OFF-SHOOT OF CHEVIOT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 261, 28 July 1908, Page 9

OFF-SHOOT OF CHEVIOT.

CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENT. Sphib interesting facts: concerning a' co;opefativb 'settloment at Otakj were disclosed -yesterday'.:'.7;, : A' deputation 'representing- the iholders of ari 'arba of land about twelve miles from -the ' mouth of -the Otaki Rivor ; interviewed ';thb'. Hori., J. M'Gowan-'(Minister for Roads) ; and ~tho . rp.quest,.'.as ..explained, by •Mr:' : .nver. :;';':lt "'seems ..that i,ten of.' tile; younger men .'from.i' the. Cheviot, .settlement had recently ajl- area in' tho ; Otaki Gorge, and '.wore 'clearing it-under a • co-operativo system'.:'' '.Last ,'year ; ithey had .cleared, 50 acres; ;arid"had re-grassed it,,and this year it'was ''intended,' to;, bring down, another 200 -acres.'"', ' AVlion . cleared '.'the land ' would ;bo divided Jinto cqual' shares of .600 : acres. At 'present , the settlers could only 'cross'.the river .by -means'of wirp rope and .a cago.They '- asked for a suspension bridge .850 ft,': long and tp cost about;-£ISOO. - ;... >v Tho '■ request; was supported by Mr.' Williams (Chainnan of the Horbwhenua County Council). ■; The county engineer and tho district roads' engineer'spoke as to .tho - suitability, of the site for the bridge. ' • 1 ; Thb Minister promised to have'a report 'submitted on .the matter, "and if what 'was stated was .home but,; tlien. it was a caso deserving assistance. ■' .At the same time, lie said,'un to March ; 7 last ho had had applications" for roads and bridge grants' reaching in all -to about one million sterling. Sinco:then "thousands"'had been added.