TOUR OF THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15201, 15 January 1913, Page 8

TOUR OF THE NORTH.

PRIME MINISTER IMPRESSED.

INSPECTING TIMBER AREAS.

NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT.

;,—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Dargaville, Tuesday. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) and party left by train this morning at seven o'clock, reaching the head of the valley terminus at eight o'clock, when Mr. Massey was greeted by a largo body of settlers. Conspicuous amongst them were the leading Maori chieftains of, the district. .. V,.

After breakfast the party, accompanied by 60 settlers, left for Waipoua, and the. cavalcade made an imposing appearance en route. As the party drove through Aranga and Katui they were pleased to note the evident signs of pastoral progress. ._ '

A drive of 14 miles landed the Prime Minister at the terminus of the Waipoua Road, the objective point of the journey where a contingent from Hokianga, consisting of Messrs. Andrews (chairman of tho Hokianga County Council), Jarvie, Tucker, and Heath, welcomed the Prime Minister within the confines of Hokianga.

After lunch the Hokianga representatives laid before Mr. Massey their claims that the State forest should be thrown open, the timber sold, and the land be available for settlement. The area in question . was 24,000 acres, and contained 80,000,000 ft of kauri and 216,000,000 ft of other millable timber, the estimated value of which was £260,000. ■ The Premier replied that as a Royal Timber Commission would shortly be set up to report on all State forests, he must decline to venture any opinion, but as regarded other Crown sections, which should be available' for settlement, he was determined as Minister for Lands that they should be available for selection.

After lunch a start was made for Kauri Park, a State asset of 50 acres, containing some hundreds of fine kauris, which were closely inspected by Mr. Massey. On reaching Wairua Bridge some settlers pointed out to the Prime Minister how necessary a siding was in that locality in order that much timber could be railed to Dargaville. ; ' Mr. Massey decided to inspect the Wairua terminus, and proceeded there on foot.: His visit resulted in a declaration that the line must proceed some four miles further up tho valley to Donnelly's crossing, where a large belt of timber country would be tapped, and his decision was greeted with cheers by those accompanying him.. Tea was partaken of at Kaihii, and the party left for Dargaville by train at six o'clock.

A Matter of Borough Finance. In the evening, •at the Dargaville Borough Council Chambers, a number of deputations were introduced to Mr. Massey by Mr. J. G. Coates, M.P. The Mayor (Mr. Ft J. Dargaville) brought up the matter of the surcharge made on the borough loan of £20,000. He stated that the additional cost to . the borough thereby was £2564, and requested that the instalment ,of £6000 recently asked for should bo freed from the' extra charge now' made. Mr. E. T. Field supported the Mayor's request. . ■ ;' vv In reply, Mr. Massey stated that the matter was most important. When the present Government took, office it found that a serious position had been occasioned by the •commitments of the previous Ministry at a rate of 3|. per cent., when it was found that the Government had to. pay 5 per cent.,: so it was determined that all local bodies affected should have to pay.the difference. His reading of the Act differed from - that .. of , the councillors, and he couldhold outno hopes of any remission in the charge. Money Needed for Roads. ~; Mr. H. J. Slade (chairman of the Hobson , County Council) ; asked .that £1500 should be granted for the betterment ■of the Dargaville- Road, it being one of the chief highways ■; of the North. He also asked for assistance in the formation of the Tangowahine Valley Road, which, owing to mistakes of surveyors, was sadly in need of £1000 being ; ex- • pended. . In • reference to. the opening up tof Crown lands, he stated that in the Awakino Valley, sections were withheld from sale, owing to the land being burj dened with certain portions of ..'/unliable I timber. He advocated that the sections I should be loaded with the cost of the timber, and that land-seekers should bo enabled to select holdings. Also, lie asked, taat many kauri gum reserves should be available for settlement. - > - ',/

'In reply, Mr. Massey said that the Dar-gaville-Whangarei Road was deserving of assistance, arid the money would be forthcoming. In regard to Tangowahine Valley, ho advised the county : council ' to make application for the sum desired, and promised he would support it. • . • The Prime Minister said definitely that, as Minister for Lands, he had decided to give instructions that all surveyed sections should be speedily ' made available for selection, - and that in the case of kauri gum. reserves being made' available, the , land officials would be instructed to look into the matter. _ Forest, Land Wanted for Farms. Mr. F. A. Jones (chairman of the Kaipara Chamber of Commerce) spoke on the matter of the Waipoua State forest, and urged : that the unliable trees should bo sold and that the land should be made available for fanners. He' suggested that in lieu of the Waipoua forest being closed, the State should obtain a smaller kauri area as a reserve, ; and that the large territory now closed should be open for selection.' These views were supported by other members of the chamber. Mr. J. G. Coates, member for Kaipara, also spoke, and cited the scarcity of logs ! to the local mills, and the danger of fire !to the kauri zone. ■ :

Mr. ■ 'Massey said that Waipoua forest was the reason of his present visit. He had that day' formed a fair idea of what the timber and land was like, but in view of the formation/ of a local timber • commission it would not be fair for him to express any' opinion on the matter, which would bo fully dealt with next session. With regard to other State sections, there was no reason why they should remain locked up, arid it would "be the- height of folly for the Lands Department to keep such areas inactive. '.""■■"' Railway Construction Urged. Mr. B. E. Williams, for the Kaipara Chamber of Commerce, advocated the continuation of the Kaihu Valley Railway from Waima to Donnely's crossing, and advanced strong reasons for his contention. In replying Mr. Massey said that he had that day inspected the railway, and saw that the present Waima terminus was altogether unsuitable. In his opinion the lino should go on to Donnely's crossing, where the amount of timber ; available would justify the extension, but: nothing could be done in the matter until next session. ' '•

Mi*. Edwin Harding asked that a detailed survey of the North Auckland Main Trunk line should be made from Kirikopuni northwards. Mr. Massey agreed that as soon as the line touched the Wairoa waters it would pay, but financial arrangements prevented the line being pushed on further than at present. The Prime Minister said in answer to a question, that a sum of £3500 had been voted for the new Dargaville post office, and that at an early date plans would be prepared and tenders be invited for its construction. Ho said that he would confer with the Valuer-General regarding the appointment of a second valuer for the district. As regards a live stock official for Hobson County, he said he would make inquiries into the needs of the farmers. He also promised that the suggested mail services would be laid before the Post-master-General, and that the construction of direct telephonic communication with Auckland was warranted, and the matter would be referred to the PostmasterGenoraL