TO MOTU BY RAIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 970, 17 August 1903, Page 4

TO MOTU BY RAIL.

(By Our Travelling Bepresentativo.) Judging from the recent utterances of certain people, and the general interest which has been manifested by the Gisborne folk concerning the above, one feels almost inclined to imagine that a firstclass ticket would almost immediately be obtained from Gisborne to Motu. Nothing would delight your humble servant more than being the proud possessor of such a ticket; although such is not obtainable I expect to live to witness this important episode of my life, that is if I live as long as Methusalem did.

In discussing this most important question the people of Gisborne have been considering two ways of reaching Motu by rail, the main one of which has been kept most prominently before our eyes is a Government railroad. Undoubtedly if the Government would erect the line it would be the best, but all must know that the policy of the Government, to use an old phrase, is “ look before you leap,” and in so doing they look a long time before any practical work is done, like the donkey it takes a lot of coaxing before the leap is taken. Therefore I think the chances of a Government railway to Motu are very remoto. The slow pace at which the Government are at present constructing railway lines was brought under notice a few nights ago in Parliament by Mr Mander, who asserted (without contradiction) that the North Auckland Main Trunk Line had for years been constructed as fast as a mile and a quarter per annum. If a main line is constructed on this principle what pace would a branch line proceed at? Take the distance from Te Karalca to Motu as 84 miles, and the construction goes ahead at the rate already indicated, we would then have a railway to the Motu 26 years from now ; by that time I feol certain there would be little if any timber left in the Motu district, most of the country would be under the plough. As for the argument that to the immense timber resources the Government will see the importance of this line and push the work forward with all possible haste, that practically amounts to nothing, as I might instance cases where there wore districts bearing a far greater value of timber ten yaars ago than in the Motu. First of all there was the ApitiBangiwahia district, requiring 36 miles of fine, bearing magnificent totara, matai, rimu, and raibakatea, It has now almost been destroyed, Then there was the great Waimarino forest, situated on the proposed route of the Main Trunk Bailway Lino, also thousands of acres of bush through whioh the line would pass prior to reaching this magnificent forest. Fifteen years has passed by, and the line has been constructed about 20 miles; settlement has gone on apace, destroying valuable timber further than the eye can reach. The line is still about 55 miles from Waimarino. Thousands of acres of beautiful totara has been ruthlessly destroyed, and many settlers are poor who through their timber assets should have been made rich. Then again for the present, how long we know not, we have to face the fact that the Home money market is a wee bit tight, anfi however much the Government may desire to rapidly construct railways, they would be unable to do so owing to shortage of funds. All these matters require the most careful consideration in relation to the railway to Motu. I notice the Gisborne Bailway League wants the whole “ hogg or nothing.” I believe in the League officially not supporting the tramway system, but it could extend, as Mr Gaudin said, its sympathies towards the proposed tramway. Quite recently a baby project has been brough before the public as a substitute, for the time being, 'for the railway. Whether the baby will grow to manhood remains to bo seen, If their is sufficient capital to assist its development, there should be nothing to hinder its progressivoness. This substitute is, I am told, a steam tramway to Motu, to be constructed by a milling syndicate, the syndicate to have first obtained the milling rights of Motu bush. There is ample room for both Government and millers to work in these particular parts, and I fail to see if a tramway is constructed that it will affect the railway works, one and a quarter mile

per year. There is a steam tramway working satisfactorily (and has been for sixteen years) in the Manawatu district, which belongs to the Manawatu County Council, and not a syndicate, There is no reason why Motu should be an exception in this case, but if the County Conncil do not care to undertake the responsibilities

let them consent to a syndicate using their road lines. I personally prefer the work of a syndicate to any public body ; their work is done more expediently from the point of £.s.d, As to the feeling of the Motu settlers in general on the tramway sys.tem they have npt had a phance of voicing themselves on this matter, and I feel safe in presuming that every settler would agree to this proposal if it were shown to him that he would reap the rich harvest of from £6 to £lO per acre from royalty on timber only. This I maintain would be easily acquired, and I know of patches (hundreds. of acres) where royalty would reach from £l2 10s to £ls per acre without firewood rights. I have made stringent calculations on a basis of 6d per hundred feet royalty and defy any ono to dispute my 'statement. As for carting timber to Poututu, this is all bosh ; if timber could be carted to Poututu over rough metalled roads for the price stipulated, 2s 9d per hundred, then may I ask why is totaro, matai and rimu being destroyed in largo quantities by fire 30 miles from Feilding railway station, on a good metalled road, and nearly all flat country to pass over ? Echoing response, “ the carting cannot be done for double the money.” In winter it would be quite impossible. Just fancy the timber output from, say three sawmills at the rate of 6,000 feet per mill per day, in all 24,000 feet being carted to Poututu. This would necessitate 40 waggons of five horses each being constantly worked on the road, no metalled road even in summer could stand] this pressure of work. It’s downright nonsense talking of carting all Motu timber to Poututu. A line to Motu is an absolute necessity if the timber is to be milled in any quantity. And I sincerely hope that Mr Bees and his supporters will further the tramway system with all possible hasto. This year no Jess than £4,000 worth (royalty only) of timber is being destroyed, One man informs me he has over £2,000 worth of totara alone on his farm of 1,000 acres. Yet settlers are to remain poor waiting for the Government to construct thß line, surely some milling syndicate can be induced to pay Motu attention on the timber rights being guaranteed. If Gisborne people will do nothing further in this matter I will communicate with the optside world (milling people) and see if anything pan be done.

If a working man had to live a day on white of egg, he wonld need 8 3 ,1 bof this substance; but 2£lb of whole egg would be equally valuable as food. There are two words in the English language containing all the vowels in their regular order. They are abstemious and facetious.