POVERTY BAY TIMBER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2433, 23 February 1909, Page 3

POVERTY BAY TIMBER.

THE TRAMWAY PROPOSALS

A large meeting of representative settlers was hold at Wharekopae on Saturday evening, when Mr. AY'. L. Rocs attended to discuss his tramway proposals. Mr. John Murphy was in the. chair. > Mr. Rees explained that AVharekopae was included in the Motu Riding of-the AVaikohu County, which, as a new body without any funds, had a difficult task before it. The County had, - however, by its possession of a great quantity of splendid timber, and by the fine water supply, resources that would prove most valuable in the immediate future. At present the bush was being rapidly felled and burned and the immense power that was to be derived from the rivers at hand was not being utilised. By the laying of a tramway and the. utilisation of the water power for developing electricity to be used for sawmilling and other purposes, the result, would be highly successful, and would- prove, a mine of wealth. The settlers would get a profitable opening for their produce, and would be brought into close touch with Gisborne. If "the Wharekopae and Talmra settlers wished to join the. AVa ihoku County they could borrow a large sum for the purpose of building .a tramway without adding a penny to their rates, for the returns from the tramway and from the sale of their produce, and the facilities they would themselves secure, would save the rates from being increased. ‘Mr, A. C. Steele inquired if the Wharekopae and Tahora people could' form themselves into a special loan. rating district, irrespective of the other portions of the county. The settlers, lie said, would like to act by themselves, and would be prepared to obtain a loan of their own. Mr. Rees replied that it was possible, under the Act, to do so, ’and it could be done by petition to the Waikohu Council if desired. A number of other questions were asked by members of the audience, and were, answered by Mr. Rees. A motion was carried that the thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Rees for his address, and that the meeting had entire confidence in Dir. Rees’ proposals if properly carried out, and that the meeting form itself into a committee, with power to .add to its number, to help Mr. Rees carry out his proposals so far as they related to AYharekopao and Tahora. Mr. Leggett, secretary of the Settlers’ Association, stated that a petition excluding a number of settlers from Cook County, and including them in AVaikohu County, had been forwarded to the Cook County Council, and would he considered next Friday. Copies of the. petition to the AVaikohu County Council would be forwarded for the first meeting oh March 3.