EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2219, 17 June 1908, Page 2

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

POVERTY BAY COMPELS ATTENTION. [Press Association.] t ( AUCKLAND, June 16. The “-Star” says one noticeable result of the-Premier’s Auckland tour is Ins ample acknowledgement of tho claims of tho long-denied and longdelayed East Coast railway. Sir Joseph Ward has just paid a visit to Gisborne, and lie has there reiterated tho statements he has made hero that it is necessary for the development of the country that the East Coast should bo connected with Auckland, and that the railway will receive more .generous treatment in the future. Auckland is so far behind flic rest of the 'Dominion in moans of internal communication that the claims of the •Mam Trunk line and the North -Auckland line have been permitted to obscure, to some extent, the just deiqaiids of the East Coast,, but the rapidly-growing wealth and importance ot Poverty Bay district now compel attention, and wo are. glad that the Premier has been able to .see with Jus own eves the necessity tor mg!Mg on the work of connection with the least possible delay'. It i 8 certainly t« the interest of Auckland the i’!!i o! r i‘ 6 t of tlle district, that , , i bnes should be completed speedily, and-we trust that our Railway League will forward the inteiests of the East Coast energeticallj. if only to save tJie extensive ami rapid,ly-expanding trade of the Poverty Bay district from drifting south by another channel.

THE WAItVIATA RESERVE. THE COUNTY COUNCIL’S REQUEST. Last evening Or. Sheridan drew the attention of the Borough Council to tho fact that the Hon. Captain Tucker had tried to get an interest for the Cook County in the Waimata reserve, which the Government was asked to hand over as an endowment to the Borough. The Mayor said lie had spoken to Captain Tucker oil the question after, he had seen tho roport in . the “Times,” and the Chairman of tho Cook County Council had explained that In- only desired thc metal rights of the land should be conserved. Captain Tucker had also placed that position before the Hon. Mr. Carroll, m Mr. Lysnar’s presence, but he (the Mayor) did not like the position, as no metal had yet been discovered on the lamb and might never be. C'r. Sheridan: It is only a desire to block ns from getting the land. The Mayor: Wo have Government buildings in the borough from- which we get no rates, and the endowment of tho reserve would be a grant towards some compensation. Wo don’t ask *to share in the county grants, •and they should not share in the borough grants. I have suggested to Captain Tucker that the true position should be placed before tho Prime Minister, but he refused. I don’t think the intervention was in the best of spirit, and it shows very bad taste. •

Cr. Whin ray thought further representation should be made to the Premier on the matter. . Cr. Sheridan: If the land is given as an endowment it will need a special Act of Parliament. It would have been much better if the county had not interfered, and I propose that a letter be written to the County Council, asking them to withdraw their request, w-hich is really in opposition to us. The action is likely to block us in getting the land. Cr. Pettie seconded the- motion.

Cr. Somervell thought a small deputation should wait on the County Council. . , . .

The Mayor said Captain Tucker and C'r. W. D. S. MacDonald acted .upon their own initiative. Captain Tucker had explained the iio.sition to the Hon. ,Mr. Carroll verbally, but would not do ro ill writing. . . _ Cr. Sheridan’s motion was carried.