MINISTER AT WAIROA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16607, 10 December 1924, Page 10

MINISTER AT WAIROA.

\ FRUITFUL CONFER EXT 1

LAND FOR PUBLIC RKSERAT

(Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this dav

Thu .Minister of Education and Justice, the Hon. C. J. Pair, C.M.G., spent some time in Wairoa yesterday on his way to Gisborne. He was met by the Mayor. Mr. J. Corkill. and discussed with him ft pmposed exchange of laud whereby tha Borough Council will give three acres on tlni Napier road in exchange for two acres held by the Justicci-Department at the end of the main street. The Borough Council has been negotiating for this property for some considerable time with a, view to adding it to the new recreation grounds. Hitherto the Department has asked a considerable sum of money for what was regarded as the additional \nlue <f its property, hut Mr. ('orbill urged upon the Minister the fact that the provision of a recreation ground was a matter of general public interest, and pointed out that the area was not to he used for any private money-making purpose.

The Minister said that ever dr.ee the time when ho had been- Mayor of Anekinncl it had been his endeavor to assist in the provision of pientv of breathing spaces, and the movement of the borough Oounei! bad bis warmest sympathy. He would recoil mend the Government to grant the exchange subject to the payment of the nominal sum of £l5O. thus (■encoding a very substantial reduction from what bad formerly been asked. VISIT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

Before continuing bis journey the Minister paid a visit to tjio District High School, going through the class rooms, meeting the teachers, and addressing flu l pupils in the' secondary department. The headmaster warmly thanked the Minister for his interest, and said it had been a red-letter day for them to have' a visit from tho bead of the Education Depart* merit, whose kindly words to the pupils would not ho forgotten.