THE WANTS OF THE DISTRICT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8413, 12 January 1899, Page 3

THE WANTS OF THE DISTRICT.

DEPUTATION TO MX CARROLL. A nuruTATUix consisting of the members of tlic Chamber of Commerce met- the Hon. J. Carroll, M.H.R., at the Council Chambers last evening for the purpose (if conferring with him regarding the more urgent wants of the district, iind particularly the questions relating to railway communication and land settlement. This members present were His Worship the .Mayor (in the chair), mid Messrs Morgan, Matthews, I'eltie, Lewis, Webb, Whim-ay, Lewis, Adams, Amhridge, Hcmicssy, and Robinson. The Chairman briefly explained the reasons which had induced the Chamber of Commerce to call the present meeting. He was glad of this opportunity of meeting Hie member for the district, as it would enable them to place prominently before him the more immediate requirements of the district. The Chairman then dealt seriatum with the several subjects brought by the Chamber of Commerce before the Premier on his last visit to Gisborne. He spoke at some length upon the necessity of greater speed being shown in the completion of the Gisborne-Nuhaka road and the forwarding of the stock track. There was also the question of the opening of lands held by the Carroll- Wi Pere Trust Estate, v hich lie wished to see at once made ready for selection. The Motu district should receive greater attention with regard to road-making. The main question, however, was that of the Gisborne-Rotorua railway. He, Mr 'i'ownley, was very sorry to see that Mr Seddon had treated this matter ia so light a manner when it was submitted to him. It was a question of vital importance to Gisborne, and one that they should push to the utmost. The Premier appeared to be of opinion that Giaborne was anxious to be connected with Napier with regard to railway communication. He, Mr Townley, wished as clearly and emphatically as he could to point out to the Government that it whs railway communication with Rotorua that Gisborne required, and that alone. Such a railway would open up the large extent of country through which the line would posa. The people of Poverty Bay did not desire to have a railway from heie to Napier. The Chairman continuing, dwelt upon the question of light railways, which he advocated for this district, oil the score of economy. The member for the district bad a good case, and be should hammer away at the Government until he got what was w anted. Nothing would improve like a railway, and the people of Poverty Bay should not let the matter rest until they had secured Borne promise in the direction indicated. Mr Whinray thought the Chairman had so fully and clearly laid the case of the Chamber of Commerce before Mr Carroll that it was needless for him to refer to the several points mentioned. The Premier, when in Gisborne, had stated that they had nndnly worried him with many matters which might very well have been submitted to the member for the district. He had every confidence that Mr Carroll would give every attention to the various matters brought before him, and do his utmost to advance the best interests of the district. Mr Carroll, in his opening remarks, said he was very pleased to have the present opportunity of meeting the Chamber of Commerce of Gisborne. He fully apprc dated the value of the Chairman's remarks in regard to the urgent requirements of the district, and he admitted that they were matters which properly came within his province as their representative. _ They might differ in opinions as to the time in which these matters required to be dealt with, but upon the whole they were in unison that they were important works that should be completed as early as possible. The erst subject touched upon by the Chairman was the Gisborne-Nuhaka road. This was at the present time well under way. There had been no cessation in the works on that road, which he looked upon as the future main road to Wairoa for wheeled traffic. The road had progressed from the other end as far aa Molesworth's, and there was only a short gap intervening between that place and the foot of the hill beyond Johnson's, where the work had been carried to from this end. There was an erroneous impression abroad that most of the money voted had been spent on the Wairoa end of the road. The first vote was £900, and thiii had been spent in making a buggy road from Johnson's to Bartlett's. The grade was here found to be one in eleven, which was too steep for a permanent road, so that portion was left and the work continued at the other end. The Department were now arranging for a deviation in the road, and at an early date the work would be completed. Notwithstanding the adverse opinions passed upon the stock track, that work was being pushed forward as quickly as possible. The Government intended to carry the work on, and if it did no other good it would certainly be a valuable means of opening up the country. There were 22 men at present on the work, and arrangements were being made to send others out. Regarding the question of Crown and Native lands, they had the Premier's assurance that ho would urge the Lands Department to have all available land in the district cut up for disposal as soon as possible. Before he (Mr Carroll) had left 'Wellington he had seen Mr McKenzie about the matter, and that gentleman had promised that more surveyors should at once be sent up here in order that, no delay should take place in the opening up of these lands. Dealing with Native lands was, however, a very complex question, and it would take time to get some of these thrown open tor settlement. The Government had been hampered in their efforts to legislate upon the matter, and "a private measure introduced by himself during the lost session bad been thrown out. He was not even able to get it through Committee. The various grants for the district were, he was glad to say, well in hand. He had been very successful in respect to the East Coast votes, which were now available, and would be at once paid to the Waiapu County Council and other bodies interested. In passing, Mr Carroll said that he intended in the near future to visit the Molu district, going up one road and down by the other. On Friday morning he was going up the coast in company with Mr S. Percy Smith, SurveyorGeneral, for the purpose of fixing on a township under the Native Township Act at Tokomaru and Waipiro. Mr Smith was afterwards going to Kuwakuwti to fix a township at that place. Mr Wi Pere, who had just returned from visiting his constituents, informed him (Mr Carroll) that the Natives were willing to render all the assistance in their power in the laying oh" of the townships referred to. Upon the question of the sotting aside of reserves for health resorts, Mr Carroll promised to do all in his power to forward the proposals of the deputation. The last question but one was the all important subject of railway communication. He had that day received a telegram from the Minister of Railways stating that the survey of the proposed line from Rotorua to Gisborne was well under way, and that Mr Stewart would probably reach Oisborne during the month of February. Under these circumstances it was hardly necessary to ask him to start the survey from this end, as he was now nearly half through with the work. He suggested that the Chamber of Commerce should interview Mr Stewart upon his arrival in Gisborue, with a view of getting his opinion regarding the prospect of a district railway. Upon the general question of a railway he (Mr Carroll) was greatly in favor <if a light narrow guage line to Kotorua, and he felt sure that sooner or later they would have it. Since the tirst inception of the scheme he had given the matter much thought, and he he had always from the outset been greatly impressed with the idea of a railway to Rotorua. Every year the cost of building a railway was decreasing. Iron was cheapening every day and labor was. becoming more plentiful. Science and every other aid was coming to their assistance, and what was considered a costly expenditure now would not be deemed so in a year or so. He strongly favored the construction of n line from Gisbonie to tap the surrounding country, and felt sure that it would tend to increase set tlemcnt and a larger population. With this improved state of things the need of a railway connection with Rotorua would soon be recognised, and the work pushed on with all possible speed. The Poverty l&iy district had nol been at. a standstill during the last leu years. Statistics showed that Gisborne had grown more during the last eight years than had any other district in the colony. It was a most unique district, and viewed from its exports ranked favorably with any in the colon y. He did not think they should t»kc "exception to the remarks made by the Premier upon the ijueslion of the railway. The Premier was in this position that he could not give them any definite promise, and he first wished to h.vve the result of the survey that was now being \niide. They required to be in Mr (Seddou's position to appreciate his position. He was ccitain the Premier did not intend to deal with the matter in a flippant manner. He was particularly pressed that day, and what lie had to go through was not calculated to improve his frame of mind. It may have been a desiie on his part to put

the question off in the meantime. The Premier did not in any way wish to bo ili.srcgardful of the interests of Poverty Buy. They would remember that it was lie, himself, who suggested the feasibility of a narrow gauge railway after bavins; inspected similar lines in Tasmania. Upon the question of forest conservation Mr Carroll said that, Parliament as a whole were unanimous that forest reserves should be made in different parts of the colony. In all their purchases of Native lands they reserved so much for forests. In conclusion, Mr Carroll said that he would at .ill times be pleased to meet the Chamber of Commerce and confer with them upon questions of interest, to the district. It was, lie thought, a far better way of dealing with the business than making formal speeches or addresses. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr Ambridge, a vote of thanks was accorded to ilr Carroll for his kindness in meeting the deputation, and for the promises ho had made regarding the several matters brought before him. Mr Carroll briefly replied and the meeting terminated.