DEVELOPMENTAL PROPOSALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2098, 5 June 1907, Page 4

DEVELOPMENTAL PROPOSALS.

A NEW SCHEME,

TRAMWAYS TO BE BUILT

Tlio following letter lias been addressed to the Mayor and County Chairman by Mr. W. L. Rees: “Sir, —You will romombor that last year I made certain proposals to the Harbor Board, tlio County Council, and tlio Borough Council, involving an expenditure in relation to public works in connection with those bodies of tlio sum of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Owing partly to tlio niagnitudo of tlio sum involved and partly to many urgent representations made to mo by loading residents of tlio district, 1 decided in any futuro proposal to omit nil mention of the Harbor Board, and to restrict tlio proposals to tlio providing of metal for tlio County and Borough roads, tlio opening up of tlio timbor industry of the Taliora and Motu, and, by carrying out tlioso works, providing tlio moans of access to tlio Bottlers ,in that groat stretch of country between Patutahi,. Taliora, and tlio Motu.

“The feeling of the people is, I believe, so strong upon the building of the outer harbor that I nood not again mention that matter. I now propose: “1. To provide tlio borough and county with 100,000 cubic yards of crushed motal from -tlio Patutahi quarries and delivor tlio same at fixed points on the road from Taliora to Patutahi, and from tlio Waikoliu bridgo to Patutahi along tlio back road, and from Patutahi along tlio main road to a site to bo fixed in :Gladstono-road within tlio borough of Gisborno, in such quantities and at such times ns tho Councils may

require. “2. To construct a solid wooden iramway from the station in Glad-stone-road to the Patutahi quarries, so that when occasion arises the wooden rails can bo taken up and iron rails substituted, and tho tramway finished by the public bodies as a tramway under ‘The Tramways Act, 1904’; and also to carry on tramways to Taliora and Motu and from Patutahi to Waikoliu bridge. ' “3. To provide by tho tramways proposed the means of transit for all tlio settlors along the lilies both for themselves and for tlieir goods and produce, making them all partners in the ownership of the tramways. “4. To place the timbor industry of Taliora and the Motu upon a wide, sound, and profitable basis, thus stopping the exportations of tho great sums of money now sent away from Gisborne to distant places for timber, and in lieu thereof exporting timber to bring money into this district.

“Last year the Councils agreed to give me authority to lay down private tramways on the public roads, which permission has not been revoked, although legal effect has not as yet been given it. To make the work successful, at least fifteen or twenty years’ rights should bo granted, and this could be provided for either by contracts between tho Councils and myself or by an alteration in tho , ‘Tramways! Act, 1894,’ placing tramways for the carrying of stono and timber on tho same footing as tramways from a coal mine. I “The sum which I would suggest to the Councils to borrow would be forty thousand pounds, which would he expended as follows: (a) Seventy miles of wooden tramway, at £4OO per mile £28,000 (n) Rolling stock £3,000 (c) Quarrying and crushing . stono i £9,000

Total £40,000 The interest and sinking-fund ujion twenty-year debentures for £40,000 would be 4 j interest and 2j sinking-fund, which I would provide for to tlio satisfaction of the two Counoils, and of course to tho satisfaction of tho ratepayers. The Councils, paying for tho quarrying and crushing out of tho £9OOO already mentioned, would pay nothing for the carriage of tho stone, so that they would have placed at tho spots indicated 100,000 cubic yards of first-rate crushed motal for nothing. “The seventy miles of tramway proposed would bring the tramway owners in touch with the timber forests both at Karaka and Wharekopae, and the proposed company would furnish the means of carrying on the tramway from Wharekopae to tho Koranga creek beyond Mangataupere, and thence to the Motu as far as the Motu bridge. “The profits arising from the sale of timber from Tahora and tho Motu, as well as part of that from the Karaka, would be more than sufficient to pay tho working expenses of the line, and to provide for the interest and sinking-fund, amounting to £2BOO per annum. Tho Councils would receive security over the tramways and rolling-stock, as well as the rights obtained by me from them, and could also receive security over million feet of timber, say to double the value of the money exponded in the tramways and roll-ing-stock, and could make this a condition of their consent. “Owing to unforeseen circumstances, I have not hitherto been in a position to state that the work could be immediately commenced. I can now, however, agree to commence tho work of laying down the tramways, especially that to Putatalii, without any delay at all, and I have no hesitation in stating my belief that that tramway could be completed and in working order within three months of the agreement of the Councils (with tho consent of the .raitepayers) to borrow tho sum of £40,000 for tho above purposes. “It would be as well to remind you of the statements made by mo in my former memorandum that this would provide return froiglits for all sliijis bringing coals from Newcastle to Gisborne; it would cheapen tlio price of timber, coal, firewood, and gas, and in all probability would open an easy means of access to -Waikaromuana, and tho utilisation of the vast water-power now going to waste ui this district.

“The three local bodies formed themselves into a committee to consider my proposals, and I would ask the Borough and County Councils to appoint a joint committee from among their own members to go into the matter fully with mo, to make all necessary inquiries, and to report to tlieir respective Councils at an early date. —I am, etc.,

W. L. BEES.” 'When the lettor came before the Borough Council last night, the Mayor remarked that the subject was a big one, and would take a good deal of consideration. Cr. Miller: Does Mr. Bees ask that a committee be appointed?

Cr. Whinray said a committeo representing tho various local bodies was desired.

Cr. Miller proposed tho following committeo: Tho Mayor, and Crs. Bright, Whinray, Sheridan, and Somervell.

Cr. Miller’s motion was carried unanimously.