THE MOTU FOREST.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 861, 8 April 1903, Page 3

THE MOTU FOREST.

CALL FOR SECTION TO BE RESERVED.

A very unanimous meeting was'hckl last evening in Whin ray’s flail, having for its object that the Government be urged to withdraw from public sale a section in elie Motu adjacent to the river and reserve it for public purposes as a health resort. ... Air Whinray stated that he had convened the meeting, and lie urged that steps he taken to endeavor to procure one of the sections adjacent to tlie river as a health resort for the residents of Gisborne and the district. The climate was superb as a recuperating ground, the air being exhilarating and bracing. He suggested that 20 or 25 residents suliscribc (lie necessary funds to purchase one of the bush sections facing

the river, and that they could hold it in trust until such time as the residents would redeem it. The size of the section would he IHII acres, and he Ihoiight it would lie a pitiable deed to have such a fine primeval forest destroyed. lie then read the following copy of a telegram which lie had forwarded in the morning lo the Hon. Mr (JarrolL :—“ Desire your good offices with fhe lion. Mr Dimcan to withiiraw one of flip (iOO-aero sections facing Motu river from sale. Strong committee meet to-night, dev sire purchase one for residents ; as health resort and memento this magnificent forest for the people. The greatest boon yon can confer upon (he residents. For the Committee, J. Whinray." The speaker went on to state that at the rate of 2s fid per J 0(> feet the Railway Department would receive a revenue of a quarter of a . million pounds. Eminent experts had furnished good reports as retards the Motu. Cr Lysnar thought it was a pity that a move had not been made earlier ; lie feared it was too late to purchase. Pie suggested that a telegram he sent to lhe Premier and the Minister of Lands with a view of having a section withdrawn from public sale, in order that the borough and district might secure the same for public purposes, and that the Mayor lie asked to forward the resolutions. The motion was seconded .by Mr T. Adair and carried unanimously.Cr Whinray : It, wouul be a very valuable asset, and highly beneficial to the people or this district. 11, was then proposed and carried

that a committee, consisting of Messrs- W. D. Lysnar, J. W. Whinray, and W. Morgan should interview the Mayor that evening, with the purpose of sending the wires at once. Mr W.- Morgan then p oposed that tlie meeting tender its sincere thanks to Mr Whinray for the step taken in the matter, at the same time regretting that the affair had not been taken up earlier. This was seconded by Mr W. Webb, and carried.

The CommiUee afterwards interviewed the Mayor, who was very sympathetic with the movement, a»d the following wire was despatched “ At a meeting convened this evening, it was unanimously resolved that flic Government he requested to with draw one of the sections situate at the Motu from public sale which arc open for selection to-morrow (the h'th), with a view of this borough and district securing the same for public pdrposes. It is suggested that one of the sections ((MO acres) opposite the Motu village be reserved No public reserve has been made in the locality. The country is covered ..with heavy bush, and is well suited for conservation for public purposes.”-