VISIT TO MOTU.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1590, 21 October 1905, Page 2

VISIT TO MOTU.

MEMBERS OF LAND BOARD. The members of thß Land Board returned last night from a visit to tho Motu. They expressed themselves highly pleused with tbe tour through tho rich inland country, Mr Gold-Smith, the Cornmis sioner, had of course been through the Motu district before, but it was new to Messis Hydp, Groome, and Baines. These gentlemen all have a good knowledge of growing timber, and although they had heard a grsat deal of the Motu timber they expressed themselveß surprised Bt what they saw, but all regretted that it should be necessary to destroy this magniiiaent asset.

“ The pity is,” ea'd Mr Hydr, “ that the Mctu was over thrown open to settlement until its magnificent timber resources could have been turned to marketable account ” Mr Groome mentioned that some of the timber there was, ho considered, equal to aDy in the North LI ami, Mr Baines, who has lied large experience in the timber industry, firmly of opinion that if tho timber had breo reserved until ibo rrilwav had reached it Ibo whole co-t (f toe hni would have been cleared from the t xnbor. All admitted that it ui'got have been a long time to wait, but toey were quite agreed that it would have paid to have pushed the lino on rapidly so as to tap the forests, which ate 6teaddy being destiovcd by tho sturdy settlers to bo replaced by pastures.

Tho members of the Board heard no grumbling from the settlers. '• In fact,” said Mr Hyde, '• they all seem satisfied wilh their lot, which is not always the case with town residents.” The visiting members of the board return to Napier to morrow.

Suoh tours through the country should he uf great service to members in the administration of their duties, and do much to dissipate the feeling that there should be a severance of tbe connection between this district and Hanks’s Buy.