INSPECTION OF THE WAREPA HUNDRED.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 193, 22 March 1878, Page 6

INSPECTION OF THE WAREPA HUNDRED.

I « . I As mentioned in last issue, Messrs , Henry Clarice ancl J. W. Thomson, members of the Waste Lands Board, arrived here on Thursday evening -with a vieAV to visiting and reporting upon the newlysurveyed ground in the Warepa Hundred. An early start had been arranged for Friday morning, but the weather proved very Avet and misty. About nine o'clock it cleared up a little, and there being somo prognostications of a fine day the buggy was ordered out and the journey commenced. Only a feAV miles had been accomplished Avhen the rain again fell in torrents, and the mists that had gathered on the tops of the surrounding hills descended into the valleys. To continue the journey would therefore have been futile, and a hospitable shelter was obtained at Mr Dalgliesh's, Waitepeka. After staying a few hours an adjournment Avas made to the manse, where a pleasant eA^ening Avas spent with Mr and Mrs Bannerman and a feAV other visitors. It need scarcely be mentioned that the ' ' Clutha Manse " still retains its long established character for hospitality and enlightened conversation. The large fund of incidents and adventures peculiar to tho early days Mr Bannerman has at his command and is ever ready effectively to relate is more than sufficient to entertain visitors for the time they usually have at their disposal. On Saturday morning the weather proved favourable, and the Commissioners having made an early breakfast Avere at eight o'clock Avending their way up the banks of the Puerua stream, accompanied by Messrs Dalgliesh, Christie, and others. Settlement extends for between tAvo and three miles aboA~e the manse, the one side of the glen being bush, but the bush gradually disappears and the valley is open land. Although the hills rise pretty abruptly and the purely agricultural land is somewhat limited, it is of goocl quality, and the valley, with the rocky dome standing sentinel at its head, presents a picturesque vieAV unsurpassed in this district of the Colony. Tho stream, which in fine weather is as clear as crystal, dashes OA r er a rocky bottom or lingers in dark pools, and is perhaps the best for trout in Otago. A plentiful supply of fish have been liberated in it, and some have already been seen of good size. Pheasants, partridges, and hares are also in the district, and we have no doubt that within a year or two the Puerua Valley will be a place of favourite resort for sportsmen. On passing up the glen on Saturday numerous halts Avere called, maps and pegs were examined, and in all about fifteen sections selected as suitable for being disposed of on deferred payments. The course of the " little Puerua " was then followed to the boundary of the block — to " Brugh' s track " — thence along j a valley in which is situated Mr DalI gliesh's pre-emptive right, and on in a j south-westerly direction to the top of the i Upper Owake. From that point our steps I were retraced for a short distance, Mr I Dalgliesh's extensive drafting" yards A-vere j passed, the Puerua stream ci'ossed, and a direction taken towards the source of the Kaihiku. The valley Avas examined, and G or 7 deferred payment sections selected. A northerly direction was then taken along the back of the hills behind Warepa, when as evening approached a drizzling ram commenced, the hills were speedily enveloped in mist, and the work of inspection having been completed, the shortest track was taken for Waitepeka. Here the comfort and hospitality of Mr Dalgliesh's fine new dAvelling Avas enjoyed, for an hour, after Avhich the saddles were exchanged for the buggy, and a drive of an hour in a drenching rain found us again in Balclutha quite in a frame of mind^and body for enjoying the luxury of a change of clothes and a night's repose. Had pleasure been the object of the expedition we might have filled in a few incidents of the tour by way of variety. We might have depicted the surprise of Commissioners Clark and Thomson to suddenly find themselves in the midst of a monster herd Of wild pigs upon the side of a steep fern-clad hill, the excitement that ensued, the galloping hither and thither, the shouting, the '.'spills," the laughter, and the final escape of the stubborn animals into a-' safe retreat in an adjoining bush. Were it necessary to express an opinion upon thie subject*, it would be something to the effect that the Commissioners referred to manifest more.

adroitness in searching out deferred pay-m-3nt sections than in a hunt after Avild pigs. So far as Mr Thomson is concerned, however, it is necessary to explain that the equine quadruped placed at his disposal for the day Avas given occasionally to assume certain devotional attitudes, which rendered hasty locomotion, especially upon steep, stony ground, someAvhat inconvenient. Besides, at the time of the exciting incident mentioned, he Avas seriously encumbered with a monster moa thighbone that he had discovered a short distance off, ancl which he will no doubt generously present to the Colonial Museum on his return to Avellingtnn. Our present object, hoAveA ;r er, has simply to do with the character ' of the recently surveyed land within the Hundred. As a rule it is almost purely pastoral country of fair quality. It would be admirably adapted for dividing into blocks of from one to five thousand acres for sale on cleferaed payments, and Aye imagine that ; such Avill be its ultimate destination. We believe it could be so divided that along | Avith each block there would be a small i quantity of agricultural land sufficient to form a homestead, furnish horse-feed, &c. The agricultural deferred payment sections are of good quality. Those in the Puerua J valley are in continuation of land at present settled upon, and to which there is a good road. The road through the sections could be made passable by a" few side cuttings and culverts, but these sections are wretchedly laid off, they not being divided according to natural boundaries nor of the sizes allowed to one person under that system. Those selected in the Kaihiku valley are only about five miles from the railway, and the road could also bo made passable as at the Puerua, but, at a largei* expense. It is to our mind rather an extraordinary circumstance that the Avhole area of the several blocks Avithin the Hundred have been surveyed into small sections, averaging about 200 acres. In this manner are surveyed several hills, upor down the sides of Avhich it would be quite impossible even to lead a horse, and they are surveyed across the ground so that fencing would also be impossible. Did those who had charge of the survey imagine that such land is fit for agricultural purposes'? If not, Avhy incur the expense of surveying it into sections of a size that is only used in case of agricultural land ? Until explained, the manner this land has been dealt Avith is unaccountable. It gives rise to the grave suspicion that as hitherto the waste lands have been dealt with very much upon the examination and recommendation of the surveyor, that it has been misapplied and much of it thrown aAvay. If Aye are to judge by the survey of the Warepa Hundred, it is a perfect certainty that some surveyors have not the slightest idea as to what ground is fit for. And yet Mr Arthur, Chief Purveyor, made it his business to pay a visit to and personally examine this ground. If in his opinion it was not suitable for agricultural purposes, Avhy did he surrey it into agricultural areas'? If he knew it was only suitable for pasture blocks, why did he not so report accordingly, and survey it into such blocks according -to natural boundaries? The truth is that if the survey now made is to be taken any notice of, the country is destroyed even for pastoral purposes. No doubt some explanation will be asked and made as to all this. In tho meantime it is gratifying to knoAv that the Waste Lands Board "has ' now adopted the course of making a personal examination of the ground, and to some extent classifying it before sale. But we think the condition in which the Warepa blocks have been found will suggest to the members of the Board the necessity of making their examination before survey, so that the officers of the survey department may be instructed as the character of the land and the size of the sections into Avhich it should be divided. If this be not done it is eA-ident that a great deal of unnecessary Avork will be clone and expense incurred by the department. Perhaps the amount of unnecessary work now being done accounts to a great extent for the expense of the department, and also the difficulty of finding surveyors. We shall say no move upon the subject in the meantime until an opportunity for explanation is given. We may mention that in passing along the Puerua valley its suitability for a line of railway to the south Avas pointed out, and it is a fact that by that route a railway could be constructed as far as the Upper Owake at a very easy gradient, without a single block cutting, and at very little expense. It i 3 said the route beyond the Owake is equally favourable, but of this we cannot speak, not having examined the country. We cannot conclude without referring to the assistance afforded by Mr Dalgleish to the Commissioners in their inspection. Without him they might have, travelled for a Aveek without being able to make a satisfactory examination of the ground. The country is a series of steep hills and broken valleys. There are many gullies, creeks, ancl streams to cross, and this can only be accomplished at certain spots, especially during wet weather. Mr Dal-g-liesh knew all such places, pointed out the block lines, section pegs, &c. , and led the way to prominent spots Avhere the best views could be obtained. In fact, although himself the lessee 'of the run, he lent every possible assistance to the Commissioners in the accomplishment of their object — the apportionment of the ground for settlement. We believe the Commissioners have not invariably experienced equally consciencious treatment at the hands of runholders. Instead of the best ground being always pointed out, they, have been led by roundabout ways and ail but inaccessible routes so as to be out of sight of the best land ancl to see only the most rugged portions'. It was therefore, no doubt, the more gratifying to receive so much attention and reliable information from the lessee of Warepa Hundred. If all runholders would act a similar part it ' would no doubt be better for themselves ancl the country in the long run. We may just add that although, the Hundred above referred to has now been surveyed and inspected, there is no likelihood of any portion of it being exposed for sale for at least twelve months. Mr Dalgliesh's lease does not . expire till August, and by section 118 of the Land Act passed at last session of Assembly it is provided that all pastoral leases terminating between. lst July, and March shall be held to terminate in the' last named month. By this, provision Mr Dalgliesh's lease becomes extended to

March next, and the time being so short it -would scarcely be advisable to break the lease and incur all the consequences as to compensation, &c, such a course would entail.