TIMBER FLOATAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue XXI, 7 June 1884, Page 6

TIMBER FLOATAGE.

A discussion o&'this subject took place at the meeting'of-'the Waitemata Comity Council yesterday.—Mr OT. McLeod gave notice of his&ppUcatjon for a license to:float timber,—r; A prbtest [ against the license, being'granted •was handed, in. by, Mr. Wilkins (enclosing; a copy ..of tHe 'Act).—A report, upon. timber floatage generally Was submittedby Mr. Beetham, the to the effect that a very large area of country was embraced by the course of the rivers and their tributaries. :The floating of timber wonld affect injuriously most of the" bridges, and would 'entail additional cost 1 upon the county in making - provision for bridges of additional' strength in the near future. —Mr; Monk moved, "That the report be not entertained." ; It was necessary to give the Council some explanation of the reasons which induced him to adopt this course. ■ He believed that the timber industry of the province, was of such paramount importance that! interference would have serious con quences. The Council could not have formed an adequate conception of the injury to the whole public that would be done by interfering with this industry. In this district alone some £27,000 was paid in wages, and that represented an amount of money circulated which was -a profit to the people of the district far greater than _ was necessary to balance any possible injury. Moreover, nioit of the lands which would be affected are - low-lying lands and would not .be seriously injured. Lat the Council consider that somle £300,000 ayear was paid in wages by this industry; Let the. Council recolleot what that meant. It meant tbe. support of hundreds of families resident on the lands purchasing its produce, which would have no market but for them. Let this Council consider the whole of the district; ; What -was it only a few years ago .only for the .timber industry ? He remembered, and not many years since, when his - dog's tail would droop when he caught a site of Helensville, such was the mud and desolation of the place.— Mr. Lang said it did not follow because the timber industry was to be supported thatjthe settlors should be expected to pay additional rates to provide against the increased wear and tear or damage caused by timber floating. —Mr. Monk did not believe that any such additional cost would be imposed npon the settlers and landowners. He did not want any special immunity for the timber industry, but there appeared to have grown up a disposition to shut it up altogether. As to damage .to .bridges and. lands the persons floating timber and doing any damage, of which the law took. cognizance, would be obliged to pay for the damage they did. After some discussion it was resolved, "That the Council i has no objection to Mr. McLeod obtaining a license, provided security-be .taken from "him to the extent of replacing any loss or repairing any damage that may result to the Waikuku Bridge, and other-. bridges or works , belonging to the country." .