RAILWAY TO MOTU

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 957, 1 August 1903, Page 3

RAILWAY TO MOTU

DISCUSSED BY COUNTY COUNCIL AND .RAILWAY LEAGUE.

VOTE FOR SECTION BEYOND TE KARAKA ASKED FOR.

Yesterday was a day of meetings I having for their abject the speedy construction of the railway from its present point to the Motu. In the morning the County Council met, there being present : The Cha.irman (Captain Tucker) and Crs Harding, Gray, Richardson, Matthews, White, and CJayton. The Chairman explained the object of the meeting, stating that it had Ween thought by the Railway League that tho Motu could be reached more expeditiously by a tramway which would act as a feeder to the RailWO V

Cr Gray understood' that a proposal was to be submitted to the Council from the Railway League. Cr White thought that it would he a pity to go in for a tramway if there was a chance of getting a railway. The Council had already decided to concentrate their efforts towards pushing the railway to the Motu. To bring the question of tramways up .was simply to stultify themselves. The Chairman : I do not see that. On the contrary, the Government may be inclined to help those who help themselves. Cr Clayton : Do you not think it will tend to make the Department I think that we are divided amongst ourselves. It will give the Governmentran excuse to let the vote stand over/ I certainly think the Council ! should continue to urge the constuction of the line to the Motu. Cr Richardson : I am .afraid that if we went in for a tramway and the timber was got out, that the Government .would refuse us the railway.

Cr White : ' Wc want to get past the Motu/

Cr Richardson said that when the railway reached Poututu, Mr Baigent and others were prepared to cart the jiimher to that place. Cr Clayton said that most of 1 the Motu people were against the proposal for a tramway. Cr Richardson said that as far as •he could gather they, preferred the Government railway. Very little of the Motu road was suitable lor the purposes of a tramway. Cr Clayton wanted to have the Railway League proposal before the Council prior to his pledging himself to anything. At present they, were more or less in the dark.

The Chairman : Unless we take the •trouble to inform ourselves we shall

he in the dark then. The Railway League might not come near us. The Chairman : At present about 3,400,000 feet of timber comes into tile district each year, the value being over £20,000. The Waihora mill was turning out about 6000 ft a

day, and they could not keep pace with the orders received.

Cr Gray : That is an argument for extending the line to Te Karaka.

After further, discussion, the Council decided to adjourn until 2.30 to await any proposal from the Rail-

way League,

RAILWAY LEAGUE 'AND COUNCIL. There Was a representative of members of the League at the Council meeting at half-past two.' The Chairman said that the object of the meeting was to receive a deputation .from the Railway, League. ■Referring to l the proposal > for a tramway, Captain Tucker said that

it seemed to him that it could not retard the railway, hut rather expedite it.

The Mayor said the chief desire of

the Railway League was to hasten on the construction of the line to the Motu. The question of a tramway was 'one more for the County Council than for the League. Captain Tucker disclaimed that the County Council sat there with the object of leading the Railway League. The Council came with minds like a blank street of paper, and were ready to hear whatever was said. It was not for them to propound a scheme for, the Railway League.

Cr White said they;; .were unanimous on that point. Mr Rees made a strong speech In favor of the construction of a tramline, which he contended was the on

y way to save the great timber 'orest of the Motu. It had been stated that the people ,of the Motu were averse to the proposal but this was not so. , He had been telephoned to from the Motu, and Messrs Wright and Bolton were coming down on the following day.- They disputed Mr Peddle’s right to make any such statement. / Mr Gaudin said there was a feeling outside of Gisborne that once a tramway was decided upon that 'it would always be a tramway to the Motu. The question of tramways should bo kept apart from the Railway League. Mr DoLautour urged the necessity of the meeting, being united in regard to pushing on the railway. As a League they wished to help the railway, by pushing on tramways as feeders. The Chairman said that it would be better if some definite proposal were put before the Council. They might adjourn for an hrffcr for the League to meet. The views or the deputation did not appear to be quite consistent. The Mayor thanked the Council for the interview, and stated that the League would inform \them as to the''docision arrived at. Tho Council then adjourned.

LEAGUE MEETING. At tho meeting of the Baihvay Loague. His Worship the Mayor presided. Ho said

that ho was under the impression that tho Council would havo considered some mothod of putting the Tramways Act into operation. For twenty years tho Council had boon talking tramways, but they had got no furthor. The League at its meeting was anxious to give tho Government no reason that would cause them to slacken their efforts to carry tho lino to the Motu. (Hoar, hear.) They could rely upon tho support of the Northern members, and should ask for an immediate authorisation of an extension of the railway. (Hear, hear.) The mooting could consider how they could dovetail any proposal for a tramway. He was anxious to hoar tho opinions o£ members. Mr W. Webb complimented the Government on tho progress already tnade with tho line.

Mv W. A. Hood said that if the Motu were an agricultural district only they would bo satisfied with tho progress that had been made, but tho reason why they were so anxious was that thero was a vory valuable nssot in tho Motu in tho way of timber. Tho .timber would not bo saved to the country unless the railway was pushed on at a faster rate. Mr Peddle

would tell them that Mr Baigent was willing to erect a mill if the line was taken to Poututu, and a good graded road mado from there to the Motu. >

Mr Peddle, of Motu, said that he was voicing tho opinion of most of the settlers of that district in urging that tho railway line should be at once pushed on to the Motu in preference to any proposal for a tramline. A gentleman interested in milling had told him that if the line was taken to Poututu, and the settlers raised a loan of £3OOO to make a good graded road to Motu, he would erect a mill on his own property, and start operations, .The timber could be carted down for 2s 9d per hundred. He strongly urged upon the meeting the necessity of pushing forward the line.

Mr Gaudin moved the following resolution : “ That the Government bo urged to exiond tho railway from Te Karaka to Motu in order to render available the timber forests of the'Motu, and that a vote be placed on the estimates this- year for tho nest seetion beyond To Karaka. That a copy of the resolution be forwarded to Mr Carrroll, Mr Berries (Member for Bay of Plonty), and the Auckland members, asking for their support."

' Mr W. L. Bees seconded the motion, and promised to do all in his power to assist the deputation going to Wellington in pushing on the line. At the same time he could not seo how tho question of a tramway conflicted with the railway. Mr W. A. Hood supported the resolution.

Mr F. Harris said that ho was the only ono who opposed the proposal for a tramline at the last, meeting, and ho objected to such important matters being sprung on the Leaguo members without notice. Every district was trying to get a vote for a railway, and it was not fair to their member to introduce the question of tramlines. They were told that tbo Motu people wore going to borrow JG3OOO, but ho had lived too long in the district to place much reliance on promises. He required to see the money down. The League should strain every effort to get the line to the Motu. The resolution was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Harding Messrs DeLautour and Townley wero appointed | a deputation to visit Wellington. I Discussion followed as to what answer should be given the County Council. Captain Tucker said that some definite proposal should be submitted. Mr Gaudin thought tboy might sympathise with tho proposal for a tramline, but point out that the Leaguo could not support it.

Mr Bees said that this would be contrary to the spirit of tho motion. A chance meeting of tho League should not be allowed to tako a course opposite to that decided on at a former meeting. Mr Harris : We are perfectly solid on the railway for the Motu. Mr Eoes : That has boon done over and over again. Continuing, Mr Bees said that another moeting of the League should bo callod to discuss tho question properly.

A member: It will be much better to loavo things as they are. No good can be dono by calling a meeting of tho League to discuss tho question of tramways. It had better end here.

After further discussion, tho League decided that they had no proposal to submit to tho County Council. Mr DBLnutour : Tho feeling appears to be that tho League should have nothing to do with the proposal for a tramline. Mr Gaudin was appointed secretary. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated tho meeting.