COUNTY TRAMWAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2458, 24 March 1909, Page 6

COUNTY TRAMWAYS.

MR REE’S SCHEMES. In response to the request of the Warholm County Council Mr Rees yesterday forwarded the following details of his schemes to the Council. (1) From Wharokopae through Taliora No. 2, across the Karanga- Creek, down both sides of the Motu river to the ; ortheastern boundary of Mangatu No. 1, a distane’e of, say, 50 miles, there Was an almost unbroken series of timber forests, carrying sufficient timber per acre to pay for working, if only the means of transit to Gisborne be provided. (2) The area just described contains at least three considerable sources of energy in the Motu, Rakaurca, and Wharokopae. 3() In that wide tract of country there are large numbers of settlers who are cut off, especially in winter, from communication with any centre of commercial or social life, and .are thus unable to obtain supplies or carry their produce to market, except upder the cost disadvantageous conditions. (4) He had obtained milling rights over large portions of the country mentioned, ana if his proposals were accepted by the Council and the ratepayers. all the forests between the Wharekopae .and Mangatu would be brought under contribution to aid in the successful completion of the work. (5) With this statement of facts he proposed To the Council and the ratepayers that the Waikohu Council shall borrow £60,000, of which £5,000 shall be devoted io the development of electric power, to be used by himself for milling and haulage, £25,000 for the construction of tramways through the timber blocks in the districts mentioned, connecting with the Gisborne-Motu railway, at or near Rakauroa, and tre remaining £30,000 as the Council may determine. ■ (6) The Council give him the right of using the tramways so constructed for 21 years on terms for the benefit of the settlers as may be agreed upon between them,, he (Mr Rees) paying the interest and sinking fund upon the £60,000 until that amount be paid off or provided for as specified in the next clause. (7) He would undertake to equip all portions of the permanent tramway with steel rails within five years of the signing of the contract, and would also in the same period' pay for the site of these permanent tramways, such .site and tramways to be the property of the Council. He would also provide for the sale of the timber and other sources for a sinking fund to provide for the whole £60,000 within the period of 10 years. Such sinking fund to be invested for the Council’s security. (8) The last clause, so far as the making of permanent tramways, will not .apply to those portions of the original temporary tramways running along or parallel to the course of the Government railway, which will be taken up as the railway progresses, but only to those parts which will ultimately become feeders to the railway at its different stations, and therefore Xiermanent. , VV . (9) He would give security to the Council, for the due performance of his part of the contract, over 150,000,000 feet of timber through which the tram- : way will be run. (10) The Council was entitled by law to one-half of the royalties paid by saw'm filers upon timber cut within the county or Government lands: He would undertake, in addition to the payment of interest 'and sinking fund as above stated, to cut 4,000,000 feet par annum upon the Crown lands, and this will provide a revenue of £I,OOO to the County Council. (11) He.would agree to provide the means of transit for the settlers in the •Wharekopae-Tahora and the Motu districts, and for their supplies to and from the nearest railway station, and for the cartage - of their stock and produce to such railway station,s, on conditions to be arranged between the settlers and himself, and if they differ, to be settled by the Council. Mr Rees suggested a meeting of the Council and himself to enter more fully into details, plans, estimates, and conditions. The Chairman .said the question was an important one. and rather too big to be discussed at an ordinary meeting. The question was one for the ratepayers - , iu the timber districts. He thought a special meeting should lie held to confer with Mr Rees. Mr Rees, who was: present, said that he would be willing to meet the Council anywhere or .at any time. He was now ready to proceed witli the laying down, of "mils, at Rakauroa, and was anxious to have the Council with him in the matter. '