IRON SAND QUESTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7390, 17 February 1902, Page 2

IRON SAND QUESTION.

AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.

Interviewed by a Herafd reporter, Mr E. M. Smith, after repeating much that Mr Cadman etated, gave information, which showed that his oompany intend to revolutionise everything in New Plymouth by providing freßh lighting, electric trams, and other things. For the country people and the district generally there are also many good things in store. Thuß : — Mr Smith: There is an important matter. We propose waiting on the Harbour Board with a soheme for the improvement of the harbor. If our industry is to be a Bucceßß we must have a better harbour, and we must have a wharf* for the handling of our own stuff in-

wards and outwards. We propose to ask the people here to assist us in a scheme for leasing the harbour for 50 years on somewhat the following conditions: — Firstly, we propose to appoint a Board consisting of three engineers— Mr Leslie Reynolds will be one, a Government engineer will be a second, and another will have to ba selected. Thiß Board of engineers will be aßked to report as to whether the present breakwater should be extended, or whether the present harbor should simply be the inner arm of a more comprehensive soheme embracing the Sugarloaveß. We propose to enter into a bond to keep the harbor dredged and clear for shipping trade while our Bohemo is being carried out.

Have you any more details on this important matter ?

Mr Smitb : Yes ; we propose to liberate the district from the harbour rate, inako an up-to-date harbour, and also to entor into an agreement to fix the wharfngo, docking, etc, ohargos tho samo ns Wellington, whioh is, I understand, the cheapest port in New Zealand. Of oourijo legislation will be neaessary to do those things, but tbe advantages are so obvioun to the distriot and the country as a wholo that we do not anticipate any obstaolos being placed in our way.

Have you any more details? Mr Smith : Yes ; we propose to mako a railway from Sentry Hill to the Mokau.

What is the distance ?

Mr Smith: From 36 to 40 miles. Of course the whole thing depends on tbe concessions we expeot to get at Mokau. We will build the railway on such terms that the country oannot rejeot our proposals. We do not intend to ask for a land grant system such as the Manawatu and Midland Railways were built on, but we propose to build the line at our own cost, allowing the Government to acquire it afterwards at a certain price.