TOWN EDITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14838, 15 February 1919, Page 6

TOWN EDITION.

Mr. E. Rawson, S.M., at Hamilton, is seriously ill, and is not expected to be about to resume duty for three or four months.

Mr. J. Curtis, of Gisborne, who is temporarily to succeed Mr. Ei. North■croft as postmaster at Napier, arrived there on Wednesday. It ia not known who Mr. JSorthcroft's successor will be.

At the Farmers' Union meeting to-day Messsrs Williams, Kent aii(d Hensoii were Appointed a committee to witness the .tests of motor.,tractois m tiocordance W'ttlij a ".remit r-' from-.' the } To /">Kai\aka, br'anvli.t j ' ■/« '« ' ' '»' ' •" J'j A'Dunedin message states: .Although the, flood -jh'kve receded'it is estimated there aa'e still 6000 acres between; Stirling and Kaitangata more or less under water, and it is there the daanagte to crops has been greatest. Root and grain crops everywhere within the flooded area have been practically destroyed. Potatoes and turnips are posir tively rotting, and, although the oatfe may look all right when standing m water, when the 'water has receded it is seen thafc the c»op is lulled 1 . In this respect the flood of 1919 will long live as the most destructive m the history of the Molyneux floods, so. fa.r as the crops are concerned.

The Hon. T. M. Wilfovd. accompanied by the Mayor (Mr W. G. Sherratt) and Mr F. J. Lysnar (Chairman of the Harbor Board} paid a visit to the Gisborne hospital, and subsequently the harbor works and the Waikanae beach. Since his arrival the Hon. T. M. Wilford' has received advice from' Mrs Wilford, at Wanganui, advising him of the serious illness of his mother. Mr Wilford has therefore had to cancel, his arrangements, and will go direct to Napier, to catch th& train and proceed to Wanganui, where Mrs Wilford, senior, has 'been m ill-health for some years. Under these circumstances Mr Wilford has to cut out his intended, visit to Wairoa, which he will make at a latfcr date.

At tha meeting of the Farmers' Union this afternoon the president intimated that a letter had been received frbm local fellmongers, asking the Union to protest against the transhipping of the wool to Napier for scouring. A wire was sent to the Hon. <' G. H. Guthrie, and a reply was received (both of- which have already been published). The president pointed out that the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald admitted the local works should have all wool from the district to deal with. — .Mr. J. C. Field said he had seen the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald at Opotiki, and with a view to strengthening the protest j he urged that a deputation wait upon the Minister m this matter, and that a further letter be forwarded to the Hon, G. H. Guthrie.— The president intimated that a joint deputation would wait upon the Hon. T. Wilford immediately after the public meeting, and the Chamber of Commerce, Cook County Council, and the "executive of the Union would converse with the Minister oil thus matter.— Mr. Field's motion was not .seconded. — A number of remits from other branches were considered) and discussed by the meeting.

The public meeting this afternoon m connection with the Gisborne Engineering Company's projected hydro-elec-tric scheme was largely attended. Mr. C A. deLautour presided and addressed the- meeting on the importance of the subject. The interesting statement) given m another column was submitted by Mr. F. deLaulour. Keen interest was evinced m the proceedings. A general discussion ensued 1 regarding the scheme, when various technical aspects of the proposal wei"e explained by Mr. Frank deLautour. In the course " of 'the discussion it was suggested' that an excursion should "be made to the site of the proposed works. Subsequently Mr. C. A. deLautour moved 1 : That this meeting welcomes the proposal to develop local resources for hydro-eiectric power oil the grounds : (1) that such development would not m any way militate against the larger North Island Government scheme when carried out; that power sumcierft for all the presi ent requirements of the district can be obtained, proximate to the locality to ' be developed, at a reasonable cost, and i within a comparatively short period of time ; (3) that' the local scheme recommended is capable of being itself converted into : a future progressive scheme for all future requirements of the district, if ultimately considered desirable. — The motion was seconded by Mr. Loekett. The motion was cordially snt)ported and carried •unanimously.--On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Long: "That a provisional . committee be appointed to make such further inquiries as they consider advisable, to prepare a prospectus, apply for all authorities that may be requisite, with power to select and appoints provisional directors."