MINISTERIAL VISIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19123, 18 September 1936, Page 9

MINISTERIAL VISIT

MR. PARRY AT WAIROA DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS •DEPUTATIONS HEARD (Herald Correspondent.) The Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, and party, arrived in Wairoa on Wednesday afternoon from Rotorua via the scenic route. A breakdown occurred on the trip, and the lateness of the arrival left little time for the visit and the deputations. At the Wairoa. Borough Council Chambers the Mayor, Mr. H. L. Harker, extended a weicome to Mr. Parry and his rarty, regretting they had not been able to see more of the scenic beauties of Waikaremoana. RIVER EROSION Mr. J. Corkill, chairman of the Wairoa Harbour Board, brought up the question of the river erosion at North Clyde above the bridge, which was becoming more serious every day. While the old bridge was on the Carroll street site hundreds of pounds had been spent to save the approach, and now that the new bridge was erected lower down erosion was following, and something must be done to stop it. The load was too big for the local bodies to carry, but the board had agreed to find the plant for boring, and also the labour. Not ony was private property carrying heavy rates endangered, but the highway and the bridge itself were in giril. The chief concern was with the orough Council, but the Harbour Board was standing in with that body, and lie hoped the Minister would do what he could in the matter. He was afraid the department was not viewing the erosion in a sufficiently serious light. The Mayor supplemented Mr. Corkill’s remarks, adding that the Public Works Department considered the duty lay on the local authorities concerned. Replying, the Minister said he could see on inspection that the job called for a practical man, and in the Hon. R. Semple they had a man who would see that the matter was really a serious one * for the highway and bridge. The Minister would soon see what was needed, but as to who should be responsible, the local bodies or the Government, or both, it was a matter of the local bodies getting together to find out the best thing to do. tT p would make the deputation’s wishes known to the Minister of Public Works and do what he could in the matter. STOCK TRAFFIC The Mayor said the Borough Council and the County Council were both con- ' cerned in the matter of stock having to be travelled in restricted hours througli the borough, and they asked that the Huramua bridge be reopened for travelling stock. Hundreds of thousands of stock had to travel to the markets of the Dominion, and though much of it must go by rail eventually, there was much local stock that at present had to cross the bridge, to the danger of people, and in many cases to the disfigurement of the borough and the bridge. The railway bridge was once used in order to divert this traffic, but the planking had been taken up now and also the guard rails. Failing the opening up again of the railway bridge there was a possibility of taking tfte. stock over-Tutaekuri gpmk'jag an alternative route.

Mr. A. G. Nolan, Wairoa County chairman, said that as far as the crossing of stock on the Wairoa traffic bridge was concerned, the borough and the residents were affected, but the country people suffered by the handicaps on the use of this bridge for crossing stock, as it was not always possible to cross them in the restricted hours which were necessary. Another tiling, quietness was needed,for the stock and either Huramua or the Tutaekuri suggestion would meet the case. The county had many responsibilities to face and the rating burdens were heavy. Stock were knocked about crossing the traffic bridge, taking a possible £1 off their value." - They needed a different outlet for the present one was a menace to life when station cattle started a stampede. He hoped the Minister would pass on these remarks to the Public Works Department. Th© Minister, in reply, said he could see that the deputation had put up a good case for not travelling the stock through the town, over such a' fine bridge as they had. He could not see that there were any difficulties in using the railway bridge for this purpose, especially if a man were put on to see that no danger was occasioned. This suggestion was a good one, and then there was the Tutaekuri alternative, if that could be done it would be a way out. He could not say, of course, who should carry the costs, but possibly a subsidy 'might be secured. It was not in his department, a fig he would pass on to the Minister concerned the. opinions of the deputation and his own. MORERE HOT SPRINGS The Mayor said the Wairoa Chamber of Commerce desired to thank the Tourist Department, through the Minister, for having made a trial scheme of flood-lighting at Morere hot springs, which he was sure would be a great attraction to tourists if it were made permanent. ■Mr S. H. Ash burn; president of the Chamber of Commerce, brought up the need for further improvements at the hot springs, to provide an additional medicinal hath, and for which estimates had been prepared. The position was that to bring the water to the spot suggested would involve a loss of quality and' heat, especially as the ris-, • ing steam was most essential to use; if taken down too low there must be a loss. He did not know what the plans were at the moment, and in the interests of invalids he thought the chamber should be given some information. He asked the Minister to convey the chamber’s thanks to the Minister of Tourist Resorts for assisting the chamber to produce a booklet of East Coast scenic attractions, by the use of the department’s photographs. Wairoa was the promoter of the scheme, and the other towns had come in "since. He also commended the trial flood-lighting of the ibush and hoped it would be made permanent.

Mr. G. C. Ormond outlined llio requirements necessary for a good invalid bath at Morere, and thought that a balneologist’s opinion should be had, as •was done before. The waters, it was well known, were useful for certain ailments, but it was a pity the people could not get the best results at present. The spot where Ihe water came out of the rock was ideal, the steam being most useful, and also they had to consider the best means of getting invalids up there, perhaps by means of a light car to, say, the site of the middle baths. Dr. J. Ttoss, who said he had had 40

or 50 years’ experience of the hot springs, stated that crippled persons could not get up to where they could secure the greatest benefit, and if the water was'taken flown lower, as he believed was intended, they would lose the iodine power in the treatment. Then there must be some accommodation when patients came • out of such a bath, as tlioy were apt to faint, and they should he able to wrap up quickly and lie.down. This could not be done at Morere. Tiie Minister said he was not- certain of the position as it existed, and they should have some expert advice. The question of development meant money, and though the Government was seized with the importance of caring for invalids everything could not be done in 24 hours, and because of the > heavy expense involved many good propositions were held up for the present. He would pass on the views of the deputation to his colleague, who was keen to see the tourist routes properly linked up and made accessible. As this was a matter of public health, no doubt a report would he secured, and he would suggest this course. Tiie Wairoa Harbour. Board. also put before the Minister the recent invasion of blackfish on beach resorts, and asked for his support for reimbursement of the cost of clearing them away. BEAUTY OF NEW. ZEALAND Tiie Minister congratulated the deputations on the way they had brought bcofre him their requirements. He and all the Cabinet deplored the damage done to New Zealand .by the too free use of tho axe and the fire stick, whereby much of New Zealand’s beauty had been ruined, especially in spots where nothing else could grow hut bush. In consequence they had deforested hills being denuded of soil, which was deposited in the creeks, causing floods. This had been done all over New Zealand, and now a big afforestation scheme was staring them in the face. No country in the world excelled New Zealand in the matter of scenery. Mr. Parry also paid high tribute to the beauty of the scenery along the Wairoa-Kotorua route and at Waikaromoana'. *

The Mayor brought up the question of carrying out bitumen work on the highway at First street, North Clyde, showing what the Borough Council was willing to do and asking him to take up the matter with the Public, Works Department. Dealing with the question of taxation on racing clubs and the question of permits, the Minister said that, nothing could be done until the whole position was overhauled. The country should get greater consideration so as to keep the young sports on the land, and not cause them to drift to the centres, nor should sport be* the subject for heavy taxation.