BANQUET AT HEREKINO.

Northland Age, Volume 18, Issue 15, 13 January 1921, Page 5

BANQUET AT HEREKINO.

COL. ALLEN BELL HONOURED The banquet tendered to Colonel Bell by the settlers of Herekino was undoubtedly the most successful function yet held in the district. Over one hundred were present, including a large number of ladies, some of whom walked long disiy tances in order to attend. Amongst the visitors were Mr. A. H. Long, County Chairman, Mr. C. McKinnon, County Clerk, and Mr. T. R. McMullen, County Engineer ; and apologies were received from Councillors Pearson, Wrathall, 4b Panther and others. After the loyal and patriotic toasts had been honoured and a song rendered by Mr. Haywood, the Chairman, Mr. Leo Lecoustre, proposed the toast of their w guest, Colonel Allen Bell. In doing so he said that he felt proud and honoured to preside at such a large and representative gathering which had assembled to do _ honour to a man who had done so much for the development of the North, and whose services they hoped to secure in the development of their own district in particular. In the recent County election Colonel Bell had been returned at the head of the poll on the vote of the ratepayers whose vote had been nullified by the vote of non-ratepaying natives who % had by some means been put on the roll men who never paid a penny in rates, but who were in a position to practically dis- ; franchise the ratepayer. In other parts of the Empire there had been riots and 4k rebellion for a less cause than this, and he was glad to see that the settiers refused to sit down and accept such treatment, (loud applause). Moreover the people of Herekino were fortunate in securing the services of such an enthusiast in the work of development as Colonel Bell, and after years of struggling in the mud it looked to them like the dawn of a new era, an era of progress and prosperity such as Colonel Bell had been successful in bringing about in the Waikato and Kaitaia districts, in fact in a general way throughout the Northland (applause). The people of Herekino had not only a duty to fulfill to themselves but to the Empire and the coming generation, the duty of >' making their district prosperous and a bright and pleasant one to live in. There was nobody in New Zealand who was so great an enthusiast in the work of development as Colonel Bell on whose assistance they were depending at the present time. When he came to the Northland it was practically unknown and neglected, the few who had heard of it had heard it styled the Poor North. Owing to Colonel 4 Bell’s activities it was now known as the Winterless North, and the large number of new settlers who had come in during the past six years knew that it was the fertile North also (applause). In carrying out this splendid work of development Colonel Bell had been subjected to continuous knocks and kicks from the unprogressive section of the commnnity. Fortunately he proved to be impervious to knocks, kicks, and criticism, and went steadily ahead with the one object in view, the development and improvement of the Northland. However, he, the speaker thought that it was only right that when they saw a public man rendering great service to the community that they should once in a while give him a pat on the back and say “ wetl done.” (loud applause). After waiting for over thirty years the Herekino roads were to-day quagmires, and a recent speaker in Herekino was not as far out as he imagined when he referred to “artesian” roads. However, it was now their duty to bury the past and deal with the future. They 4 had in the Herekino district a large area of probably the finest grazing land in New Zealand. All that they now required was means of communication with their port at Whangape and the outside districts, and to carry this out he again said that the people of Herekino were particularly fortunate in securing the services of Colonel Allen Bell, in whom the bump of development was so strongly in evidence, who had proved his capability in other districts and whose work was known and admired throughout the Dom- * inion to-day (loud applause). Mr. W. Vickers said that it was a great pleasure to him to be able to attend and do honour to Colonel Bell who had proved j that he had the ability and knowledge necessary to push their district ahead. In the Herekino and Whangape districts they had good land, with a good harbour capable of catering for all their needs, yet for many years the district had been kept back for want of roads. Although Colonel Bell had been returned as their member on the vote of the ratepayers they were unable to have his services in that capacity owing to the vote of .the large number of non-ratepaying natives kf- who should never have been put on the roll. However, he was glad to hear that this did not matter, and that Colonel Bell had agreed to organise for the development of the Herekino district (applause). * In order to do this successfully the people 1 must agree to stand behind him and back him up in every way possible. Colonel /N

| Bell had done unbounded good in other | districts and since he came to the North had carried on the good work. Up to the present his energies had been chiefly centered in the Kaitaia district and he asked his hearers to imagine what that district would have been to-day had Colne! Bell not have been behind it? Colonel BeH could do the same for Herekino as he had done for Kaitaia and was prepared to do it if the settlers so desired (applause) Mr. James Rowe said that he wished to thank Colonel Bell for the fight which he had put up on behalf of the returned soldiers in the Takahue Block. These men were good settlers but working under very adverse conditions through not having even a pack track to their holdings. Yet in view of this a majority of the County Council wished to penalise them further by the imposition of rates during first two years. Instead of extending a helping hand a majority of the Council were apparently attempting to crush them. He was glad to see that their guest of that evening had taken a strong stand against this treatment of the returned soldier, and he felt sure that the new Council would deal more sympathically with them and help them along (applause). Mr. A. H. Long, County Chairman, said that it was a pleasure indeed to him to come to Herekino to assist in doing honour to Col. Bell, and at the same time to be associated with such a genial, democratic, and progressive people as he found around him that night. He could assure them that the honour which they were doing Colonel Bell was well deserved. He had done more for the Northland in the few short years of his residence there than anyone who had ever been in it (applause). In carrying out the work of development Colonel Bell had to fight hard against the forces of retrogression, but it was fortunate that he did not seem to care how much opposition he had to encounter, but went straight ahead till he had achieved the object he had in view, in fact he seemed to glory in a fight. Colonel Bell had been the moving spirit in all their progressive schemes for the past seven years and when occasion required was not afraid to risk his life in the interest of the district of his adoption. This was demonstrated in his long aeroplane flight from Auckland to Awanui and back, which few of them would have cared to take on, and the danger of which had been demonstrated by the fatal accidents both before and since that memorable flight which would be recorded in the pages of New Zealand’s history (applause). He had no hesitation in saying that Colonsl Bell was the greatest asset that the Northland at present"'s»ossessed, and the settlers must realise it and follow in his progressive footsteps. By the formation of the Kaitaia Chamber of Commerce, of which he was President, he had in that capacity formulated developmental schemes which were a credit to the Dominion, and in every scheme including the organising of the Parliamentary Tour, the agitation for the Northland Highway to connect the Far North by a good motor road with Auckland, the opening up of their harbours by the construction of roads, and in every other phase of delopment work Colonel Beil had been the moving spirit (applause). He had already done good work for Herekino by the raising of the £54.000"10an which would eventually provide a good motor road from there to Kaitaia,* and do away with the muddy and serpentine course over which he, the speaker, had manipulated his Ford'car that day (laughter and applause). Speaking as County Chairman Mr. Long said that he wished to assure the settlers of the Council’s sympathy in their desire to improve their conditions, and he would always be found doing his best not only in their interests, but in the interests of the development of the whole county. Unfortunately at the present time the Council was in serious financial difficulties and apart from loan monies had nothing to spend. It would take them three years to overtake their liabilities unless they floated another loan to pay them off and carry on, and he trusted that the Herekino ratepayers would see fit to vote for the proposed loan and also in the meantime finance the subsidised grants given by the Government this year. If they were not prepared to do this the Council could not finance a single Government grant, or even carry out maintenance work on the roads, and the result would be disastrous. With regard to the road to the port at Whangape he would strongly urge upon the Minister of Public Works the urgent necessity of making a substantial straight out grant for this road as he, and fortunately a majority of his colleagues on the old Council recognised that it was essential to the development of the district (applause). Colonel Bell’s policy of linking up all their ports by good roads was one that should commend itself to them all (applause). They had now elected a Council the large majority of whom were progressives, and he could assure them of the Council’s sympathy and assistance in any progressive schemes which might be put before them consistent sound finance (applause). Continuing Mr Long said that owing principally to the

splendid work done by Colonel Bell the Northland was now coming into its own, their fine country with its magnificent harbours and splendid climate was attracting hundreds of new settlers whom Colonel Bell had imbued with his confidence and splendid spirit of development, which work would be placed on public record when the history of New Zealand came to be written. In the recent election the people of Herekino had demonstrated how much they appreciated Colonel Bell’s good work which had not only been of great value to the Far North but to the whole of the Northland and the Dominon (loud applause).

Mr. Peter McKenzie said that he realised with others what a lot Colonel Beil had done for the Northland and it was therefore a pleasure to see that he was prepared to take an active interest in the development of the Herekino district, where, as other speakers had said, they had some of the finest grazing land in New Zealand. Rightly handled it would also be one of the most prosperous, but he pointed out that any district was more or less what the people themselves made it. .The butter factory was turning out excellent butter, whilst their fat stock stock would hold their own in any south-

ern district. Although Colonel Bell with his good organising ability could do a lot for them, the settlers must remember that his efforts would be of little avail unless the majority of them stood behind him and heiped him wholeheartedly to carry out his development schemes, It was a great thing for the district, now that the people had decided to go ahead, to have secured the services of Colonel Bell (applause). Mr. Harry Old said that he had known Colonel Bell years ago in the Waikato when he was engaged in organising the various Farmers’ Co-operative concerns which they had there to-day and all of which had been a great success. In all these projects Colonel Bell had to put up a hard fight, and in none more so than in his campaign for the introduction of the home separation system. In the early stages of this campaign he had almost everybody up against him, Government Experts, Factory Managers, and Farmers, who said that he was going to ruin the dairy industry. However, he won through in the end and had .been the means of placing this system on the sound footing which it occupied to-day. Colonel Bell had been one of the men who had made

the-Waikato, carrying out the same good work which he was doing in the North today. As other speakers had said there was no doubt about the quality of their land, but to utilise that land they must have roads constructed to their port and to the adjacent districts, roads that would carry motor traffic. These roads would pay every time as had been demonstrated in Taranaki and other districts. If they wanted Herekino to progress they must support Colonel Bell in carrying out his schemes. They were now paying a rate ol 5d in the pound unimproved value and what were they getting in return ? Nothing but mud and isolation. If they got good roads it would pay them to double their present rates. It was a great pleasure to him after being years in Herekino to see Colonel Bell come in and take an interest in it, he really felt that it was the dawn of a new era (applause). The toast was then drunk with musical honours and continued cheers. Colonel Bell received a further ovation on rising to respond. He said that as one whose ideas seemed to be always ahead of general public thought, and as result had to stand the curses and opposition of those opposed to progress, he was indeed thankful to the people of Herekino for their splendid reception, the pleasure of which was enhanced by the presence of the very large number of ladies who had honoured him by attending. He was also specially pleased at seeing so many of his Dalmation friends present, men who had shown themselves to be excellent settlers, and whose were a credit to them and the district. He thanked the various speakers for the very kindly remarks which they had made with regard to his work in the Northland and elsewhere, and he would hardly be human were he not gratified at hearing them, especially after a six years campaign against those opposed to progress. However; he did not care a rap how much opposition there was in the initiatory stages of any of his schemes. All that he was concerned about was to be sure that his schemes were sound before he launched them, and if they were they were sure to win out in the end. It was a great pleasure to him to have the privelege of assisting in the development of the Herekino district where over thirty years ago the settlers had been dumped down in the mud and left to take their chance. Only four or five of these settlers were left to-day and practically the whole of the settlers who had remained in the district had wasted their lives owing to the neglect of the various Governments and their short sighted policy. It was a crime to dump good settlers down and leave them to sink or swim as had been done in the case of Herekino. However, they had now to bury the dead past and deal with the future, and they had to realise that in the

Herekino. and Whangape districts they had some ot the finest bush land in the Dominion, districts which would pay the individual and the State handsomely to develop. All they now required was good motor roads. In his campaign for the construction of good roads throughout Northland it had been a particular pleasure to him to take the lead in the agitation for good roads to Herekino, and to the port of Whangape in particular. To a stranger it was inconceivable that for long years the people of Herekino had been forced to use the port of Awanui, twenty-two miles distant, when they had a good port wilhin eight miles which only wanted a road connection. This road should be heavily subsidised by the Government, and the fact that it was not constructed ere this was another demonstration of the want of vision and foresight of our legislators of the past. Then, again, there was the case of the soldiers in the Takahue Soldier Settlement, all good men who had each lallen a considerable area of bush, but who were in a fair way to repeat the experiences of the old settlers unless the people of the district and the public bodies took the matter in hand and insisted on their road being constructed at once. -Now that the majority of the people of Herekino had decided for progress three parts of the battle-had been won. The construction of good motor roads to Kaitaia,. Awaroa, Takahue, the port of Whangape, and the construction of the road through the Takahue Soldiers’ Settlement could be accomplished in time to benfit the present settlers. All that was now required was to all stand together and disperse for ever the forces of retrogression, remembering that whatever their roads cost they had the good land there to produce and pay for them, and that the heaviest tax that would ever be put upon them was as nothing to the tax which they had borne in the past, the tax levied 365 days in the year by bad roads. The people were now fortunate in having a large majority of progressives elected on the County Council, and in their chairman, Mr. A. H.Long, they had a man of advanced and progressive ideas, and one whose sympathies went out to the settlers of the back block districts (applause). He trusted that in the near future the people of the Northland would realise what a grand territory they had got, a territory in which there was a large area of first class land, intersected at short intervals by fine ports and excellent deepwater harbours, with a climate almost unrivalled in the world, and that there was no finer work where men could do better than take a leading part in its development (applause). Dealing further wiih matters of local interest Colonel Bell said that some few weeks ago, finding that the hopeless financial state into which the Mangonui Couqty Council had drifted was being kept from the ratepayers he had deemed it his duty to expose what was being done. This had caused a further investigation of the financial position and showed that instead of an estimated deficiency at the 31st March of some £IO,OOO as he had stated, the

position would be about one thousand pounds or so worse, and that the Council had practically not a penny in hand with which to carry on ordinary maintenance work, or take up subsidised grants. However, this hopeless financial bungling must not be allowed to unduly interfere with the progress of their district, and to attain this end the people must now help financially ‘to carry on urgent works until the financial problem was solved. As far as Herekino was concerned probably the most urgent was the repair of the main road to Kaitaia which was in a disgraceful state, and if repairs were not effected at once would be impassible this winter. Fie urged that the people finance the Government grant now available and allow the Council to get to work at once. He himself would be glad to assist the settlers by advancing £SO to enable this being done (applause). The maintenance of the roads of the County were a disgrace, and huge amounts of money were being wasted every year. This would have been avoided if the Council had taken their Engineer’s advice years ago and appointed permanent surfacemen in each riding. In conclusion, Colonel Bel! again thanked the people of Herekino for the splendid reception tendered to him and assured them that it would be a pleasure to him to assist them in the development of Herekino district. Too long had they been held back by the forces of retrogression, and he felt sure that what Mr. Lecoustre had said was correct, that they were at the dawn of a new era (loud applause).

Various other toasts were honoured and songs contributed in the intervals, accompanied by Mrs. Berghan on the piano. One of the striking feature of the even- ; ing was a duet by Mr. and Mrs. Lunjevich ; rendered in their native language, It was after midnight when the official portion of the function was terminated .and the sun was rising in the eastern : sky when the strictly unofficial portion of the programme was brought to an end, a night that will long be pleasureably re- ! membered in Herekino by guests and i hosts alike.