MOTU NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1429, 13 April 1905, Page 3

MOTU NOTES.

X Front Our Own Correspondent.) Mota, April 10. It ia certain that the Motn settlers will look upon the groat event of this week—the opening of the railway to To Karaka—with much pleasure, and at the same time With much longing. Slow, but euro, the progress of. this wonderful railway is taking place, but fast and furious is the great

wealth of this district (timber) disappearing by fire and axe. Of course it is not the s#(| fault of the settlers that this destruotion is plane. .They cannot afford to go into the baokblooks and sit looking at one another, waiting vainly for a railway. The man who goe3 to the baokblocks wants his \ refcarns as soon as possible. Even under =?y thffe existing conditions the settler ha 3to i- Waft before any money comes in. The land has to be cleared and sown in - grass at a heavy expenditure. But if, on the . other hand, the railway was fast making jJ, ts way here, settlers would be encouraged * io wait a little longer for returns with the hope that the great wealth of timber would be preserved. Then, again, the .settler would not .be under the same heavy •vfinancial strain. He would be reaping the just frnits of his land. Returns would be immediate, and the land put into grass with less expense. It is to be hoped Ministers will see the matter ia a clear ■ light, and use their sound judgment in A. having this important line rapidly nnder Way, and so save a valuable item of thi3 colony’s wealth. Why boast of a big snrplas and not utilise it for the country’s benefit? Have a substantial vote placed jr Da the estimates daring next session, and - the wonderful King Dick will be able to boast of a still larger snrplas in the course of a year or two. Think of the inorease of ja.aveuue I —.-. Tho expected visit of the Hon. J. Carroll t'nd the Hod. T. Y. Duocan is causing muoh interest. No doubt Mr Duncan will bo itatochisßd on the township quoatisn. It is indeed satisfactory that Mr Dauoan is going to visit the Motu. The matter will be gone into on tho gronnd, and X am snre that Mr'Duncan’a visit will pnt the miods of settlers at rest . -pace and for all. Regarding the Hon Mr ■Carroll a number of representations will •be made to him by settlers. At the rifle range on Saturday a good tnumber of members of the Kifle Club Mastered for practice. The day was dull •and somewhat retarded the shooting. Capt. Ellis was in charge and is sanguine about a number of the recruits. Two hundred, - 300 v and 500 yards were ' tho> Ganges used. Riflemen A. Cox, T. Elliot, B. Eißher, J. Hansen and F. Fisher made

Jiigheat scores. ■ /She dairy factory will only receive milk i other day after to-morrow owing to IK the decrease in supply. ;,v*a Mr T. McGregor’s planing maohine ha's been installed by Mr Ellis, manager, and be pat into use this week^ , T Daring the past few weeks fonr sections . ' of land have changed hands in this district.

It is with much pleasure that I have to another stripe to Mr Thomas McGregor’s name. Hot only has he been the founder of our dairy factory, but be is now going to instal a first-class sawmill in this district. It must be admitted that Mr McGregor is the sort of man wanted -4'a the backblocks. I hope his undertaking will prove a great success. I understand that Messrs W. Wright and H. J. iEilis hs.ve been the successful tenderers for the sawing of the timber for rVthe new Motn bridge. It is gratifying to *xiote that a step is being taken in the right direction by the Department. A number of Motu settlers will be present at the opening of the railway nexb Thursday. The fruit crop this year has been a complete failure. Another few weeks will see bushfelling i in full swing. ? , Onr beautiful spell of fine weather has •come to an end.