From Gisborne to Tahora.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 12, 16 January 1901, Page 1

From Gisborne to Tahora.

[CONTBIBUTED.]

Only those who have had occasion to take long journeys into the country districts of Poverty Bay can adequately realise what a vast area of fertile country there is at the back of Gisborne. Whether one travels day after day through fertile country lying between Gisborne and the East C-ipe, or in another direction via Te lvaraka through the Motu, or by any other main road leading into the back blocks, the traveller becomes cognizant of the vast resources of the Cook County as a pastoral and farming country. This same sentiment was aroused in the mind of the writer upon taking a.trip a few days ago via Patutahi Valley, through that fertile run known as Ngatapu, on to the outstation Wharekopae, from thence out to the Hangaroa via the stock track to the boundary of the now widely advertised Tahora Block, which has been surveyed into grazing runs, some of which have already been taken up while the remainder are to be submitted shortly at public auction. Biding through -Ngatapa. run one sees nothing but fertile hills on either side of the road with flats here and there along the route, which would make suitable sites for homesteads if ever this big run is cut up into reasonable sized farms. One can easily drive at this time of year from Gisborne to Wharekopae (a distance of about 27 miles), though I believe this road gets into a very bad state during the winter. From Wharekopae to Tahora the traveller has to follow what is known as the “stock track”; .this track, owing to the excellent grade to' be obtained, constitutes the main road to Tahora. At .present it is simply a bridle path, all stores, etc., having to be carried on pack horses from Wharekopae. Although the stock track was originally cleared of scrub and fern a chain wide, it has now become again so overgrown with fern and tutu that on a wet day one must get drenched by the drippings of the vegetation hanging over the track. See that this track, being the main track into the Tahora country, is in constant use by the plucky settlers who have .taken up land away back there, it is a. pity,, that the County Council do not put a few men on and get this track in order before the winter comes on. And it is to be hoped that responsible parties will see to this, matter at an early date, as it would not cost a great deal to put the track in order. There is such a good grade into the Tahora country right from Gisborne that one cannot help thinking that this would make an excellent route for a light railway, as such a railway would tap a lot of fertile country, and if there are no insurmountable engineering difficulties further on there seems no reason why at some future date a light railway should not be run right through via Wharekopae to Lake Waikaremoana, or to Galatea, and from thence connect with the Auckland Botorua railway.