question of payment t< bo settled afterwards. Mr Maemahon said that they wen all deeply interested in the harbour He was sorry Mr Best had retiree from the Board before the eompletior of tho work. Ho understood that 8 length of 30 feet at tho end of the wharf would have to be dredged 7ft, to enable an ocean liner to berth at the wharf. In an interview, the member for the city bad told them that it was not the place of tho Harbour Board, but the Railway Department, to do tho dredging, and then the Minister for Railways had promised to do it; but it had not been done. The Chairman of the Board had told him it could be done in 14 days if the work was authorised by the Railway Department. It was absolutely necessary, said Mr Maemahon that the wjjrk should bo completed before the Ist of March. Dr. Hudson said that the Board, which had been subjected to a great deal of stupid criticism, had had almost insuperable difficulties to contend with. Tho Board had carried out the works grandly. A passage had been cut through the Bouldei Bank, where people said a passage could not be cut, and steamers could go iv and out of the harbour at any state of the tide. Tlie improvements to the harbour were a great benefit to tho travelling public. Mr. Best said it was really neglect on his part that ho had not been Dominated. Many difficulties had been overcome by the Board; but they had got through the bank, and vessels could now work tho port at all times. Mr M'Kenzie, who haa been a member of tho Board from its inception until his apopintmont to the Ministry, said that the Board deserved the thanks of everyone in the district, as they had effected great improvements. If fourteen aays' dredging would result in g&tting in a steamer for a shipment of frozen mutton, they should get it done. Tho question of who should pay for the dredging was an important one, as there was a principle involved. He woud do his level best to got the fourteen days' dredging done, and the bigger matter could stand over until the first ocean saeamer got away. The question of control should never be allowed to stand against the interest of the community. The Harbour Board would no doubt lend the dredge for the dredging, and the men's wages could bo found somewhere. (In the "Mail" of January 20th it was stated that the report of Captains Bone and McDougall on their inspection of the harbour would be favourable, tho captains having informed Mr Graham, the Chairman of the ' Board, that, subject to the necessary dredging to make the existing wharf available, and the proponed extensions being cjempleted without delay, .the facilities wouia be sufficient to enable their vessels to work the port. Captain Bone, it may be added, is Marine Superintendent to the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Captain McDougall balds a similar posiion with the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company. In the "Mail" a day later, it was announced that it was considered tht a fortnight 's dredging Trauld accomplish the necessary depth.) Other toasts honoured were "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," "The Farming Industry," "The Waimea Jouuty Council," "Absent Friends," 'The Press," ana "The Chairman." During the evening items were cintribiitcd by Messrs Wadtworth, Q. BromeH, Maemahon, and Fenemore. The gathering terminatea with the singing of "Auia Lang Syne."