PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10770, 15 September 1906, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the early stages of the native dis« cussion, tlie Chairman of Committees was cuught napping. Apparently the strenuous task of keeping members to" order and settling diveise points of order was very trying, so when the eternal land question was once more occupying the attention of the Committee, Air McKenzie seized tlve opportunity for forty winks. He was aroused by the stentorian- voice of the member for Egmont, who apologised for 'disturbing his rest. 'Hie incident created great amusement. A Hawke's Bay deputation waited on Mr Hall-Jones m regard to the promised! construction of the Frasertown bridge. The estimated cost is £7000. The Minister said he would enquire, and if » promise had been made it must be kept. Tlie metalling of NapierrWairoa road was next brought up. This was an expensive but the Minister said he would continue it as fast ns possible. Tongoio washout was a difficult question. There were only two alternatives, the construction of a bridge and deviating the road. Ho would obtain a further report. Ho was reluctant to grant money for the formation of the Mangapoiki road, as it was through native land, but would consider the request. He also promised to consider a request to grant £500 for Kopua. wharu bridge, Mahia. Mr Hall-Jones said the district Ifad a great future ahead. It was one of the largest territories he had' nob visited. He would try to arrange to accept an invitation to visit it during the recess. As regards Waikokopu hai> bor, he had never seen it, but he thought it very wise to go m for a harbor on the advice of Mr Napier Bell. The Wairoa Harbor Board' are also endeavoring to get the foreslvore of the river vested m them. The Minister advised them to forward a plan of the proposed 1 foreshore. WAIKOKOPU HARBOH DEPUTATION. Mr Dillon introduced a deputation consisting of Messrs Gaddum, Sinclair, and O'Nepl to the Minister of Marine. The deputation asked tlhe Minister to consider the acquisition of a Native bJoGk of 500 acres adjacent to Waikokopu harbor. They said Wairoa would join the Waikokopu Boari} and rate themselves for Mr Napier Bell's smaller scheme of £43,000. They also asked the Minister's approval of the erection of a shed and tramway at Waikokopu to prepare for the coming wool season ; and, further, requested the Marine Department to adopt Mr Kennedy's plans. Mr Millar' said the question of the Government purchasing a native blo.ck for the purpose of endowment of the Waikokopu Harbor Board would have to be submitted m writing. He would bring, ifc before the Cabinet. It might suit the Crown to purchase the land. He pointed out that as soon as the Government gave one Board an endowment all the others wanted the same. He approved of tho proposal to proceed with Mr Bell's larger scheme, and said it would give a fine stretch, of deep water. Before they did anything they would have to get the sanction of the Marine Department. Mr Gaddum said he looked to the Minister to give a lead m the matter. It would be a great help if 'he would acquire land fop endowment, as they only had a small blogk of fifty acres, wliilst half the county was composed pf iied-up native lands. Mr Sinclair said Wairoa liad decided that the river scheme was unsuccessful, and desired to co-operate to open up Waikokopu. The Minister told the deputation to put tlie whole matter m writing, and he would bring it before the Cabinet. Application was also made for a grant of £250 to erect a shed at the present landing-place and lay a tramway. The Minister promised that the matter would* be considered when the Public Works estimates were being framed). Mr Millar also promised to have the plans approved on Monday, to enable the Board to call •fer twler* for. -the work.