MB. MCNAB’S TOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2098, 27 January 1908, Page 3

MB. MCNAB’S TOUR.

MINISTERIAL

DECLARES GISBORNE’S “SPLENDID ISOLATION” MOST CEASE.

EAST COAST RAILWAY WILL ADD ANOTHER PROVINCE TO DOMINION.

NEW BLOOD IS TRANSFORMING SLEEPY GISBORNE INTO A GO-AHEAD COMMITNITY -

Special to Times. ROTORUA, ,Tiui. .‘id

The lion. U. HcXnb. in on interview to-day, gave some impressions of his tour through Poverty Bnv amt the Bay of Plenty. Asked what had Btruck him most during the trip, Hr. HcNib said that, the most striking thing in connection with the whole trip has been the enormous extent of rich, fertile country, both agricultural and pastoral, winch is to bo found in what is known as the Poverty Bay district, and right through to iVlia kata lie. This is not known of, or realised, in other parts of the Dominion. The vast area of country referred to is it present served by no first-class port, nor is it- catered for to any extent by railways. The Gisborne-Te Karaka hue goes inland only something like -0 odd miles, but even for that short length it is doing spl-aul'd- work. 1 feel certain that an extension in tho direction of Hotu and Opotiki would make it one of tho best paying lines through agricultural and pastoral country in New Zealand. Owing to lack of railways to concentrate tlieir trade on one port of export, the sheen-farmers of the district, although keeping immense flocks, are unable to enjoy all the facilities for producing good lamb, tho chief drawback being the greatdistance the- stock have to ,bo driven before freezing. The same remarks apply, though in -a greater degree, to the dairying industry. The land is far richer than some of our best dairying country in other parts of New' Zealand, and cannot be used for dairying, because the factories canuot get railway transit to a port, and have to depend on lengthy cartage or oil coastal steamers. In either case, without cold storage the result is that some factories, after starting, have been compelled to close down, and no encouragement is given to new ones to start. In addition, dt is -the want of a grader -at tho port of export that is the consequence of the small supply now being shipped. Tho grading is done chiefly at the port of Auckland, and with the increase of railway .facilities and the placing of a grader at the port of Gisborne, an enormous impetus would be given to the dairying industry in tho Poverty Bay district. THE POSSIBILITIES OF POL-

ERTY BAY

“When speaking to some fanners who had come up from Otago,” said Mr. McNab, .'“1 was amazed to hear the carrying capacity of their properties as described by competent men, and it is unfortunate that the Crown has not a very large extent of land in this district available foi settlement. Indications point to a large number of applications for the Te Arai Estate, which is now in the market. It is' within easy reach of the port of Gisborne, ond should he disposed of without difficulty. Kan aekanae is another property which should produce close competition. A number of small grazing runs in the district are falling out. I saw some of them, and all have been carefully looked into, with a view to ascertaining whether the immense demand for land in Poverty 'Bay cannot be met by further subdivision of these runs. I have not yet had the matter before me for consideration, except by deputations from the tenants, whose case has been well 'represented bv Mr. De Lautour. GISBORNE RAILWAY COMMUNICATION.

“We as a Dominion must realise the fact,” Mr. McNab continued, “that the ‘splendid isolation’ of this portion of New Zealand cannot be continued without great economic loss to the Gisborne people themselves and the rest of the community, and' we should aim at establishing a connection between the railway system of New Zealand and the Poverty Bay district at as early a date as the funds available for the purpose of railway construction will permit. I consider that the establishment of railway communication in Poverty Bay and the East Cape district, and the linking of this region with the general railway system, would be practically to add another province to New Zealand. In addition to the agricultural and pastoral interest ’affected, the extension of the railway now in existence for another twenty miles would tap a very fine timber forest. The, opinion obtains in the district that the royalty on the timber would go a very long way towards the cost of constructing the line. One astonishing feature of the Gisborne-opo-tiki line is that although passing through country which presents a very mountainous appearance, it could be constructed with very few engineeering difficulties Valleys of great length’ are utilised, and the railway would riot cost more than the average per-mile for other parts of the Dominion:”

INFUSING NEW BLOOD.

.. In conclusion, Mr. McNab said he had everywhere heard great praise given to the Southern farmers, from Canterbury to Otago, who had during recent years taken up land in the district, infusing fresh bloo.d and new life into the, agricultural industry. “Tbe people themselves are undergoing a change. Old customs and ideas afe being shaken off. and I beliove that when the railway is constructed, what has in the past been a comparatively sleepy portion of New Zealand will become as energetic and go-ahead as any.” There is a great future before, that country. Mr. McNab says. He has been de lighted with liis trip, and lie believe the result will enable the Govern ment to assist the settlers to a largf extent, at any rate as far as land and agriculture are concerned.