THE NEW MEAT COMPANY'S SITE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9582, 31 August 1909, Page 5

THE NEW MEAT COMPANY'S SITE.

ENGINEER MAKES A VISIT OP [ IN&PECTION. __. As indicated in yesterday's iasue of the Wairarapa Age, Mr A. S. Mitchell, engineer and architect, to the Wellington Farmers' Co-oper-ative Meat Company, arrived in Masterton by the mail train for the purpose of making an inspection of the sites under offer for the establishment of the works wh>h are situate at Waingawa, Woodside and Pigeon Bush. The engineer was met here by Mr J. C. Cooper, Chairman of Directors, and in company with Messrs P. W. 11. Kummer (Mauricevilie), G. Pain (Maryborough) A. Tocker (Pigeon Bush) and A. G. Pilmer (Masterton), the party left Masterton immediately after lunch, and proceeded by motor car to their destination, returning to Masterton about 9 o'clock last evening, after .a most pleasant and interesting trip. Interviewed immediately on his return, by a representative of this journal, Mr J. C. Cooper stated he was not at liberty to disclose at present much information in regard to the result of the inspection made, but the full reports of Mr Mitchell's investigations would be submitted to the shareholders at the statutory meeting to be held at Pahiatua on September 10th. Furthermore, the engineer's inspection was only from the point of view of the local suitability for the works, j and was quite independent of the | aspect as to which particular site was central to the district from which supplies of stock were to be drawn. On arrival at Waingawa the sprmgs.waterjraces and grounds were inspected.jjand the engineer was perfectly satisfied that the water and the nature of the ground for drainage purposes were all that could be desired for the works proposed to be erected by the Company. Woodside was next visited. The proposed site here is on Mr Jackson's property, where the Company has been offered 50 acres free of cost and other inducements in the way of shares. Mr Cooper stated that it offers every facility for water supply, drainage and its accessibility appeared to be a strong point. The land was flat, and nl good quality, and if anything better thin the quality of i the>oil at Waingawa. The site would permit of the works being con- ! structed practically on the banks of the Waiohine, but owing to the nature of the country the water would have to be lifted, which would in-, volve some fairly heavy cost. The Pigeon Bush proposition com'prises some 400 or more acres, close j to the railway line, with an easy drainage into the Wairarapa Lake, j Th? water supply was probably ( quite adequate, but was not as good as that of the other sites. Mr Cooper expressed the opinion that although the water in the creek good at present it might not always' prove so. It would require inspection in the summer time, but they had been assured by residents that the supply would be consistent in dry weather. _______ WAINGAWA OR WOODSIDE? MR J. C. COOPER INTERVIEWED. SOUTH WAIRARAPA CAMPAIGN. ' TO BE COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY. Asked to express a personal opinion on the sites by the pressman, Mr Cooper was inclined to be reti- J cent. "How do they compare with the Wellington sites," queried the reporter. "They are far and away superior to anything in the vicinity of the Empire city," was the reply. "Which Wairarapa site do you think will be selected?" "I am not in a position to express a definite opinion, but I should say from personal observations that the choice of sites lies between Weodside and Waingawa: in fact, Masterton has a strong rival in Woods'de." "Are South Wairarapa residents moving in the matter?" "Yes, and what I gathered to-day Ihey are going to make a bold bid for their end 'of the district. I was informed that settlers were goin~ to support very strongly the scheme conditionally on either the Pigeon [ Bush or the Woodside sites being j selected, and that one settler alone ; was going to invest £I,OOO in the scheme. I understand that Messrs G. ! Pain (Martinbwough) and J. Bicknell , (Featherston) siro to commence im--1 mediately a campaign in their part • of the district r,n similar lilies to the * one instituted by Messrs W B. Chen- ' ne!l3 and W. h. Cruickahank in Mas- ', t?rton, and they are confident of a ' -ympathetic hearing."