Notes from the Back Blocks.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 221, 25 September 1901, Page 3

Notes from the Back Blocks.

(By “KUMI.”)

Damk Natuuf. has once more cast aside her winter garb, and arrayed herself in all the beauties of spring. The willow trees are green, the fruit trees are in blossom, and tho genera! appearance of the country makes man say to his fellow, “ It is good to live." This has been tho best season that we have experienced for some years. Tho death rate among the sheep has been small, aud there is every prospect of big per coinages at docking time. Docking starts on most of the up-country stations next week, but in the Motu it will be a little later. The Motu has been progressing quietly and steadily during the winter, Tho only drawback has been the lack of labor : some of the settlors having experienced difficulty in letting their bush* felling contracts. Messrs Richmond, McSavcuey, Shaw, MeCallum aud others arc having bush felled, so that next summer some move of the noted Motu timber will move, not " down the railway line " as our Motu poet desires, but “ up i in smoko and ashes,” Some of the Man'■atu settlers are also haviug areas ranging from 100 to *2OOO acres "felled. I was through the Mangntu country a couple of months ago, and on every hand oue saw evidences of the hardy poincer's work. The people who live in towns little realise tho hardships these settlers in the back blocks endure converting the heavy timbered bush into comfortable homesteads and farms. None, indeed, but those with stout hearts and strong arms succeed. They have to pack all their supplies over tracks, which in winter it takes no little nerve to ride on. I think if some of the people who are always singing out about the County Council roads were to take a ride along the track between Mangat-u and Messrs Barron Bros.’back station in the month of June they would realise what a bad road meant. The roads are all in splendid condition now. The Motu road has been freer of slips this year than it has ever been before. . There arc rumours of wedding bells in the air at present. One of our new settlers intends taking a trip to tie the mystical knot next month.