Nuhaka North Notes.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 208, 9 September 1901, Page 3

Nuhaka North Notes.

(TIMES L'OUUESI'O.NDENT.) Dl-ri.ni; the past week or ten days th weather has been delightfully bright an sunny, just a perfect taste of spring, th willows are bursting into leaf and th spring flowers into bloom. There is marked difference in the appearance c the hill-sides, and lambs are also to b seen in all directions enjoying old Sol’ rays. Most of the settlers are busily on gaged digging and planting their garden and effecting other improvements. The fine weather has also made it; presence felt on the roads, and those settlers who have been hibernating during the winter months are now anticipating the good time a-coming. There has been e good deal of controversy here lately about the Employers Insurance Act, and much diversity of opinion prevailed until Mt Davis, the Government agent, visited the district, and gave useful information tc those who did not possess the Act. A meeting of the Nuhaka Settlers' Association was held in the Morore schoolroom on Saturday last. There was a large attendance, and much interest was taken in the proceedings. Mr M. J. Joblin presided. The chief business was to receive the report of the delegate to Wellington, | and to consider the advisability of joining The Farmers Union. The report was read by the secretary as follows : “To the members of Nuhaka Settlers’ Association.—Deport of M. J. Joblin, President of the said Association, who was with Mr Shaw deputed to proceed to Wellington to interview the Government on certain local works of importance, as determined at a public meeting held by the Association at Morere on the 27th •July’, 1901. Mr Shaw being unable to accompany me on August 6th proceeded on journey alone, reaching Wellington on the following Monday. On the next day I was accorded an interview by the Honorablcs the Minister of Lands and Mr Carroll. The Waikokopu question was first discussed. I pointed out that the settlers were disappointed and dissatisfied that nothing conclusive and final had been done, and that they felt strongly that the Government should secure possession of the inlet without further delay. I also entered into details showing that wo were paying at the rate of Is per mile per ton for all goods that we exported by way of Wairoa, and the like sum for imports, Wairoa being 26 miles distant from Morero, making the cost XT 6s per ton. If the traffic took the Gisborne route the mileage became much greater, and the cost would increase proportionately. But the capricious bar at Wairoa river was destructive to all satisfaction in the transport aliko of passengers and of goods. Goods conveyed to Waikokopu from Morore at the samo rate would be 9s 6d per ton, the distance being 9.V miles or less. I also called attention to the advantages that passengers would derive from the Waihokopu route to Napier. The cost in money and time from Morere to Napier via Wairoa was an uncertain amount, as the journey might take 10 hours or 10 days, more or loss, as it depended on the river bar. From Morere to Napier via Waikokopu, the fare would be about 16s, the time occupied in the trip about 9 or 10 hours. At present I find the most economical route is that via Gisborne, Time occupied, 21 hours. Fares, saloon 3os ; steerage 255. In reply to the foregoing remarks, the Ministers were in perfect accord. The Minister of Lands said they could quite understand the benefits that the opening of the Waikokopu harbor would confer upon the settlors of the district. They fully recognised the importance of the work, but there were certain difficulties in the way that had to be surmounted before active operations could take place, and that was the cause of the delay that had occurred. Some of the Natives who had interests in the area required were away in America, aud there had been difficulty in securing their signatures. Finally, Colonel Porter had been appointed to take the matter in hand; but subsequently he had been called away to South Africa, and the mattor had been allowed to drop for a time. They would now proceed with the work without delay. One of three things would have to be done : —(1) The acquisition of Native signatures, or (2) the severance of a portion for the absent Natives, or (3) the area might be secured under the operation of the Public Works Act. In the meantime till complete possession could be secured, he would endeavor to make such arrangements as would enable the settlers to make use of the ground and a shod with perfect safety.—Harbor Hating District Harbor Board : The Hon. J. Carroll said “ that to effect these objects it would be necessary to have a Bill passed through the House of Eepresentatives, and this could not be done during the present session, as there were only certain duly-appointed days during the currency of the session when members would bring Bills of this character before the House, and the session was now- too far advanced for the necessary steps to be taken, but he would have it done during the next ensuing session. That Mr Carroll be asked to present a Bill to Parliament, vesting the foreshore in the Harbor Board. Mr Carroll said such an Act could not be passed this session, but the measures necessary should be proceeded with next session.—The proposed endowment for Harbor Board of 10,000 acres : Our member gave no hopes whatever of such endowment being granted. He knew that the Government would not consent to it, as he had repeatedly applied for similar grants forthe Wairoa Harbor Board,but in vain.— Be the promise to get an Engineer to report on Waikokopu: Mr Carroll said he remembered the promise, and would have it carried out at the first opportunity. Hot Springs: (1) That the Hon. Mr Carroll be urged to give instructions that the votes already passed by the House be immediately expended. Here I mentioned the unsatisfactory condition of the arrangements at the Springs, and urged the necessity of having the grant expended in the provision of improved accommodation at the baths before the summer. The Ministers said that the Hot Springs were undei the control of Sir J. G. Ward, and therefore they could not speak definitely upon the question, but they coulc. say that the sum voted should be spent, and they asked me if I had any suggestions to make. I told them I had not, as that would be outside of my instructions ; but I strongly recommended that great care should be taken in the selection of a suitable site, and that any building that might be erected should be suitable for ' the purposes required and of a permanent character, and have some resemblance to the other Government establishments of the same nature. I instanced that at f Te Aroha as an instance in point. I was ; advised as I was in Wellington to wait a s few days and see Sir J. G. Ward on the mat--1 ter, as at that time he was at home unwell.' (2) The appointment of a Domain Board

to control Reserve was next introduced. Air Carroll said he had certain names of persons given to him that might constitute such a board, but as yet nothing further had been done. I said I thought the work would be done most effectually if done by the Government, as they had the experience derived from other establishments of the kind to guide them. I also referred to the great facilities that would be afforded by the opening of which would enable visitors from Napier to reach the Springs in about nine hours, j

(To be continued.)