ROUTES TO KAWHIA.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1339, 9 January 1923, Page 4

ROUTES TO KAWHIA.

SUGGJESXIOA'S k'JMHtt OTOIfcOJLLNGA PROPOSALS FOR DISCUSSION. (By our Resident Representative.) At the monthly meeting ol' the Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce 'last evening, the president, Mr J. A. Ormsby, reviewing matters in connection with the Otorohanga route to Kawhia harbour, said there had been a large number of visitors camping out at Te Awaroa during the holidays. They had provided their own tents, etc., so that the Committee of the Chamber had not been called on to do anything in that way. The Otorohanga Town Band had gone over and made a great impression at Te Awaroa sports. Their services had been much appreciated and the band had been well entertained both by the Sports Committee and the leadingauthorities at Kawhia. The band had since been engaged for the Oparau sports and also for Kinohaku; the band's funds had been appreciably augmented by willing contributors. Since the holidays there had been a greater number of visitors to Te Awaroa.

There was now the question of getting a continuation of the coach service, round the harbour to Kawhia, and also to the caves, and in this connection he had enlisted the services of a taxi proprietor, who was prepared to make trial runs at a minimum charge for oil, etc. He thought that they 'might convene meetings at Te Awaroa and Kawhia to discuss the development of the route, not. only to the harbour but also to the Waitomo caves, and thence back to Otorohanga. He thought that a canvas of the town might he made to raise the amount required to pay the expense incurred in taking the band over. As a matter of fact the band had been taken over at half cost by the coach proprietors. Of course the idea of having the proposed meetings at Kawhia. etc., was for the purpose of finding a way of promoting a mail service via Te Awaroa and taking steps to get a subsidy for same. Yet "lis did not mean any attempt to do awav with the Kawhia-Pirongia mail service. Both routes were desirable and necessary.

Mr Patterson referred to the very interesting article in the Waipa Post in reference to the routes to Kawhia, which should greatly assist in the opening of our seaport town. He thought that as far as the Te Awaroa route was concerned the Chamber had not so far done anything to enlist the nractical sympathy of the ladies of the town and district in the matter, and in that connection he suggested that a town and district picnic under the auspices of the Chamber might be arranged, to take place at an early date. Such a gathering could be held annually at. say, the Makaroa in the Honikiwi district and with which the residents of Te Awaroa should be invited to co-operate. The suggestion was cordially accepted, and on the motion of Mr Aves it was resolved that arrangements for such a gathering be left to the executive, with the addition of Messrs Belcher. Johnston, and Aves. who are to report next Monday at a special meeting of the Chamber, and it was further decided that the secretary write to ■the resident? of Honikiwi and Te Awaroa. asking their co-operation in the makin gof the picnic a success. The secretary was also instructed to invite the members of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce to participate in' the gathering.