THE "OFT TOLD TALE."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1733, 25 April 1913, Page 3

THE "OFT TOLD TALE."

BACK-BLOCKS STRUGGLES. mi:, veitch makes inspection. (Dy .Telegraph.—Special OorrcspoiulcnM Wanganui, April 21. 'Among those settlers who are "In'eak-ing-in" AVanganui's back country is one band m the Ah|i Aliu district, on the western bank of tho Wanganui River. Fractically their only communication with tho outside world is by the river. They have a makeshift of a road for about live miles from the river, and. then a bridlo track for a few miles, after which the only access is by bush paths. In order to gain some knowledge of the_ district and tho, settlers' wants, Mr. W. A. Voitch, M.P., spent last week-end there. The story of 'his experiences is similar to what has often been related by travellers in the back-blocks, but, '.in spite of its being an "oft-told tale," it sufficiently indicates the struggles which back-countrv settlers ' have to make. Speaking" to a local 'pressman, Mr. Veitch said it was most disappointing to see such fine country within miles of Wanganui in such a backward state so far as roading was concerned. Even to Burnets (only ten miles from the river) there is only a . 14-ft. track for about half way, and for the other half only a bridle track, and a very poor one at that. From Burnets towards Kai Iwi Bridge the track has been formed for part of the distance, but is quite useless to settlers for tho want of a few small bridges, the cost of which would be very little. Anyone using tho track must frequently leave it, and struggle through tho bush in order to reach a point where it is possible to cross the creeks. The consequence is that tho track is so little used that it is now growing a three-feet crop of thistles and also small 'scrub.

"The nature of the <country is such." said Mr. Veitch, "that not only would the Government be justified in spending, money to complete a proper 14ft. road from Kai Iwi to the'river, but I will go further, and say that it is bad policy that such a' road was not made long ago. It is really astonishing to see How patiently and industriously tho settlers have worked under such difficult conditions, and there can be no doubt that Ahu Ahu is destined to bo a progressive farming district as soon as reasonable transport facilities are provided." Rijht in the heart of tho bush in a locality where there .was not even a bridle track Itr. Veitch was astonished to hear the sound of a .sawmill. Turning off the bush path on which he was travelling he made his way towards tho sound, and there found a mail working a plant driven by two powerful oil engines. "I asked Uim." said Mr. Veitch, "how on earth 'lie had managed to get it all through the bush. His reply was short but to the point, and very descriptive brief though it was. He said: "I dragged it, and J cursed it, but anyhow I got it here." So struck was Mr. Veitch with the man's courage that next day ho went over the route of the aforesaid dragging and cursing, and his amazement was still greater when he saw the rough and difficult nature of the country. Mr. Veitch received no formal deputations, but practically saw all the settlers, and was greatly struck by the frequency with which tliev expressed, the opinion that the Government should provide a steamboat service on tho river. He was also able to .appreciate the immense benefit of a telephone service to back-block settlers. "I never," he remarked, "realised before the-, value of such a service till L got back into Ahu Aim and was ablo to talk to my own family over the telephone."'-