DISTRICT NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3658, 21 October 1912, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

MOTU

[FROM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT] MOTH, Oct. 19. The Settlers’ Association are having a petition circulated throughout the district for signatures, which, when completed, will bo presented to the Minister for Public Works, through (Mr MacDonald, member for the district. The Association are petitioning that the station site and route to Opotiki, be decided upon nr once, and also urge that the line be brought on to the township. The most important clauses in the petition are, “that by having the station in the township, it would tap the vast forests of valuable milling timber in the upper Mangatu, which timber must come to this {mint. Sevei.il blocks of the Mangatu will be thrown open next year and the milling will be on such large dimensions, as to afford the best facilities being warranted.

The deferred station site is delaying the milling and dairying industries, which are waiting to see where the station will he, before erecting buildings and as Motu will be the terminus of the railway for years to come, the Association urge that even if the Pakihi route is adopted, a branch lino, which would not be excessive in cost, should he brought into the township.” The Department has decided to run a daily train between Otoko and 11akauroa, which will he a great boom to the settlers of the Matawai and Motu districts.

All the men on the widening of the Motu-Opotiki road are being dispensed with on completion of their present co-operative contracts and ft is with interest that we await the bringing down of the Public Works Statement, which must concern this district to a large extent. The roads in the district have dried up wonderfully the. last fortnight, the Otoko-Motu coach making its appearance for the first time on Monday last since the beginning of the winter. It is intended at present to run the coach twice a week, until the roads are better, when a daily service will be inaugurated.