HEMMED IN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 438, 22 February 1909, Page 2

HEMMED IN.

HANDICAPPED; //^ One' of.the , features v of Northvlslarid' set- / . ■ tlement "for. years has. been ■ the; task. of • get- :. /;. ting rid-of:the bush..; A-quarter of: a century ; : ;,':.:: ago fire.wiis; the great element broughtiinto , / ■'// requisition /by the/ pioneers; so 'i that : ,they'/ : . /' : . cmtldprcDare their lauds for cultiyatipri,;but; -,">'.-/' timber; increased in value, /and .roads/and; v:/./ railway. lines; were /constructed this /system was. laid aside/for/the saivmill.,, It' appears;;/.Kffi however, 'iudKiug/from'the'remarks;'6f many; -:V settlers on the- Trunk line; between : f '"■:■':■ Ohakune and,Taumarunu'i; that;';fire'/>will"./;>/ again; have/to be utilised;^by/themvif:,they ; ;/;//■ wish to make .an"early, .clearance;;.'of . tKeir// : '/•■ ty&s for, ..cultivation - purposes.:, : f\i - _The, trouble appears to. be;-primarily,'slack's='■■ ■<''- ot;an,'outlef".inv-the- ; shape of ;fpads -and ■■!:;, ibridges.;/,This is especially,the case' with/re- r >";. ;■ ! terence:tp'the;Kaitieke:Block, situatedabput:// ; ;/ iourteen-. miles'.. from at': tlie ; ' ■ backof Owhango; and also/the Okura Block" / ■;:■. These areas, which.hold somei of the' finest • - -/ J bush. m .NMv Zealand; ; have' been' -taken' up v ':.- by. : Crpwni;tenants, /ivho/ declareV'thatythey-.-/' ; are handicapped - because '■ they have comparar •"■'- ; ' :; ' tively no trade outlet.v.'.Hf. Cook,:of/-.Oha-■ ■ ' : kune./who -'recently traversed a. large 'section -* : - of., the , ;.:Kaitieke bush- /block,/- informed DpmNioN^represeritative/that • the ///settlers ' ■" were-much. /over'^thev.lack/'o'f.' a v -/ trade ;6ti|let,' ; which they, declared-should: be : : ' " the;Wanganui River.:/At,presentj^aid r 4heSv::; settlers, /the river .was \, practically.' '. ■-locked ; / /'. 'against (them., /Their rlands, carried': ihou-// : acres of .splendid milling busbv/and ■. ; unless the.; Government -did something. in !; the; ■ ? way.of/p'royidirig' a^^'right of-way; fortradej':'/':,/ the-f preefc < would / havei;/ tp .be- felled I ■ :and ; ■[■<"- - : biirnea. /;Meantime/;the/workYpf ; .settlement ;;-/v ■■in-':th<)iN6r^'-Islaßd\ya'B'/ : bemg:'-'uhjustly''"i^'" ; V ; :-' : :''- : . tarded.:: ; The/ solution;; of/the;difficulty ;either:tb.e/unlpcking;pf the iWanganui;ffiver,/ /;/ or /the'openiig.of \ a -road -through .'.the. Wat ; marmo-distjict//w/;;■////■.;■ ; ':-;^ v ./;.^'■'/'. :.'; :V .;/'V'" ■:;: Mr.;E.<^Simmons, i a ■Taumarurini.^resident,/ ; ;// ■voiced .-a'-similar, complaint• with- reference<t<j' '.■ i// the Okura- Block);situatedZacrbss'riheVWa- '' J /r ;nganui. and-Onganie/ißiversViSThe'. :■ v/ \ _ who. ; had .taken ' : up ■ the' laiid, : had practically-• -:. ■. only ;Hghts-pf-:way^ ; which'; depended^-upon" theVwill;:of' idle; tives.,vThen.;again,;. no''ibridges.-'V/ ovdr,:-the/rivers cprinectirig.;the; Mciions'; ■* .■ ithβ;town of.Taumarunuiy'arid-bphsequentty-v/j; the lives. , of.the/pioneers and/theirffamiliea/'.';/" were made/dpubtlyv difficult arid;/ dangerpus./■/■/; 'V Itiseemed/a pity,/said Mr/ SimmijnSj'that'v/'■■ the Goverhmentepuld'not see its way to ex- i ■; pedite the ivorklof'.settlement;:::The/trouble- 1 :'/S seemed; to/be-caused/by/the old-Scufse; pffe;> •/ ■Na'tive/laniJs^pwnairshipr/^'Kitwas^a /house-- v, ' lipid expression; in/.his/district^that',therNa- , - "- tiye Land-Court;;iook;:a ! -period/of ■ ; sevea• : i;;; ryears/to/accomplish; any;particular.^pieceVof v.x>^ s ;biisiness.^;The ; policy.;of ;"Taiboa"rwas-being ://v/ ; dohe-to ideathj .and in the: sacrifice./w;ere'also-:,- V offered years;of .the/livesVbf. ; iworkirig settlers andJtheir/families; ■;;# /: /