THE WAIMATA RESERVE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2223, 20 June 1908, Page 2

THE WAIMATA RESERVE.

COUNTY COUNCIL'S LIGHTS. At the meeting of thg Oook County Council yesterday, -a letter was received from the Borough Council in reference to Captain Tucker asking the Prime Alinister to conserve the County interests should- the AVaimata reserve be handed over to the Borough Council as. an endowment-. The letter stated that the Council had been endeavoring to secure this block from the Government as an endowment for the past twelve months, and recently-, during the visit of the Premier, 'a petition asking for its acquisition was presented by the burgesses. The Council now learned with regret that • tho County Chairman, with Cr. AlacDonald, handed- in a memo, to the Premier, asking that the interests of County settlers should be considered when the block was disposed of, and they were of opinion this prejudiced tho chances of the Borough; therefore the Council trusts that the County Council would see its way t 0 telegraph to Sir Joseph AVard-withdraw- ' ing such memo. Regarding the request made on behalf of the Council to reserve its rights for road metal, lie wa s directed to point out that so far as it -was known there was no road metal of -any account on the - kind, and if there was it was so far away that it would ho impracticable " to use it for .general purposes, 'ex : cept perhaps -upon the road passing the block, and if it was found that there was stone suitable for that road, and if the Council would make representations to the Borough Council, arrangements could be made to ,to ’reserve, in any case, tho right of thd 5s ~"’’ . Council' to obtain metal. This Conn cil (Borough) was not asking for tli' land -for metal purposes, but pure!? for the purpose of aiding its strait-v ened financial position'. The Chairman said he thought there 5 - was a little misconception of the posi-N tion, and he took all the respons-ibil- * ' ity of having framed the memoran- V duiu, perhaps somewhat hastily. He i. merely mentioned to Sir Joseph AAAard to that he was told there were metal deposits on the land, and -asked that the faet he taken into consideration when the Borough petition was before the Government. The letter from the Borough Conned asked him to withdraw the memorandum, but htv did ' not see how he could ask the Prime Alnnster not to consider the interests of County settlers. He never sugthat the Oouiitv should share in the endowment. Ci*. AlacDonald said he offered no objection to the Borough receiving the endowment, lint signed the petition that was being circulated. Ho was in the Prime Alinister’s room .at the time Captain Tucker mentioned the.matter, -Imt on entirely different business. ~ C , r -,3 V - D - Lysnar said it was a pity that the two Councils came into con■lct• L ho borough did not ask to share the-. County grants. He pernil ally not raise any objection to what was said, but to what was in tlio memorandum. • The Borough made a courteous request that the Gountv would not interfere.- and if metal was found on tlie land the County should approach the Borough to obtain- recognition in case of the endowment being granted. Captain Tucker said he merely wished tlia metal rights should be reserved for the local bodies interested. Cr. Holden expressed a similar opinion. 1 Tho matter then ended. "'a