HOKIANGA COUNTY AND THE MINISTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5756, 29 April 1880, Page 5

HOKIANGA COUNTY AND THE MINISTRY.

Mr. Wil.lia.ms, Chairman o: the Bay of Islands County Council, and Mr. R. Cochrane, Member of the Hokianga County Council, have come to Auckland to inter, view Mr. Whitaker, in regard to matters interesting to their districts. They had au interview, yesterday, with the Hon. Mr. Whitaker, when thay were introduced by Mr. John Lundon, M. U.K. for Bay of Islands and Mangonui. A memorial was presented from the Chairman and members of the Hokianga County Council complaining of tho allocation made to them of share of the £05,000 voted last session for roads and works in the North. The memorial pointed out that out of several former votes for public works to the North of Auckland, Hokianga County had only received a small proportion ; that the only public monies expended in the district had been £1000 for the Taheke Bridge, and £150 for a road from Waihou to Matawera; that no assistance had been granted in the shape of steamers or ferry subsidies ; that the port of Hokianga contributed £2000 directly, and £10,000 indirectly, to the Customs, or at the rate of £4 per head per annum, for the European and native population ; tbat the exports were large, including kauri gam, kauri timber, coals, manganese, &c. ; tbat the Crown lands in the county comprised over 300,000 acres, of the very best quality of laud, the value

of which would be greatly enhanced by a judicious expenditure on roads ; that during last session, Mr. Lundon asked for £50,000 for the North, out of which it wa3 proposed to allocate £10,000 to Hokianga, and to this proposal the representatives of tlie Northern constituencies fully agreed; that tho Government increased the vote to £65,000, but in the allocation by the Government Hokianga only received £6500. Mr. Whitaker stated that the allocation of the money was made by him to the best of his ability after ha ha l obtained all the information he could from the best sources, and after consulting documents. Mr. Lundon said ho was member for the district and of two County Councils, and he had never been asked for any information. The memorial in conclusion drew attention to certain wants of the district :—l. An endowment of laud for the benefit of the -County. 2. A trunk road to be made from the Bay of Islands County through Hokianga County to Mangoutii County. 3. A quarter-acre section in the township of Herd's Point as a site for a town hall. 4. Provision to be made for a small gaol at Herd's Point 5. A petition had been presented by Sir George Grey, praying for legislation in the direction of establishing special settlements of skilled vine-growers. In respect to the3e, Mr. Whitaker answered 1. This was in Mr. Rnlleston's department. 2. Tho truuk road should be made out of the £0500 allocated to Hokianga. 3 and 4. These were a's >in departments in charge of Mr. Rollestan. 5. As to the settlements of wine-growers in the North, he believed it would be a good and successful work, and he would support it. The deputation also saw Mr. Bryce in respect to works which wera to cone out of the vote for works in native districts, but Mr. Bryce stated that he had handed over the control of these matters to the Public Works Department.