ROADING QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3683, 19 November 1912, Page 5

ROADING QUESTION.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] AUCKLAND, Nov. 18. A deputation of representatives from the Auckland Industrial Association and Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Prime Minister and placed before him resolutions passed at a recent- conference of the two bodies with reference to -the roading question. “Tli© views of the deputation,” said Air Massey, in reply, “are- largely niv own.” \

He went on to say that- reading liefore settlement was a good principle, but where men had no capital the Government found it necessary to give the settlers something to do. He pointed out- that the Parliamentary grants now for reading wore no less than the average for some years past and he was pleased to say that legislation had been passed onlv this year for further assisting settlors in new country.

Air Massey quoted a section of tho State Guaranteed Advances Act. which provided that a sum not exceeding £250.000 should be set aside yearly for roading byJocal bodies for development- purposes. Next year Parliament would be asked to consider a Local Bodies. Bill, which would contain provision for the taking over of such arterial roads as were recommended by the Public AVorks Department.

Referring to the King Country the Prime ATinisteV said that more money had been spent there for, development purposes, particularly in tlieTauma.runui district, than in any other electorate. The Government fully recognised, he concluded, the importance of opening the country by roads where dairying was possible.

QUEEN VICTORIA’S DIARIES.

HER IMPERIOUS TEMPER

CONFIDENCE IN LORD MELBOURNE.

[INDEPENDENT PRESS GABLE]

LONDON, Nov. 10

The diaries of Queen Victoria’s girlhood, which have just been published, show that her late Majesty possessed a naturally hot and imperious temper. She was fond of sketching and music, and in literature enjoyed Sir AValter Scott, but found Bulwer Lytton fearfully interesting. She valiantly championed “Oliver Twist” against Lord Melbourne, and struggled through some of Julius Caesar, Virgil, and Horace, but to no purpose. Her Majesty told Lord Melbourne that she forgot what she had learnt, and could not construe any quotation from the Latin. She road constitutional history till she stuck at “sinking fund,” when Lord Melbourne advised her that she might reasonably give up the subject.

A good deal of her reading was done “while my hair is a-doing.” The Royal diarist records elaborately and minutely Lord Melbourne’s opinions. One entry in 1839 says : God knows that no Minister, no friend, ever possessed the confidence of the Crown so entirely as this truly excellent Melbourne possesses mine.” In 1842 she a,ddecl:—“l cannot forbear remarking what an artificial sort of happiness ■mine was then, and what a blessing I have now in my beloved husband.”