MOTU NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1465, 27 May 1905, Page 4

MOTU NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)'

During the end of last week very heavy rain foil for two or throo days. The mail was unable to come through owing to the rivers being flooded. Mr T. Elliot had the misfortune to lose a fine young horse on Friday morning. It appears that tho horse was grazing near the bank of tho Motu river and slipped in. The river was flowing bank and bank owing to the heavy rain, and it was impossible to make any attempt to save tho horse. The animal was valued at about £2O.

Messrs McMillan and Kobertson, pf the Boads Department, were on a visit to the Motu last weok. It is to be hoped that Mr McMillan will favorably report on the immediate necessity of building tbe bridge across tho Motu river. This important work should have been under weigh long ago, and in fact it soems strange that the work should be prolonged as settlers aro in an aDXious state of mind as regards getting thoir stock across tho river. Another matter it is to bo hoped that Mr McMillan will fully consider and strenuously advocate is the completion of tho road running from the Motu township to the present bridge. It is about three or four years ago since this road was first sur. veyed, and about throe or four chains were formed. This progress, I think, about tbo record of road construction in the colony—one chain per year. The Department should remembor that this road will bB of considerable convenience to the settlers along this road as they are all connected with the dairying industry. Petitions innumerable have beon sent in as regards this work, and does it not seem a

shame that settlters should be treated so disgracefully ? The prosent road aftor a shower of rain is not fit for man or beast to go along, and if any little extra drop of raiu comes along tbo roads are under water. Now if tbe Department had made the road that they have surveyed none of these inconveniences would goccur. It would be running a greater part of the way round the side of a hill instead of through lowlying flats. Indeed the settlers of this road have a just cause for complaint, as they have beon settled here for tho past nine or ten years. It is to bo hoped that the Minister of Public Works will remember

his trip to tho Motu Falls, and the request

made by Mr W. Fisher, who pointed out to him the proposed road line. Besides, when settlers took this land up it was under the express understanding that this road was and would be tho main road to Opotiki, but since the new Papihi road has boon found this one is evidently considered a bye-road by the Department; an explanation is therefore neoeesary. Moreover, tho present stato or affairs is not satisfactory from a neighborly point of view, because settleis are unublo to fence the road off, consequently a number of gates have to be erected across the road, and which aro very often left open by the travelling public, resulting in stock getting mixed and rows among neighbors—a trouble that could be avoided if the road was constructed.

Mr T. Elliot, who has been appointed delegate for tho Motu branch of the Farmers’ Union, leaves for Gisborne on Saturday to attond the Provincial Conference on Monday next. Among the many things that Mr Elliot will represent will be the : asking of Che Provincial Executive to aid in representing the necessity of haviDg tho Motu township cut up for settlement. It is to bo hoped that other delegates will strongly support Mr Elliot, ns the present stato of affairs i 3 undoubtedly retarding the progress of what will bo a very im-

portant and flourishing township. Many inquiries aro boiDg inado by outsiders regarding township sections, but none are available.

The next Club competition pf the Motu Biflo Club will bo hold on the Prince of Wales Birthday.