FROM GISBORNE TO WAIROA.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 112, 21 May 1901, Page 3

FROM GISBORNE TO WAIROA.

(By Our Special Correspondent),

The few weeks of fine weather experienced after Easter, and a pressing invitation from Mr lan Simson, Government District Valuer, were the chief reasons which led me to make a trip to Wairoa during the month of May. Unfortunately the weather broke a day or two previous to our leaving Gisborne, and our journey to Wairoa by way of Nuhaka and back by Tiniroto was in consequence full of adventures. We left Gisborne at a quarter to ten on Sunday 12th inst., and the roads on account of the heavy rain of the previous evening were not in anything like a desirable condition. “ This is hardly what my fancy depicted," remarked my friend when we had settled down to the first few miles of our journey, “ and I have grave doubts that we shall be able to get to the Morere Hot Springs this evening.” And truly the roads for one night’s rain were in a most deplorable condition. The trip as far as Murewai was accomplished in good time, and with a degree of comfort, but from that place onward “ things began to bump a little bit.” The rain kept off for the first part of the drive on Sunday, and the country through which we passed possessed many attractions for one who had spent so long at the desk that the wood had well nigh entered into his

soul. The fields presented more of an autumn than a winter aspect. The hawthorn hedges although stripped of their foliage were laden with the ripest of berries, which afforded a great feast to the gay little ininahs, who chirped most joyously from the different bushes as we passed/ Upon one bush alone we counted no less than forty of these smart little fellows who were congregated together, enjoying the sunshine and offering up their morning’s devotions. “A fine shot that would have made,” remarked my friend as wo drove by. The road from Gisborne to Murewai was in fairly good order, the recent metalling done by the Cook County Council having greatly improved it as far as Te Arai. My attention was drawn to Mr Wall’s “ Kurawa ” property, which is close to the Murewai native settlement, which was looking in splendid order. The property consists of three hundred acres, and was secured by Mr Wall from the Rhodes trustees. When the former took it over, it consisted chiefly of rushes, tauhinc, briars and manuka, and heavy swamps, whilst to-

lay there are to be seen fine crops of urnips and grass paddocks ; and other inprovcments of a like character. We inlted for a few minutes at Mr Hackett’s

iiotol at Murewai, where we were heartily welcomed by the proprietor. This house is ono of the best conducted coimtry hotels in tiie district, and when the new building which it is proposed to erect is up it will take a lot of beating. Leaving Murewai we passed by the native church at that place, whore service was going on. We also took a cursory glance at the native meeting houses, and noted the remnants of tho late feast. The property occupied by the late Woodbine Johnson was the next place of note along the road. It is known as tho Maraetaha estate, and consists of somewhere about ten thousand acres of fairly good land. The old homestead is occupied by Mr Cyril White, one of the executors in the estate. The house is half hidden among the trees which surround it, and the several workmen’s cottages.in the immediate vicinity servo to give tho ncighborhoood a busy appearance. A commodious wooished erected at a cost of about 11500, has just been completed. Several fine plantations of bluegums give variety to tho environment, whilst through the Hills in front of the homestead a pretty view of tho sea is obtained. The road for some distance from

this runs through tho Maractaha estate, and tho traveller passes over two wellconstructed bridges, which I understand were erected by the late Mr Woodbine Johnson at his own cost. The road from the last named place to Tawatapu (Bartlett’s) was very soft and slippery. Several of tho worst spots had recently received attention from the surfaceman, and we were notwithstanding the heavy going, able to make good time. A few miles below Bartlett’s we overtook several hundred fine hoggets, which were being driven to Mr Eastbrook’s property at Whararatn. Mr G. Eastorbrook, who hails from Danevirkc, has recently acquired Mr Molcsworth’s property, and upon the occasion of our visit was just getting his house in order prior to taking up his residence at that place. Bartlett’s aeoom-modation-liouse, or Tawatapu, which is the native name of the place, is about twenty-three miles from Gisborne, and wo decided to make a break in the journey, for lunch, as the horses were already showing signs of fatigue. We were supplied with a hot cup of tea and some homo made bread, which proved very acceptable, and to which needless to say we did full justice. Whilst we were resting Mr Humphrey Bayly arrived from his station, on. route for Gisborne,, and we fell to discussing matters of district importance. Mr Bayly mentioned to us the necessity of a license being granted for tho accommodation-house referred to, a fact which we were ourselves impressed with. It is a long and weary ride or drive from Murewai to Morere, somewhere about twenty-eight miles, and there should certainly, be some adequate provision made for the accommodation of travellers. On several occasions during the last twelve months Mr Bartlett has received travellers, find practically been the means of saving their lives. At the forthcoming meeting of the Licensing Committee, applications are likely to be made for licenses for the place mentioned, and also at Whareata, the junction of the Null aka and Mahia roads, and I hope to see the Committee give some attention to the matter. There should certainly be some provision in the Act for meeting with the requirements of newly settled districts, and granting accommodation licenses to houses which are an absolute necessity to the travelling public. To show that such a house is required I have only to mention the fact that on the second day of our journey the roads were in such a condition that we could only cover fourteen miles, and we had to seek the hospitality of a settler for lunch. From Bartlett’s we commenced the ascent of a hill, and four miles length of road recently mado by the Government, and handed over to' the Cook County Council. The road to Morere, the road which runs from Bartlett’s to the junction of the Mahia arid Nuhaka roads, appears | to have had little attention paid to it by | the Cook County Council, and unless | som'e steps arc at once taken in regard to it, will entail considerable expense to the body mentioned, It is hardly fair to the Government after spending so much in the formation of this and other roads in this district that the Council should so quickly let them run to ruin. Roads which'cpst thousands of pounds to make, are in a few months allowed to fall into disrepair, and for the want of a few pounds spent in employing a surfaceman or two, the whole work has practically to be done over again. On the road mentioned numerous small slips have occurred, and have been allowed to remain on the road. The water courses have become blocked, and for miles and miles the water is running down tho middle of the road, cutting for itself a •watercourse which in some oases varies from six inches to

eighteen inches. In other places where the ground is soft, water has accumulated, and by continual traffic become a bog. What is required is more surfacemen. The Council should give a reliable man

constant employment, by giving him charge of a section of the road up to ten miles long. He should be made personally responsible for keeping the water tables clear and removing small slips;- By this means the Council would save the outlay of hundreds of pounds which are spent in making good the roads washed away and destroyed. I cannot understand how the County Council are so long blind to this fact when it is especially palpable even to the uninitiated traveller,, ana 'is' the generilopinion expressed!by the majority of settlers throughout the district. There are many Settlers who would be willing to accept the’responsibility of a section. After, negotiating the hill referred to, we turned off oh'the' Mahia road and stayed thq night at Mr Traffdrd's, oFWhareratu, -syfio entertained right ‘royally, "Jkfr Trafford owns a nice little braiding of 1650 acres, running for a considerable distance along the Nuhaka road, where it joins a portion of the property held by Mr Humphry Bayly. In the course of conversation during the evening Mr Trafford supplied us

with a great deal -of information about this particular part of the district where he lived. Shortly before nine o’clock on Monday we left for the Morere Hot Springs. (To be continued.)