SETTLING THE KING COUNTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2010, 18 March 1914, Page 10

SETTLING THE KING COUNTRY

THE WORK AND THE WORRY. • The following very interesting account of the progress of settlement in the King Country is by the Taumarunuii correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald" :— The King Country lies in threo provinces—Auckland, Wellington, and Taranaki. Most of tho still unsettled portions of it arc in the Auckland Province. The Taranaki section still contains a considerable area of unoccupied Crown land, while in the Wellington Province the last block of 40,000 acres is now under survey. ■ Settlement has spread southwards along the Wahganui Hirer from Tatimarunui, and northward along tho> same river from its mouth, so that the final link in tlie chain will be supplied when the block referred to above have been balloted for. It is a matter of much interest to visit at certain intervals a Mock of country which one has seen in a state of virgin bnsb, and.to note, the results of the settlers efforts sinco the preceding visit. Three years ago the then Commissioner of Crown Lands.at Wellington'(Mr. James M'Kenzie), wlio is now Under-Secretary for Lands, accompanied hy the members of .the Wellington Land- Board, rode through a large block of land called the Morimii, the survey of which was then almost completed, as that of its neighbouring block, tho Whirinaki, is at present. I had the pleasure of riding with the party on that day—it was a journey of 20 miles through a surveyor's slasli track, and our horses were the first that had ever trodden it. In November, 1911, the land was balloted for, and very shortly afterwards the settlors' were in occupation. Quito recently I again visited the Morimii. The most striking and tangible sign of progress that I noted was a number of flocks of sheep being driven from, tho Morimii farms to tho Kaitieko sale, which was to take place on the following day.

, The miles of new fencing running along the road-lino or up the ridges, , dividing section from section; the new grass on recent burns, or the older grass.on those of the- previous season: the improvements to tho dwellings, ana especially the gardens, all these gave me tho impression that settlers arc getting a grip on their holdings.,. As the main road through the Whirinaki Block, to bo opened up shortly, will junction with tho Rctaruke Roau, near tho landing, a piece of flat ground near tho latter lias already been selected for a township site, and will bo surveyed out into town, lots by Mr. Blake when he has finished with the Wnirinaki. The Retaruko farmers nave already learnt that it is no child's play to bring a sec.tion into profit. It swallows money with an insatiable appetite, while tho output is considerably lowered by -unlooked-for losses. Annuals stray away into the neighbouring bush and , get lost. Others die from tho eating of poisonous plants, such as tutu and rangiora. Cattle fall between prostrate logs, and are unable to extricate themselves. Unexpected difficulties are met with in bringing grass seed to the new burns and in packing wool away. In spito of all this, however, the men stick to their guns, and every year brings them nearer to being masters of the situation. The Retaruke River is one of- great natural 'beauty.■ It flows between steep walls of rock, and its banks are clad with denso forest. On the right bank of the river, next to tho River Trust Reserve, the Wade Brothers have a couple of sections,, and liavc a substantial house, charmingly situated in native bush. A narrow swing-bridge hung like a thread across a narrow chasm, gives access from the farm to the road. On tho left bank the first section mot with is that of Mr. Dobbs. This settler is the father of a largo family, and has already done a great deal of improvement in the way of fencing and clearing. It would bo tedious to give particulars of all tho sections. They arc, almost without exception, already assuming tho settled look of older districts. The. farthest point of the Morinui Block is about 28 miles from Rauriniu, and the road from that-township lias, except for a few unimportant pieces here,and there, been brought to tho point where tho Tviorinui Stream junctions with tho . Retaruke, i.e., a distance of over 20 miles altogothcr. Though the Morinui Block is hilly country, yet .it contains tome excellent flats suitable for dairy cows, and already a schemo is on foot'to send cream to tho I'iriaka dairy factory via Raurimu.

Aa only a small proportion of tli3 settlers are married men, and as children are few and far between, the question of school accommodation is a difficult one. A .school erected by the residents, but, as , the distance is about four miles from Mr. Dobbs's house, and as tho road is rather dangerous, ho is doubtful about sending his children to it. . '