GISBORNE STOCK TRACK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1689, 5 March 1906, Page 4

GISBORNE STOCK TRACK.

(Hew Zeeland Herald.) To onablo the East Coast sheepfarmers to send Iheir store shoep to bo fattened in the Waikato for tbo frozen mutton trade of Auokland, a praoticablo stook track ia urgently required. The Motu-Opotihi route is impracticable for sboop, owing to the numbor of tidal rivers to bo orossod when the traok roaohoa tho ooast. Even for oattle it is dangerous and difficult. At the present timo most drovers take their Seeks and herds over a detour of fully 2CO miles, travelling them southward to tbo borders of Bawke’a Bay, and then north--ward through tho Taupo oountry to tho Waikato. This painfully extended journey is forced upon them by tho tidal rivers to be encountered on the other ' traok. What Is wanted is the completion i of tbo Motu Galatea track, whioh avoids rivers by following a loading ridge. Thu route was trial surveyed for the GisborneRotorua railway connootion and recommended as practicable by the Government engineers. There is a graded road from the Waikato, via Galatea, to within a few miles of Lake Waikaremoana and from the lako to the Motu track oould be quito easily and eoonomioaily completed. This route is the most direot possible between tbo Waikato and the Eaßt Coast, and would serve an immenso amount of oountry which is rapidly being settled, and | would greatly facilitate a very valuable trade. It is absolutely necessary to the prod able development of the stook industry that some direct route should be opened up. and this routo is not only the most advantageous, but oouid bo formed with the least difficulty and expense. There must be an interohango of stock between the rougher pastoral oountry and the cultivated fattening grounds if the Auokland meat trade is to assume its | legitimate proportions.