THE TAUPO COUNTRY.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 87, 20 June 1918, Page 2

THE TAUPO COUNTRY.

Its Future Development. At the Matamata County council meeting on Friday, Messrs Dalziell and Nelson, directors of the Taupo Totara Timber Co. waited., upon the members with respect to several matters; the first of which was the unfairness of the valuation of the company's line for rating purposes. It was stated that the line was assessed at £96,000 which was its cost. While the company was conferring a benefit on the county and its roads it was paying £3OO for nothing. The assessment on the cost of the line was most unfair. The railway was not showing a profit—in England the assessments were made on the profits—owing to a miscalculation made in the amount of timber to be taken over it, and consequently the company was endeavouring to encourage settlement along the line before the timber was through. This was necessary to keep the settlers served by the railway. The speaker said the company was also desirous of approaching the Government in respect to getting the Native land near the line placed under the control of one board. There Avas a huge area owned by thousands of Natives which they intended to ask the Government to deal with. Reverting to the railway and the benefits that settlors could secure from it, the deputation suggested the settlers were diffident about investing capital owing to the insecurity of the railway service. The object of the company in approaching the council was to secure its early moral support and sympathy, so that when petitions, which were to be placed before Parliament, were prepared the council would be able to support them. The deputation retired after Stating that it would take a further opportunity of addressing the council. The Putaruru members spoke in support, but the council reserved its decision.