ALONG THE MAIN TRUNK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 836, 7 June 1910, Page 8

ALONG THE MAIN TRUNK.

SOME BY-WAYS. While in l'ukeukiihu country 1 made some inquiry (writes our travelling correspondent) as to coal being found in the district, as it seemed to nic not unlikely that it should occur there. The very first man from whom I asked the information told me that coal had already been found in a farm near the liangilikei River, but that it- was of; so inferior n nature that it' was of no value. 1 have been informed that the presence of an upper seam is often an indication of others lower down, so this may be tho case in the Pukeokalm country.

On my way back towards Taihape, 1 went via tho Hiwera Road, which is now metalled. The main road to Utiku is also metalled with the limestone.from the high country, and.it makes a splendid highway. On (lie Jiiwcra there are some excellent farms, upon which I noticed a largo number of fencing posts and railway sleepers had been cut. They were stacked in great heaps all over the place, and it has evidently been a good district for totara. ~lust across the Moawhango "River there.'is a large block of bush, which-la being cut by Jlessrs. Knight, and the Egmont Bos Company, a firm comprised, of the various butter factories in Taranaki. They have their own bush, and make their own butter-boxes and cheese crates. As. the bush is of mixed timber, and riot all : white pine, the company are using up the milling timber as. well.

Mr. J. G. Collins has a good block of land on the Hiwer'a Ifoad, a large proportion being quite fiat. His homestead is prettily situated just across the .Otero-' ia'wa Gorge, and surrounded by -native bush. This gorge is a remarkable natural feature. It is only about ten foot -wide, but close on eighty deep. ■,: ; The side* are quite perpendicular, for it is in. sandstone country, and tho stream has merely washed a straight course down through the sand rock.'

Leaving Mr. Collins's the road winds round a bend across a high papa formation, the Moawhango River flowing at the base.- A good deal more than a hundred feet down, .the water .lies clear, as crystal with some beautiful bush on the opposite side at a much lower level than the road; Hound a bend in the road, and the > country opens' out into a beautiful picture. On the loft is a large flat paddock' with a particularly vivid green patch, which, on closer observation, proves to be a turnip crop. This is in the farm of Mr. Neil Small, and there .are something like ten acres of turnips. There is only one word to be written concerning them, and that is "Perfect." Perfect they are without'exception, or were when I was there, the best turnips I have seen for years with not even-. .\ sign of a yellow leaf. , Mr." Small told me they were on new bush land, grown without any .manure, and they looked to me as if every seed had grown into a good turnip. The homestead is on the right-hand side of tho road, on rising ground, and commands a fine view. I was'looking over Mr. Small's orchard, and told him that I. noticed he grew his raspberries on trees.'. He .smiled, •. but ; ieally. the canes are enormous; one would require a step-ladder to pick the fruit. Though not a large plantation 1 was, told they had more raspberries than they knew how to use. 'They were "Northumberland Fillbaskets." I saw most of the orchards in this district; and tho soil and climate seem very.favourable for all hardy .fruits, i Apples succeed' remarkably 'well," and'the small fruits—currants, gooseberries, and raspberries—do remarkably well in it.