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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2046, 5 April 1907, Page 2

MILKING -MACHINE HINTS. Before deciding to buy an improved or “improved” machine, wait till tile heavy flow of milk is on. 1 revious machines appeared to milk aIJ right in tile slack season, but failed hopelessly on heavy milking cows. A trial even or one season is not long enough to see if any injury results to the cows, and it is only after a second season that the safety ot an> milking machine can be determined. Why experiment when you can secure the “L.K.G.” machine, which lias been live years in practical use, a ' has been proved by 2 )0 level-headed N.Z. farmers, to be a complete commercial success. Book now to avou tlic 1-usli. Agents, J. B. and Co., Ltd., Fort street, Auckland.

MR. REES’ SCHEME. - MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of tlio committee of local bodies in connection Avitli the outer harbor and tramAvay scheme propounded by Mr W. L. Rees avus held yesterday afternoon at the County Council office, tlioro being present: Tho Hon. Captain Tucker (in tho chair), Messrs J. Townley, W. L. Roes, A. F. MatthcAVS, I). Hepburn, and W. Sievivright. Mr Rees further explained his scheme which ho said first aa iis to got the three local bodies to call a public meeting to consider the scheme, Avhicli avus for the construction of an outer harbor on Mr Marchant’s plan and to construct a tramway first to Wailiirero. Ho proposed that the tramway should be made a permanent work, then tlio wider gauge should ho continued to Patutahi, and from tho point decided on rough trunways should ho constructed <.s feeders by private people, opening up the Taliora and other lands. Mr. Rees Avon! on to again explain the financial scheme as already set out. The tramway lvouhl provide 130,000 cubic yards of stone for the Borough and Council Councils. He based his proposals largely on the produce of the timber in the Motu and Taliora. He proposed that contracts should he entered into with the owners of timber lands, whether individuals, natives, or Government, so that they Avoukl always have a supply of timber to Avork oil. He claimed that by his scheme the commencement of the harbor would he obtained ivithout nditional cost 1 to tlio ratepayers. and although the tramway would have to lie constructed out of borrowed “-money the local bodies AA'ould not luiA r o to pay interest or sinking fund, as that amount Avoukl at least he derivable if there were no further profits; but lie held that the Avorks Avould provide large profits by AA'hicli all Avoukl gain. The timber in the Taliora AA'as even better than that in the Motu, and Mr C. F. Lewis had told him that there were 40,000 acres of Government land near Waikaremoana Avitli magnificent timber thereon. The settlers Avoukl become partners in the line and would he entitled to get their goods and produce carried by it, Avliich Avould entail a heavier line to Patutahi. His scheme Avould open a coach road to Waikaremoana and open up all the loiA-er part of Motu. No private syndicate Avould ho allowed to take up this matter; it, must in the first place bo taken up by. local bodies, hut there Avere many things involved that they should get the impetus of private capital. He had no doubt that they could got the Avholc outlay guaranteed. He contended that both in regard to timber and metal a substantial profit AA'ould lie slioavii. It Avas marvellous AA'liat could he done by a traimvny as against carriage byroad. Timber could he brought from Motu at 4d per IC-,t. and metal from Patutahi and Wailiirere

at from 4d to 5d per ton. The stone must be used, and tlio timber should ho used. There aaiis nothing speculative about the .scheme as boring for oil or coal. They had tlie stone and timber there. He proposed to send a copy of his proposals to each member of tho. local bodies, so that they should consider it. He then asked that the members hiring the subject up at each local body, so that ultimately they could have the Avliole thing brought before the public. He had gone into the subject of the Bill Avitli Mr SievAvright arid they had points still to consider; hut it Avas necessary to have a Bill brought in—it AA'ould he tile thin end of the wedge for ail instalment of local government. It had been said that the harbor scheme ought to lie kept separate, and if the inclusion of the harbor Avoukl imperil the scheme lie would he Avilling to separate it; hut his OAvn opinion aaiis that it could Avell lie included. Referring- to the timber lands lie mentioned that Mr G’ecil Lewis had told him that his instructions Avere to put the Antilles on to any timber land held for speculative purposes, so that the oivners thereof AA'ould he only too pleased to make use of the line. He (Mr Rees) claimed that the scheme avus a safe and sound one, and eA'en if no company Avere formed they could cut the railAA'ay off at Wailiirere and Patutahi, and the carriage of stone Avould give them interest, sinking fund, and substantial profit. But aa" itli the main .scheme they Avould never 1 1 avc an empty truck. He gave illustrations of the giant ririm trees ill the direction of Mangatu. “It is a goldmine you local bodies can open,” said Mr Rees. He had been told by a. gentleman Avitli Avciglit in the mercantile community that the public objected to anything in the nature of a syndicate, blit ho sliOAved .that they coukl proirido for the local bodies getting the benefits of profits, Tlie' scheme AA'ould reduce the price of coal, Avood, timber, and gas. Ships bringing coal AA'ould not have to go nivay Avith empty holds. A great area of country- Avould be opened up, and the scheme AA'ould he self-supporting. He proposed to supply information as to the cost of running the lines for a Aveek.

Tlio Mayor said the timber coukl not lie brought flown for anything like tlio sum. Mr Itees: I tell you it can. The Mayor: It has to he handled. Mr Rees: No. The Mayor: It must lie taken from the bench ——

Air Rees: No, it is put right into the trucks. The Mayor said that AA'as ridicul-

Mr Roes: I Avill bring tAvonty practical men to tell yon it can he done. I aa- ill gii-e y-ou the figures from men ivlio have been Avorking at it all tlieir lives, both in the mills and in tlie hush. If you cannot trust their statements you cannot trust anything. As Mr Wellstcd The Mayor: I don’t suppose lie lias handled much timber. Mr Rees: He does not say so. He oniy speaks in regard to his oavh part. I Avill get the practical jiien used to the Avork ivlio will toll you tlia the timber can be brought in for 6d per 100 ft. The Mayor: From Taliora? • Air Rees: Yes. and from Alolii.

The Chairman, replying to the statement that a train could he run for £3 said that did not allow for charges on capital. sli' Rees said even it they increased the amount to £2O the line would still show a substantial profit.

A discussion then ensued oil the subject of haulage, in which traction engines and other modern means of carriage were introduced, Mr Rees, however, holding that none could approach the train or railway line.

The Mayor said the Government could not make the profits stated on their lines. Air Kees said the difference in this case would he that the trucks would be always full. The Mayor said the Government could not get the rolling stock made fast enough to cope with the demands, and yet they were not making these profits. Mr Kees said the Government started off with a very big expense that would not be required in such lines as this. The Mayor: You would have a flood now and again that would sweep part of the line away. .Air Kees: Vou would not have a flood in 20 years that would interrupt the line for three days. An interesting discussion was opening up as to the relative cost for haulage, when Mr -Sievwright interposed, and said that while the discussion of details was very interesting, it seemed to him they were going ahead too fast. They were

i'omataring a schemo without knowing whether they would bo able to got tlm public bodies to unite thereon. Ho thought it would be better to have nil these different points threshed out later on. The. Chairman said that tho members of tho public bodies would not understand the schemo unless the details were threshed out bit by bit. For instance tho Harbor Board might have their own plans altogether, and each local body would want to know how the scheme would suit his particular local body.

Mr. Sievwriglit: That is pnro cliial.

The Chairman: So it may bo; but it is the duty of each one to go into tho schonio to seo how it suits the particular body ho represents. Mr. iSievwright: But if lie can get it done better by unity, it should bo followed up. Tho Chairman : But ho must first ascertain whether tho portion interesting his local body was dealt with as lie thought advisable. They had not yet bad tim eto grasp tlio scheme.

Mr. Sicvwright: Tho point for is now is, as to how wo can get them to unite.

The Chairman : It seems to me we have got to allow each public body to consider tho thing separately and say whether it will join in the whole sei.- me.

The Mayor: That is my view, too. The Chairman: It is simple enough to Mr. Rees, who may have been thinking over it for weeks, mciitlis, or years, but the ordinary person requires time to grasp such a large scheme, which is very complicated.

Mr. Sitewright: Would it not be possible to unite more than the three local bodies. He thought they might get Wairoa, Opotiki, and Wliakatane with them.

Tlie Chairman said even having got tho local bodies with them they had to see that they had the Government with them. Mr. Sicvwright said they had never tried such a scheme with local bodies. Mr. Rees: That, is what they are trying to do now.

The Chairman said it would bean important step ahead if they ascertained what' the Harbor Board would do. Mr. Sievwriglit: Draft a Bill and let them hammer it out. The Mayor: The Government might’ oppose it on the ground of finance. Mr .Rees said there was no likelihood of that. The Mayor said his information was that the present Government line was to run in such a direction that it would tap the Tahora at -no very distant date, and ho had been assured by Tahora settlers that the direction would be just the way to suit them best. As for the timber he had enquired about it, and one settler had told him they could not wait for the line to take it away. Iliis settler was having 2000 acres cleared himself, and said he must get that done to enable him to make use of the land within a reasonable i ime.

Mr. Rees said they would only ask Government permision to grant right to take the lino, under the Tramways Act, to Waihirere and I’atutahi.

Mr. Sicvwright said he bad drafted a Bill which might be considered.

Mr. Itces said lie was afraid it Mould only hinder matters by including Wliakatane at present. Mr. Sievwriglit asked if it Mould be M-ise just to throw the thing down before the local bodies.

The Chairman said they must get an understanding of it.

Mr. Rees asked lion - it Mould be for the local bodies to call a public meeting to discuss it.

The Chairman :Tliat would not do. A few of us here might understand it ,but the majority do not, and do not know yet whether they are for it oi* against it. Jlr. Rees asked Mould it be well to adopt bis proposal to send a copy of the proposals to each member rf the local bodies. ' The Chairman and Jlr. Sievu-right approved of that. Mr. Sievwriglit said they were not going to get the thing jumped at.

The Chairman: Nor should it —a 'scheme of this magnitude. Did you ever know anything to go through here without some opposition, and a healthy tiling too to have all these tilings thoroughly ventilated.

Jlr. Sievwriglit said lie M-as convinced a great deal could be done by unity in such matters. The Chairman: If tlie Government would only trust us a little more. We can do so little beyond filling up a feM- holes.

Jlr. Rees said that what Mas m anted in regard to-Rhe scheme was discussion so that they could arrive at tlie best results, which M’as the object of all of them. The meeting Mas adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on April 30, Jlr. Rees- in tho meantime to carry out liis suggestion of supplying copies of the proposals to members of tlie local bodies.