MOTU TIMBER.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 840, 14 March 1903, Page 3

MOTU TIMBER.

INTERVIEW WITH MR BAIGENT.

SPLENDID FUTURE FOR MOTU

A representative of the Times took the opportunity to make a call upon Mr Walter .1. Baigent, a gentleman who is about to enter upon the sawmilling industry in the Motu district, or at any rate will do so as soon as lie sees some reasonable prospect of getting tho timber to market. Mr Baigent has had exceptionally good experience in the Forty-Mile Bush, and is interested in some large mills in the South. Attracted by references to the timber in the Motu district, he paid a visit there, and satisfied himself on the subject. Then he agreed to purchase about 1250

acres of timber country from Mr Grandfieid, and has also been negotiating for the right to cut timber over a large area of country. In reply to the Times representative Mr Baigent said that he had been through the hush as far as the bridge beyond Mr Hansen’s place. “ What do you think of the quality of the timber ?”

“ it is of good quality—fine clean timber, better than can he got on the West Coast. it has a lot more heart, ” replied Mr Baigent. “ So far as you went, did you form any estimate as to the quantity ?” “ Yes, I calculated there would beabout 20,000 feet to the acre,” was the reply. “On the extent of land

I inspected, I estimated there was over 100 million feet of timber, apart altogether from splendid rata and iHata'i trees for firewood.’* “Then as to the handling of it?” asked our representative. “ It would be easily handled either by road (assuming, they were In fair condition) or by rail. It is far more accessible than the timber country worked in the Forty-Mile Bush district, and in Taranaki, the country being much firmer.”

11 When do you propose to erect machinery ?”

“ If the roads were put in good order I would put in a first-class plant next summer, but otherwise it would be a matter of waiting until there is a prospect of getting the timber out.’

“ You would not be likely to go on working up a large quantity of timber, pending facilities being given to get it in to market ?”

No, replied Mr Baigent, “ there would be no use in cutting, say, five hundred thousand feet of timber, and not be able to get it'out. With the plant I propose to put in, we should be able to cut more than a million and a quarter feet of timber per year The great drawback to the road is that the latter part is not metalled. The cost of carting to the railway at Kaitaratahi would be 6s per 100 ft. during the summer.”

“Supposing the roads werp put in order, what method would you adopt of getting the timber out ?” asked our representative.

“The only way would be to put on seven or eight teams, but one would naturally prefer to Wait for the railway. The more expeditious way to get such communication would be for a light line to connect with the main line when it reached Te Karaka. But if the railway were completed to (lie Karaka and the roads put in fair order, I would start a mil) at once, notwithstanding the drawback of the long cartage. At present I have sites more accessible to a market., and as regards the Motu, I prefer to wait a while ta see what progress will be made with

the roads. The strongest representations should be made to have the railway pushed on.” “ What variety of limber did you find ?”

“ It is well mixed, comprising matai, red pine, while pine, and a small quantity of totara and kawaka,” replied Mr Baigent. “ Apart from the timber, what do you think, of the Motu district,” asked the Times representative. “ It is admirably suited for dairying and general pastoral purposes," was the reply. —“ While the dry spell had given the grass a parched appearance on the flat, there was splendid grass in the Motu. The soil is also first-class for the growing of vegetables, and the district is well adapted for fruit-growing. The stock was in capital condition, the cattle particularly looking well. The cli-

mate is healthy and bracing, and the Motu, when denuded of its valuable

timber, will become a splendid .district for .settlement and such pursuits as,dairying. „.I intend to convert my own land into pastures as soon as I get the timber off.” “ Did you form any estimate of the quantity of timber destroyed, by being burnt off in the blearing of the land ?”

“I should say there has been at the least 20 million feet of timber wasted in that way, through there being no means of bringing it to market.”

Continuing, Mr Baigent stated that in ten to fifteen years the tim.ber in New Zealand would become very scarce. There would still be plenty of it, but it would be in the mountainous country, and expensive to handle. Then attention would he turned to such places as the Motu —where the timber could be easily handled, if only facilities for transport were given. There was plenty of room in the Motu for live large mills, that would enable a hundred families to reside in that district. There would be a good market in Gisborne, and instead of importing timber an export trade could be established.

Mr Baigent pointed to the necessity of the Gisborne people moving in the matter of improving the facilities for transport if they did not wish to lose the trade. The settlers informed him that the road to Ohiwa (Opotiki) was being shortened by about 15 miles, thus bringing Ohiwa harbor to within -10 or 45 miles of tho Motu. If the road on that side were made the better one, exports,ineluding wool and dairy produce would go that direction. Therefore, if the desire was to retain the trade for Gisborne, it was necessary that there should be activity in the matter of roads and in getting the railway pushed on to the Motu.