The Premier's visit to the picturesque district and township of Whangarei is thus recorded by a special reporter of the New Zealand Herald. The report appeared in that journal on the 17th March:—

"I omitted in my last to pay a tribute of praise to the Northern Steamship Company for their excellent steamer arrangements. The Premier and party found the s.s. 'Wellington' a most comfortable boat. Under Mr. Ransom's management the company have gained a reputation for the comfort and punctuality of their boats.

"Taurau Kukupa, a leading chief of the Parawhau Tribe, had an interview with the Premier this morning. He claims to be the principal owner of the Whatitiri Block, in which the Uriroroi Tribe are also claimants. He wanted the Native Land Court for the investigation of title to sit at Whangarei. He also wanted his application for a rehearing in the Omiru Block, which comprise the Wairua Falls, heard as soon as possible.

"The Premier replied that he had already promised that the Court for Whatitiri should sit at Poroti. The application for a rehearing could not be considered until a successor to the Chief Judge was appointed.

"The Premier, Mr. Carroll, and party, accompanied by Mr. R. Thompson, M.H.R., and others, left Whangarei by special train at 10 a.m. to-day for Hikurangi. At Mairtown two of Mr. Dobie's little girls were at the station and presented the Premier with a magnificent bouquet and a basket of locally-grown oranges. The party went on to the terminus of the railway at the new coalfield, a mile beyond Hikurangi, and inspected the place. On returning to the township the Premier received telegrams apprising him of a banquet in his honour at Kawakawa in the evening, and asking him to meet the Natives at Waiomio in passing through, and to have another meeting at Waimate to-morrow.

"Various deputations were awaiting the Premier on his arrival at Hikurangi Township, and they were duly received in the billiard-rooni at Rolleston's Hotel. Mr. J. W. Kerr acted as spokesman for a deputation appointed at a public meeting on the previous evening to urge on the Premier the page 105 necessity of immediately pushing on railway extension to Whakapara, three miles and a half beyond the present terminus. He pointed out that it would there tap the river, which had a drainage-area of something like seventy square miles, and a large extent of valuable timbered country, comprising the Puhipuhi Forest and Crown land to the eastward of it. The railway-works would also afford employment to a large number of men who could not now make a living at gumdigging. Coal and manganese deposits would also be tapped.

"The Premier said it was a waste of time to talk of starting works merely to give employment to gumdiggers. The Government could not exceed the parliamentary appropriations. The extension of the railway to Whakapara was a matter deserving consideration when passing next year's estimates. The deputation had made out a good case, and if the statements as to the extent and quality of timber, and coal, et cetera, it would bring to the market were verified by official investigations the matter would receive the favourable consideration of the Government.

"Mr. W. G. Barker presented a petition, signed by forty settlers, urging the formation of a road between Hikurangi and Whananaki, on the East Coast. Messrs. J. W. Kerr and H. Hawken also spoke.

"The Premier said the Government had given assistance to settlers in respect to these matters last session—first, by making Native lands chargeable for half rates, and, second, authorising the imposition of a vehicle-tax. Settlers must be self-reliant, and a vehicle-tax ought to be imposed on those who used the road. He could make no promise.

"A large deputation of gumdiggers was next received. Messrs D. H. Lannan, R. Hutchinson, George Horn, Moore, and Cato spoke, urging the necessity of starting road-works if the gumdiggers were not to be thrown upon public charity. Fifteen out of every twenty men were not able to earn 'tucker,' and the best men could only make £1 5s. a week at present prices.

"The Premier said works could only be started where likely to be reproductive, and only to the extent of the appropriations. The Government could not initiate works solely for the purpose of affording work to the unemployed. Gumdiggers, like farmers, were feeling much the bad times. Something, however, ought to be done, and he was considering whether an arrangement could not be made whereby gumdiggers could take up land, as miners now did, under an occupation license, paying nothing only so long as they had a certificate enabling them to dig for gum and cultivate, secure against invasion from other places. This would also give permanency to the industry. He intended to inquire carefully into the matter, and see what could be done. The delegate to the Conference at Canada had also received instructions to investigate the cause of the present depression of the foreign gum-market.

"Mr. D. D. Lannan asked that land in Puhipuhi should be opened for settlement. The timber there would help settlers to make a living.

"Mr. Seddon promised to lay the matter before the Minister of Lands.

"The party, after lunch, left for Kawakawa."