HON. J. A. TOLE, MINISTER OF JUSTICE, AT TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 180, 27 November 1886, Page 2

HON. J. A. TOLE, MINISTER OF JUSTICE, AT TE AROHA.

The "Heft):" Mr Tole (accompanied by Mrs Tole), arrived at Te Aroha on Friday, 19th inst., and left again on Tuesday for Auckland. Mr Tole expressed himself as being greatly pleased wi" Te Aroha and its baths, and is oF opinion that the place has a prorerous future in store for it, and become a very favourite resort. On Saturday last the following deputations waited upon him, desiring to ( take advantage of his visit to Te Aroha, by bringing under hi 9 notice several matters oE local interest, and to ask him to kindly use his influence with Government in furtherance thereof.

1. Necessity of Having a Medical Man Appointed. The folllowing waited upon Mr Tole at noon : Messrs G. Wilson, (Chairman Domain Board) G. Robson, J. A. Dobson, D. J. Frazer, and J. Ilott ; and represented to him the urgent need that existed for the appointment by Govern j raent, of a properly qualified medical j man to Te Aroha, having in view the, steadily increasing numbers visiting the place as a health, resort ; many being invalids suffering from various ailments, for whom it was absolutely necessary that a medical man of known ability should be stationed at Te Aroha; and the advice and assistance of such being available on the spot, would be j a strong inducements for many to come, who now perhaps hesitated to do so. In fact the deputationists felt satisfied that the popularity and usefulness of the baths, and progress of the place was being very seriously retarded for lack of this very thing. They did not think the amount of subsidy to be provided by Government, would require to be large or for a long term. Probably L2OO to L3OO a year, for a couple of years, would be sufficient inducement to bring a good man amongst them ; as the prospects for such from private practice were excellent; no Dr being obtainable nearer than; Hamilton, or Thames, the distance in both instances being olose on 40 miles. It would be necessary that when a sui .table medical man had been found will-

ing to come, that his appointment be direct from Government ; but it was believed residents would be found willing to assist in the mattor by guaranteeing a portion of the subsidy required. In reply to Mr Tole, Mr Wilson said the matter had been brought under the notice of the Minister of Lands on the occasion, of his last visit to T^e Aroha, by the Domain Board, and it was thought Government might have granted a subsidy in order that the natives in the district might huve the benefit of medical advice when required. AFter his return to Wellington, however, a reply had been received from Mr Ballance, stating that on enquiry he found the natives resident in the district were too few in number to warrant such assistance being given. In reply to Mr Tole, Mr Wilson said he believed the "Domain Board would bo willing to set aside a small sum out of their receipts towards the attainment of the object in view, if Government would sanction their doing so; provided Government granted the money already asked for, L£soo, to enable them to carry out some further improvements urgently required, and to clear off existing liability of about LlOO, which had been incurred in the full expectation that the amount named would have been forthcoming some time since, and briefly referred tofche correspondence that had taken place on the subject. Mr Ilott drew attention to the fact that any assistance in the form of a subsidy in the manner indicated, would probably be recouped to Government by the greatly increased railway receipts, which would result from the increased popularity of the place, and early settlement of Crown Lands. Mr Ilott also referred to the great boon it would be, more especially to invalids, were a fast train to and from Te Aroha laid on, even one day in each week ; and said he had interviewed Mr Hudson, District Traffic Manager, when recently at Te Aroha, on the same subject. Hon. Mr Tole, in replying to the doputation, said : From what he had already heard of the great efficacy of the baths at Te Aroha in many cases of serious illness, he certainly was of opinion the place would become a great resort. He would remind them that Government like many individuals just now had to economise. He, however, fully recognised the great importance of the matter, and the reasonableness of tho request, in fact himself considered it was a necessity in order to give the place a good start, and as the Domain Board he gatnered would bo willing to assist, and also the local residents, he hoped the matter would be satisfactorily settled. He agreed with the remarks of the deputation that it would be desirable for a medical man to receive his appointment direct from the Government. He would see Mr Ballance and other members of the Government on his return to Wellington, and support any petition that might be sent in by local residents on tho subject. In fact j he felt the matter to be 60 important that were it in his power to do so he would grant a subsidy, but being out of his department, he could only support any application sent in, which he heartily promised to do, 2- Public Library in the Domain. In the evening Messrs F. Pavitt, D. J. Frazer, J. Ilott, J. Hoathcote, and J. Mills, waited upon Mr Tole, and through Mr Pavitt, as spokesman, represented to him that a two-room cottage, unoccupied, which had been built upon land since acquired by Government for Te Aroha railway station would be of great assistance to the Library Committee by enabling them to have it removed and used for library and reading-room purposes, thereby dispensing with the item of rent which sum could then be expended in the purchase of additional periodicals, books, etc. Also if Government would give a site within the Domain grounds tho usefulness of the library would bo I greatly extended, and be much more availed of by visitors and invalids. Mr Tole having ascertained the probable value of the cottage and other particulars from the deputation, said : lie should be glad to assist them so far as he could, the matter was one relati ing to the Public Works Department. 1 He would telegraph and ascertain first of all whether the building was required for any other purpose and let them know. He had visited the library and l-eading room with which he was pleased, but thought its present position was not a good one, and that its usefulness could be extended, as well as being made a remunerative adjunct to the Domain and baths.

3. Domain Board. Messrs G. Wilson (chairman), 0. Ahier (sec), and E. Quinn, next followed as a deputation representing the Domain Board. Mr Wilson, the chairman, acted as spokesman, and said : He wished to bring nnder the notice of the Minister of Justice that for the success of the place, it was essential more baths be constructed and the springs further developed, for which purpose a grant of money was urgently needed and hoped Mr Tole would support any application made. Mr Gordon, Inspector of Mines, had visited Te Aroha during the week, inspected the baths and grounds, etc., and made a note of new vrorks urgently needed to the amount of £460, which he ,had promised to urgently recommend being carried out ;, and also point out to Government that the Board were £100 in debt. He, hoped Mr Tole would be Jsind enough .to, represent to Mr Balfance that the Board were, endeavouring to do their best and needed some money to keep things going. Another matter of great im-

portance was that a properly qualified medical man bo appointed to the place, and that Government assist by subsidy the obtaining of such. Medical men who had visited Te Aroha had formed a very high opinion of its mineral waters, and many remarkable cures had already been effected. Mr Wilson put forward some strong reasons why Government might reasonably be asked to assist in the matter. Mr Wilson also referred to the matter of the Public Library, and requested Mr Tole to ask the Minister of Lands to permit the erection of a building for library purposes within the Domain, as it was thought it would be most desirable to have it there i Hon. Mr Tole, in replying to the deputation, said : He had gone over the Domain grounds with Mr Wilson, and was of opinion the Board deserved credit for having expended the money entrusted to them judiciously. He felt sure were a little more money expended in developing the place, it would quickly become very popular and be greatly resorted to not only by New Zealanders but by visitors and invalids from the sister colonies. The waters at Te Aroha possessed exceedingly valuable properties, and were remarkably pure and clear. The progress and prosperity of the district would in a great measure result from the popularity of the baths. The request re the appointment of a medical man | was such a reasonable one that he could not do otherwise than support it. He also was of opinion that to transfer the library and reading room to the Domain grounds Mould be a step in the right direction, and if stationed there it would prove a great attraction to visitors and invalids. In conclusion "with respect to the several matters brought under his notice that day by the various deputations, he quite approved of the objects advocated, would give them his support, but in each instance being outside his department, could not do more than that.