MOTU NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1047, 14 November 1903, Page 4

MOTU NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Your humble servant had the pleasure of looking through the newly-erected dairy factory, although apparently only a shqll, there is ample proof inside the building that good and substantial work is being dono. The boilor is already bricked in its position, and tbe concrete for the engine has beon laid. It is expected the factory will bo ready to receive milk in about a fortnight’s time. Messrs J. Gleoson, Foilding, and G. Lucas, from Eongotea, (one of the oldest settlers) are on a visit to Motu. Those gentlemen are in search of good farms in the fertile district of Motu. It is somewhat surprising, nevertheless

a fact, that unlimited laud reserves retard settlement to a groat extent. I think this side of the question oan be applied to Motu. In tho first place wo havo Whinray's Park (a prized resorvo), on tho opposite side of tho road an education reserve, and along the new road is another education reservo of 900 acres, then nearer the

township arc two smaller reserves on the same road. Adjoining the township ar d along tho river flat is another resorve of 120 acres (supposed to be a township), adjoining this and looking to southward is a native reserve of about 1200 acres, and

fronting this is a reserve of 60 acres, while within 30 chains from the last-named reserve and loooking westward is tho Crown Lands reserve of 200 acres. All theso reserves are within a distance of half a mile to five miles from our dairy factory. Surely there is no necessity for such an upheaval of reserves, apparently dumped down almost one on top of each other, This is detrimental to tho best interests of this district. One would think tbe Lands Department could avoid such bad management ; reserves are necessary but need not be dumped all of a heap in a dairy district and adjacent to tho town. One is almost inclined to think that this matter was premeditated by the Lands Department with a view to retarding the progress of Motu.

Mr A. Cowan, of Gisborne, has just purchased a block of land comprising 1400 acres, direct from tho Crown, which is situated about six miles from Motu on a by road.