THE MOTU SECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 865, 15 April 1903, Page 2

THE MOTU SECTION

AND A “BREEZE” AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

When the ordinary business of the Borough Council had been concluded last night, Cr Whinrav said he thought the Council should thank the Government for the prompt action taken by them in keeping a Motu reserve for scenic purposes ; it was, he said, one of the best and most elegant sections possible to save, fringed by a river with several falls and such magnificent forest scenery as would in 25 years be as extinct as the moa. He moved that the Council thank the Government for their prompt action in withdrawing the section and making it a public scenic reserve for the district. He presumed that no expense would bo incurred, but perhaps a conservancy board would be required to guard against depredations through the clearing of adjacent sections. The reserve would be a desirable boon to the district and to the colony at large; for scenic purposes he hardly knew anything to equal it. As for its being inaccessible to the town he was of opinion that in fifteen years' time it would be as accessible as the Gisborne racecourse, and would be an attraction outside of anything else they could have asked for. In other districts similar areas were reserved for similar purposes, and it was well that they should have one here. It might be necessary to have a couple of chains of the boundary line cleared to prevent clearing fires'.catching on to the bush. Cr. Mason : Is this the section withdrawn, or has anybody got possession of it ?

Cr. Whinray : No, it has been withdrawn by the Government. Cr Kennedy: You say withdrawn for scenic purposes ? Cr Whinray: I take it that is so. Cr Kennedy : You cannot take that at all. Cr Mason : Is there anything definite? Cr Whinray : I tako it that it was withdrawn for that purpose. It was represented to them to be for that purpose, and on those grounds it was withdrawn. They were asked to withdraw' it for scenic purposes, and it was withdrawn. Cr Lysnar said he had pleasure in seconding the motion, and he did so more particularly after noticing the remarks made by members of the Land Board. They had not spoken pleasantly about the matter at all—they had rather put it the other way, and one of the mombers was most severe in his criticism beeauso it was fifty miles away from town. That member lived over ninety miles away from the town. Cr Miller : He has got a town of his own.

Cr, Lysnar: There might be a town some day on the Motu, and that not very far off. In this district they wore badly oil for reserves. This had been reserved, but in what way it would be handed to the people had not yet been decided ; but they should thank the Government for so promptly withdrawing the section from sale. They were not called on to decide more than that now. Or. Mason °aid that in the absence of any definite information about it ho did not think they had anything to thank the Government for. Ho understood from Cr. Whinray that this section was to be of benefit to the town of Gisborne specially. If the Motu pooplo required a park they might havo been justified in wiring to Government for the section, but he could not see how it would be useful to Gisborne. No meeting had been called to discuss this matter, One or two had met

and proposed this. Had Cr Whinray brought forward some scheme to acquire a park near the town it would have been useful, such as an effort to acquire Kaiti Hill or some such place. He did not know why the Government should be thanked for withdrawing the Motu section at the last minute ; they should rather apologise to those people who had applied for the section for being so treated; someone had suggested in the papers that they should be compensated. Cr Kennedy, who had risen at the same time as Cr Mason, said that tho subject had struck them both in the same way. When he saw that a moating was to be called to acquire a section in the Motu as a breathing space and health resort, it just struck him as the absolute rubbish talked at that Council sometimes. After listening to the speech by Cr Whinray, he felt tired after hearing talk of their acquiring a health reserve and scenic park at a place like the Motu. It was really too much to sit and listen to that sort of thing. If Cr Whinray and these four or five people were to devote themselves to the immediate surroundings of the town they would be doing some good. But to start an illconsidered scheme of this sort the night before the sections were to be drawn for, and to rouse the Mayor out to telegraph it away, he considered was not a wise movement, and he did not think it would meet with the support of the town. Cr Whinray asked them to pass a vote of thanks to the Government for withdrawing the section in the Motu as a reserve. He was at the meeting of the Board whoD these sections were balloted for, and Mr Gold-Smith distinctly said that the sections had been withdrawn “ as a reserve, I don’t know what it is for—in the meantime it is withdrawn.” Government was not going to reserve that. Cr Lysnar : What is your authority for saying that ? Cr Kennedy : I heard the Commissioner. Cr Lysnar: Is the Commissioner the Government ? Cl - Kennedy said that the next thing to do would be to get the people who had asked to have this thing done to find the ways and means. It would be all very well it Government said they would make the land an endowment, but when it was withdrawn to be available at the upset price, the people who made the representation would find it difficult to get the amount of 25s or so per acre. It was absolutely absurd to talk about going to the Motu for a health resort and breathing space. They had Nuhaka, which was much closer to town,

and Waipiro, which was as close, and

both were accessible. “We should devote our energies,” said Cr Kennedy, “to beautifying these without going further.” Cr Whinray: They are already beautified. Continuing, Cr Kennedy sajd that this was one of those impulsive, illconsidered things which somebody had gof, into his head was a laudable idea carrying ii, great deal of kudos. He (Cr Kennedy) did not, think it deserved it in the slightest. He had said

more than he had intended, but it was because he felt from the start that the suggestion was unnecessary, unless they could get Government to make it a reserve, which he thought I hey should do in throwing open all funds. Cr Lysnar ; Tlici/ why complain and ridicule it ? Cr Kennedy said that, he was only complaining at this kind of thing being done at the last minute. If they could get, Government to withdraw it, for a reserve there would he reason in it, hut lie had no faith that.they had done so—having withdrawn it, they would ask wiia/i the people were going to do with it. *’ .Cr Whinray': We’ll soon tell them. Cr Kennedy : I think we should get more information. Ido not see anything to go into raptures about, and I shall not vote for it.

jf.'r .Jones said that at first sight lie had thought the action rather hasty; but as things had turned out he be-

lieved that it' was' for the best. The section lie believed included' the best scenic portion of the Motu, with the Falls, and if they could get a reserve of a mile in the vicinity of the Motu Falls for the people, it would be a great gain. As for not being for the benefit of Gisborne because it was at the Motu, anything that benefited the surrounding country must also be for tlid benefit of Gisborne, which was the head centre.' He wou’d support the motion, and would also like go see reserves made al Te Reinga Falls. Marumaru Caves, and Cook’s Cove. He only hoped that the reply in regard to the Motu would bear the construction placed on it by Cr Whinray ajjd with that view he supported the morion.

Cr Harding said that it was not often he refused to support the giving of thanks, but he could not, see what there .was to give that's lor ia this

matter. The section had been withdrawn, but they might find themselves in the position of having to pay the upset price if they wanted the land. Cr Mason : Of course. Cr Lysmar : If you don’t like to help the other people why are you objecting. Cr Harding : Because I think that it is not a matter for the Council at present. When he saw something done for which thanks were deserved he would support. He happened to know something about this matter. They would find they could get the land" if they paid the- price—2ns. A Councillor : 225.

The Mayor : It does not matter as to the print—we arc not going to pay lor it to-night.—(Laughter.) ] Cr Whinray : We have not been ask- ] ed to pay for it at any time. Cr Miller : Is there any reply in the office ? The Mayor : No ; it is in tiic papers —it did not come through this office. CT Kennedy : We are ;l skod to endorse the action of private individuals. Cr Lysnar said that because if had not emanated from- a certain quarter it was condemned. Cr Whinray : Hear, hear. Cr Lysnar, continuing in personal explanation, said that there had been too much of that sort- of thing ; because private people had given it support-, the Government had acted with promptness, and the motion was to thank them for the first step. Cr Mason : Thank them for what ? Cr Lysnar : For withdrawing the land from sale.

Cr Mason : The Council did not ask them to withdraw it. The Mayor : Order.

Cr Lysnar : A public meeting asked them to withdraw, and His ‘Worship the Mayor sent die telegram-. Cr Kennedy talked about it as being I absolute rubbish. Or Miller said that all this scented to be quite out- of order. Cr Lysnar said he had asked leave to make a personal explanation. The Mayor : Bui you must not- go on to rev.ew speeches. Cr Lysnar : Am I not entitled to reply to a Councillor who said that what I was talking about was rubbish ?•

The Mayor : You are entitled to make a personal explanation. Cr Harding • He has not got any. We will give them all the thanks when wc get the reserve. The Mayor explained how the deputation had waited on him, and he had sent, the telegrams. Continuing the Mayor made a spirited advocacy for endeavoring go obtain some such reserves as they had in other places. He considered the Government deserved thanks lor withdrawing the section. Talk about Kaiti Hill • why was it not obtained years ago ? Because nobody moved in the matter. What would they have to pay for if now ? A few years ago the Waikanae was thought to be valueless ; but what would if bring now? The Motu Falls would generate electricity for the whole of that district, yet if would have passed from them had it not been withdrawn. He was sure the Motu people would he pleased with what had been done. The Mayor related how in the early days he, with Mr W. F. Crawford, had tried to get a reserve of a thousand acres on the plain for harbor purposes ; it might have seemed presumptions, but lie was sure the people would have been pleased if they had succeeded ; tile endowment obtained was not so good, hut still it was valuable. He .would support the motion.

Cr Miller said if the thanks were for “ withdrawing ” and not for “ reserving,” as Cr Whinray had put it at first, the thing had veered round so that it might receive the support of the Council. They would probably not have had the speeches they had if Cr Whinray had made himself clear at the outset, but there were times when lie did not wish to make himself dear. Cr Lysnar : It is quite clear to this side of the table. Cr Whinray said that the Mayor had replied to the criticisms far bet--ler than he could have done. “ I should not have done it in such choice language,” said Cr Whinray. “ I should have hit them hip and thigh. It is like their d n presumption.” Voices : Withdraw. The Mayor called Cr Whinray to order. Cr Whinray : Well, I will say like t-lieir d alion ; like their—their,presumption.” Cr Whinray followed up this onslaught by stating that the proposal was condemned because it had not been started by the Chairman of the Beautifying Association. What did it matter where the proposal emanated from ? Wliy did not men of such tremendous business acumen see it before ? The newspapers had been teeming with leaders, on the subject, and at the last moment the step had succeeded. The action would meet, with the approbation of ninetyniue out of every hundred persons in . the district.

In reply to Cr Miller, Cr Whinray said that the telegram asked that the land be withdrawn for health and scenic purposes. He regarded it as a scenic reserve for the whole colony. In another fifteen years the Motu would be as accessible as Ormond was a few years ago. He hardly knew

itow to contain himself when men aspiring to public positions took such an attitude.

Tho motion was carried, Crs Kennedy and Mason dissenting. Cr Whinray got in a final shot by asking that a note he made of the Councillors who had voted against the resolution.