GISBORNE AND OPOTIKI.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 819, 6 February 1903, Page 4

GISBORNE AND OPOTIKI.

THE I AMENT OF OUR FRIENDS. [Opotiki Herald, j Fortunately the local farmers have, comparatively, little produce awaiting shipment at the present time, and this, no doubt, accounts for their lamb-like attitude during the past week or two when the bar has been as obstinate as a mule. If it had so boon that there were sovoral thousand sacks of mai/.o waiting to be converted into good coin of the roalm, what a fuss there would have boon ! Cireum- | stances truly alter cases, and wo have a case in point in regard to the shipping of this port. ludopondent of maize-growers, liowevor, the settlement generally is considerably damaged by tho unfavorable conditions attached to the bar. Intending settlors have boon disgustod with the means of ingress and egress ; industries are retarded, such as tho butter factor}', and general discontont is expressed by such settlers as havo dairy produce lor export. Ono settlor, tho other day, informed us that the irregularity of the steamship sorvico moant a loss to him of £1 xier week, and no doubt there are others similarly situated. Under such circumstances it surely beholds those interested to take some action to kelp themselves. Much can be accomplished by united action, and we feel convinced that it i only requires a prompt and systematic courso to bring this district into a position ensuring regular communicaI tion with the outside world. The only possible means of effecting this is by . a railway, and although some people contond that this is a subject for consideration in the distant future, we maintain that it is one for the immediate present. Speaking at a meeting hold in 1899 Dr Reid said he thought it was unnecessary for him to go into the subject of the advantages of a railway, they were so obvious. Ho mentioned the fact of China . (generally so slow to grasp Western progress) becoming alive .to the advantages of communication by rail, and laying aside tho primitive methods of locomotion. Isolated as the people of Opotiki were, he thought they would rise to the occasion and impress upon the Government their right to a share of tho money, borrowed or otherwise, for railway purposes. He then referred to the two routes projected for the Gisborno-Rotorua Railway, one of which, lie said, went 50 or 110 miles behind the ranges, and if this were adopted the railway might as well be in Timbuctoo as far as Opotiki was concerned. Jio took it then that tho object was to impress upon the Government the desirability of having the line constructed via Opotiki. They were told that this would make a difference in mileage of 10 or 12 miles, but the longer line would traverse much hotter country, and would yield better returns. He thought they should urge the Government to adopt the route which would benefit Opotil-i, for, if it was intended j to borrow money for railway purposes, the people here were entitled to a share. Now we are quite as isolated as we were at the time Dr Reid uttered the words quoted. It may be claimed that the fault is not our own • but, wo think wo can at least be charged with omission. In 1889 Gisborne pooplo had practically tho same chance as Opotiki as regards gotting a railway •; now tlioy are progressing right merrily in this respect, while we continue to lament our isolation. Money is to bo spent with a lavish hand on railway works, and a district such as this should have a share. We are confident that, with a strong effort, wo can get this. Parliament will soon be considering the railway expenditure • will Opokiti’s claim bo in evidence '<