WAIKATO STOCK TRACK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2102, 30 January 1908, Page 2

WAIKATO STOCK TRACK.

A deputation, strongly representative of the- pastoral industry of -the Waikato, waited upon the Hon. Mr. McNab at Hamilton on Monday evening (states the New .Zealand 'Herald).

Captain Bell said that the route favored by the deputation was the jraik-aremoana. At presenF, he raid, from 15,000 to 20,000 sheep were driven through from Gisborne to the Waikato every year, and the cost w-.is about. Is Gd- per head. If the track was completed the cost of driving would be reduced to about 9d a head, and the time occupied, instead of being six or seven weeks, would be reduced to about three weeks. It would, he understood, cost about £2500 to complete t-lm track and to reopen tho old road, which hid become overgrown to some extent. Lie hoped that the necessary Government assistance would be given. Mr. Pohlen said that the Matamata settlers were greatly interested in the completion of the track, and he endorsed what had been, said'as to the advantages that would -be gained by the completion of the road. Mr. Barugh, in his remarks, referred to the large number of ewes that were annually brought from Gisborne to the Waikato. Under the present circumstances, he said, the time occupied- was too long. ' One breeder who last year started to bring 3000 breeding ewes through from Gisborne, lost about 500 on the way, and those that comnleted the journey arrived .in such poor condition that their percentage of lambs was reduced to about 50. Mr. McNab, in his reply, said he recognised- t-lu.- importance of thework, but as the matter was not in his Department lie was not in a position to say when anything definite would be done. He would, however, bring the matter under the notice of the Hon. J. McGowan. He „d----mitted that the deputation had made out a very strong case, as lie knew sufficient of stock to recognise the importance of facilitating the means of tr ins.it. The Gisborne people for a long time to come would have to largely depend on tho Waikato as a market for their surplus stock, and whilst lie was at Gisborne the matter was brought before him by people there, and tile majority of them also appeared to favor the Waikaremoana route. They had also given him an estimate of the cost of completing the track. Personally, lie was quite satisfied that the work was one of importance to the Waikato.