East Coast Requirements.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 134, 17 June 1901, Page 3

East Coast Requirements.

REPRESENTATIVE AIEETING AT TOLAGO BAY. lAIPORTANT SPEECH BY COUNTY CHAIR AIAN.

(TIMES SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Tolago, Sunday. A largely-attended meeting of residents of Tolago Bay and surrounding district was held in the wool-store last evoning. Amongst those present were Alessrs J. Alacfarlano (County Chairman), Hindmarsh and Alurphy (AVaiau), Reed, Aloore, A. Reeves, Holder, Dixon, Hales, Spenco, Kilburn, Boland, Sinclair, Jolly, Maddock, Poolo, Nelson, Smith, Lockwood, and Goodlcy. On the motion of Mr Kilburn, socondod by Mr Boland, Mr Spence was elected to the chair. Tho Chairman, in opening the meeting, read tho advertisement in the Gisborne Times convening the meeting, and said that nearly everyone present was aware that a largely-signed petition, containing betweon 1800 and 1400 signatures, had been forwarded to AVellington last year in order to try and obtain assistance from the Government in erecting a bridgo over tho Uawa river. The petition arrived within a few days of the close of tho session, and consequently was too late to be doalt with last year. There was no doubt, howovor, that something would be done this session. Not only tho settlers in the surrounding districts, but also the travelling public, recognised the necessity of tho bridge, and were determined to have it. iis the Chairman of the County Council ,vas present that ovening, thero wero a : ow mattors upon which ho might enighten and adviso thorn.

COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. Air Alacfarlano, who was most cordially received, delivered the following address : » I am pleased that you have given me an opportunity to meet you hero to-night to talk over tho question of a bridgo over the Uawa River, and as there aro many other subjects of interest in tho advancement of tho district, I should liko to. ask your indulgence to traverso them whilst I am hero. (Applause.) AVith regard to the bridge, tho first thing that you should do is to apply to tho Government for tho sorvico of an engineer as promised, so that ho might mako survey, and prepare plans and estimates. Until this is done you are in tho dark as to the amount of monoy you havo to find. Aftor getting tho estimate of tho cost you will then have to settle as to the burden of the charge for interest. Assuming that the bridgo will cost £6OOO, and that ono half of that amount is to bo found by the Government, you will have yourselves to raise L'Booo. The interest on that amount, if you borrow under tho Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1899, at 8i per cent, for 41 years, will bo £lO5 per annum, and as you can justly ask tho County of AVaiapu to contribute at least half that amount you havo only to find a littlo over £SO per yoar, which I think you should have no difficulty in doing. AVith regard to tho area that you would rate over to secure the loan, I would caution you to bo careful not to take more on tho south side of tho river than will be benefited by the bridge, as by doing so you will court disaster. No Council would consent to taxation, for a special purpose such as tho bridge in question, being put on property which was not benefited by it. In fact, if they by any chance did so, it would be upset by the Supremo Court.

RATEABLE VALUE OF RIDINGS. I liave prepared a statement of tho valuation of tho riding as recently altered by the Government Valuer. I find that tho total value of the riding has been increased by over £IOO,OOO, and that rateable property, the proportion on the different sides of the river is on the north side £21,030, and on the south side £347,809. In these values I would point out that the small grazing leases appear at the nominal figuro. For instance one, which is worth perhaps 1120,000, is only rateable on £450, and the rest in about tho same proportion. Theso are not the only properties that escape taxation for special purposes, as this form of rate cannot be imposed on Native lands. They escape scot free. This applies to Taromata and Mangaheia No. 2. The first of these, I think, could be said to participate to a lesser extent than the northern side of the river in the benefit of the bridge. You are thus limited to rate on property valued at ,-£21,000, or two-fifths of a penny in the pound, which is surely not too much to pav for the comfort of a bridge, and is very much less than you aro paying in ferry toll. With regard to the Waiapu contribution, I would like to explain to you how to proceed in securing this, and I can do so by reading the 113th section of tho Public Works Act bearing on it.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES BILL. I have, in support of my advice to get plans, etc., ready before proceeding farther, to inform you that it is the intention of the Government to bring in a bill consolidating the loans relating to all local subjects, known as the Local Authorities Bill; and this bill, or rather one like it, has been before the Houso every session for the last five years. The present bill has been reconstructed, and i 3 now, with a few needed alterations, a good workable measure, and the Premier has informed mo that it is his intention to pass it through. This bill, as printed, includes several main roads in tho County in its schedule of roads to bo handed over to tho Government charge. The Government have already set up a new Department of Boa Is, and under it this; bill will be administered. '

GOVERNMENT MAINTENANCE OF MAIN ROADS. In this schedule is tho Coast road, and some assistance further than the half-cost may bo obtained from this Department. At least, I hope that it may lead to a bridge being put over tho Pakarac river, where it is urgently needed, although there is no large settlement on its banks to agitate for one. lam going to Wellington soino time next month in connection with this bill, and will use every effort to have our roads retained in the schedule.

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. One subject which you will shortly be likely to be called upon to voto for or against, is tho adoption of the rating on unimproved values under the Act of 1896. This measure has been on the statuto books of the colony for five years, and is only beginning to commend itself to the people. °lt is now being rapidly brought into force throughout the colony, and I think the time has arrived for it to be adopted in this county. Tho name of the Act will sufficiently explain to you its meaning. COUNTV FINANCES. . So many new roads have been made throughout the country, and the cost of maintenance thus caused, together with the great cost of the old roads, has taxed the County’s finances to such an extent that tho Council has passed a resolution to borrow £25,000 over the whole county, but are not proceeding with the matter until the question of.tho roads schedule in the BUI previously referred to is settled.

If the Gisborne-Opotiki, Gisborne-Awanui, Gisbome-Wairoa via Tiniroto (with branch road to Hangaroa), Gisborne-Wairoa via Mahia (with branch to Nuhaka), are retained in the schedule, as it is hoped they will be, the Council will be able to get along without a loan, but will be unable to undertake any new work. A GREAT FUTURE FOR TOLAGO. I am strongly of opinion that the time has come when the development of the resources of this district should be pushed forward. (Applause). It has been neglected too long, and I-think you should set up an Advancement Committee among yourselves to keep your requirements- before those who can and should help you. The valuation I have already given, together with that of the native lands and the grazing runs, totals something like half a million pounds sterling for the riding. The exports for the port of Tolago for last year amounted to 2400 bales of wool, and is increasing every year, and I hope to see a ship calling for wool this coming season.

SHIPPING FACILITIES. I got the Government to allow the steamer Hinemoa to call in here on one of her trips up the coast some two or three years ago, and an inspection of the Bay was made by Capt. Allman and Mr Hayes, Government Marine Engineer. Capt. Allman informed me that it was better holding ground in Tolago than in Poverty Bay, and with better provision with regard to shelter. I have interviewed the heads of the shipping companies, and I think that if the facilities for loading are good enough you will see a vessel loading hero this season.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. You have, I believe, been talking over the question of land for settlement. The opening for selection of blocks of land in this district will mean that numbers of new settlers will be coming in. You are yourself a small community, and can only expect to get a portion of the land thrown ! open. Most of the land in the neighborhood is not in a condition for small settlement by people without capital, and I feel sure the Government buyer would not look at it in its present state. Under the Noxious Weeds Act passed last session, the owners of land can be compelled to clear all roads of blackberry, gorse and briar. The Government Inspector (Sheep Inspector) is empowered to give time to clear drains in cases where noxious weeds are abundant. In conjunction with any application you may make for the acquisition of these lands, you will have to apply for a drainage loan, and advance to be successful.

THE PAREMATA BLOCK. The Paremata Block is specially suitable for settlement, and some of the native leases will shortly expire and revert to the natives. If this happens it will be a calamity, as you know, and have evidence of the stylo of farmer the native is before you every day. Something should be done to secure those lands, which, when drained, will be very suitable for dairying purposes. THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY. I have been through the dairying district on the West Coast, and have seen no place better adapted for the industry than the Tolago district is. You all no doubt havo read of what it has done for that part of the colony. I believe there is more value in butter exported from Taranaki than gold from the Auckland mining district, and I can assure you that if it is once established here you will be one of the most prosperous little ports in the colony. TOLAGO’s SPECIAL ADVANTAGES. Our climate is so far superior to that of the West Coast that wo can easily get two months’ longer milk than they can. It moans nearly 20 per cent, greater out- ■ put per acre. The Uawa river and its branch, the Mangaheia, are splendidly situated for the collection' of milk by launch. All the higher lands were on the banks of the rivers mentioned, and thus dry places could be found where the cans could bo lowered to the launch, and bad roads during wet periods could be avoided. CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT. I As I said before, I have every confidence in the good faith of the Government 1 in their desire to further the welfare of the people. You cannot do better than place yourselves and your requirements in their hands. So little is known of this isolated district by any of them except our member that I think you should appoint delegates to proceed to Wellington ■ during the present sitting of Parliamqpt, in order to make known your requirements. I will be in Wellington in July, and will be glad to co-operate with any one sent there by you. If there are any other matters in connection with the district that you wish explained, I shall bo glad to do so as far as I can.—(Applause.) ■Mr Sinclair: The County Engineer informed me that if a toll were charged on the bridge it would not be subsidised by the Government.

Mr Macfarlane: That rests with the people. Mr Hale : We had an estimate as to the cost o£ the bridge from Capt. Winter when he was County Engineer. Ido not know whether it was during Mr Macfarlane’s term as Chairman. Mr Macfarlane : No estimate has been made during my time. Guesses havo been made by engineers, and when passing over the river they havo remarked that it would cost such an amount. Mr Halo: This meeting is quite in ignorance of the Government promises in regard to free engineering. There has been a report current here lately that the Government would find half the money, but we do not know whether to attach importance to such a statement. It seems rather too good to be true. Mr Sinclair, Secretary of the Bridge Petition, replied “ I think I am right in assuming that this meeting is fully aware of tho fact that a largely signed petition was sent to Wellington towards the close of last session. When at Gisborne recently, at the request of the Bridge Committee, I lhad an interview with the Hon. J. Carroll on the question of the bridge. Mr Carroll, in the presence of several other gentlemen, verbally guaranteed half the cost of the bridge and free engineering expenses, and advised me to take steps to raise the other half of the money. That, gentlemen, is the position of affairs. At present we have nothing in writing. Mr Hale : We can plainly see that Mr Sinclar has only Mr Carroll’s verbal promise whatever that is worth. Numerous peoplo in Gisborne have had similar promises, and have found out about them later on to their sorrow. Mr Macfarlane: Mr Carroll is a Ministor of the Crown, and if he makes a promise he will keep it. (Hear, hear.) Mr Halo: I am glad to hear the Chairman of the County Council express | such a high opinion of -Mr Carroll. (Laughter and applause.) Capt. Winter furnished an estimate some years ago. I sent it to tho County Council. It was discussed, and tho cost of the bridge fixed at £6500. Would a fresh estimate be any better than that previously obtained ? Mr Macfarlane : Yes, it will have more weight with the Government, as it will be supplied by a Government engineer. Mr Hale: With regard to a special district being established at this, which I may term “ the fag-end ’’ of the country, do you consider we should be justified in rating the south side of the river ? Mr Macfarlane : I say you can take in the Paromata block in the event of. it passing into European hands. Mr Hale: Then tho reason Paremata only pays half rates and Mangahoia full rates is because the latter is in European occupation ? Mr Macfarlane : That is so. Mr Halo: With regard to the Local Authorities Bill, are we in the same position as the Cook County, namely, awaiting development before proceeding further ? Mr Macfarlane: No ;-I say go on with preliminaries. Mr Hale: At the timo we were working this before there was most strenuous opposition against tho bridge. As far as you know, has this opposition melted away ? Mr Macfarlane : I know nothing of it. Mr Hale : I suppose this meeting may assume that your opposition has melted away. Mr Macfarlane ; I have never had any opposition to the bridge, and havo agitated for it every time I havo seen Ministers. I certainly object to. paying for it, aud pay for it I shall uott

Hr lliiKiniarsh ; To facilitate matters I propose that the Secretary of the Bridge Petition Committee be requested to write to the Government and request them to send an engineer as promised, in order to form an estimate and prepare plans. . This was seconded by Mr A. Reeves and carried unanimously. Hearty votes of thanks to Mr Macfarlane for his address and Mr Spence for presiding were carried by acclamation, and the proceedings terminated.