EAST COAST LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 373, 24 March 1902, Page 3

EAST COAST LETTER.

(Times Special Correspondent.) No. 11. From Pakarae the traveller, leaving the hotel strikes inland,, and for awhile the road skirts the river. There are several pretty views to he obtained and the willows and native foliage afford a pleasant contrast to the sand hills just left behind. The first property of note fronting the road is that of Mr A. 11. Wallis,whose manager is Mr J. Kennedy. It is all good sheep country, and excellently watered, and its close proximity to town considerably enhances its value. A little later the road runs through Mr Cooper’s Puatae station, and after negotiating the hill bearing that name the traveller finds himself again on the beach in the vicinity of a-native-

settlement, with another Native church. To judge by the number cl churches on the East- Coast, one would 'be led to the conclusion that the Maoris were a devout people. When-

ever there is a village of any size there is also a church and services are held regularly, although in some cases the congregation is often similar to that, one sees in our own churches at early morning services. I was told of a case of one native minister who held service with rigid punctuality, and went through a lengthy service alone. How many of their whiter brethren would do the same A few hundred yards further up the beach is to be rteen Mr Cooper’s neat little homestead where Mr J. Hinton, the manager ot Puatae station, resides.. The next property is Mr Barker’s, “ Rotatahi, which is in. charge of Mr Neilson. ihe homestead is reached by a private road and is out of view from the beach From “ Rotatahi ” one has to pass round Loisel’s " Rocks,” which are dangerous to negotiate at high t e Ke all right at half.tide Mr T nisei’s property, Waihau, runs down to the beach-’ With the. additional areas at the hack, time ago from Messrs McNair and Reid, Mr Loisell has a large holding, upwards of several thousand acres, the greater portion of which has been cleared. It has

the drawback o! being very steep and subject to slips but is fairly passable country. Mr Loisell has displayed great taste in the erection of a fino dwelling, the homestead certainly being one of the finest on the coast. A canter on the beach for another mile or so and the traveller reaches Tolago Hill, whore a boundary fence divides Mr Loisell’s property from the well-known Paremata block. The road over the Tolago Hill runs through some pretty bush and is in first-class order, better in fact than it has hitherto been. This imnravernont is due to Mr Fraser,

xms lmpruveuuiuu - the County Enginoer, who has caused tho Council to tako up tho boulders with which it was paved and have them broken. When on tho top of tho hill tho settlement of Hauiti and township of Buckley (Tolago) are to bo seen nestling on the flat, with the Uawa river running like a silver thread for miles up the valley. A cursory glance at the surroundings would impress the most casual observer of the suitability of this locality for dairying purposes, and it seems a shame that such grand flats should be growing rushes and raupou. It would be much more m the interests of true settlement if the Government instead of purchasing expensive properties in other parts of the colony and letting them at excessive rentals, would turn their attention to the neglected East Coast, whore there are thousands of acres of suitable land which could be obtained at a price which would enable intending settlers to acquire a holding at a sufficiently low rental to make a good living out of it. There are thousands of acres at present growing rushes and raupou which it cleared and properly drained could be converted into dairy farms equal to anything in the Taranaki district. If this were done what would the Tolago of twenty years hence be ? I venture to say that where there is now a village there would be a fair sized town with daily communication with Gisborne. The settlement of Hauiti lies on the south side of the Uawa river, and its inhabitants are chiefly natives. There is the usual church, a verv pretty building, built several years ago from funds acquired by the customary hui’s and subscriptions. There are two stores and a blacksmith’s shop at the settlement. One store is owned by Messrs H. Williams and Company, and is under the popular managership of Mr J. B. Morris, who was recently appointed Justice of the Peace. Attached to the store is the Hauiti Post and Telegraph Office. A general stock of drapery, groceries, and station requisites is kept, and a large trade is done. Next is the village blacksmith, Mr W Farrell, who carries on his trade, not as the poet would have us believe “ Under the spreading chestnut tree, but “ Under the weeping willow tree.” He is an expert horse-shoer and does a good business The second store has recently been opened by Mr W. H. Connolly, who having sold his Tuparoa business, decided on opening further down the coast. Mr Connolly has a well-assorted stock which is well displayed, and he thoroughly understands the requirements of the coastal trade. Amongst other places of interest at Hauiti is Mr J. A. Moore’s up-to-date receiving sheds which are fitted up with a first-class dumping plant driven by an oil engine. The wool from the Mangaheia (Mr K. J. Beynolds’), Takapau (Mr J. Macfarlane’s), Kiore Sheep Farming Co. (Mr Kenway’s), Sfe. (Mr Acland Hood’s), Mangatoitoe and Lowden Hills (Barker Bros.), Mangatokerau and Anaura (Fitzgerald Bros.) stations is carted to these sheds, and after being dumped is shipped by Messrs Glover, Holder, and Lockwood s oil launch Iranui. The letter is a first-class little craft and splendidly adapted for the river trade. A difficulty that Hauiti and Tolago have long labored under is owing to the fact that the river runs between, and he who would cross must needs take the ferry, for as yet in the words of the song “There aint no bridge,” and as far as tho Tolago Bay folks can at present see there is little prospect of getting anything from the Government but promises,

and with regard to the latter they. are most liberal. It is expected that a bridge over the Uawa will cost between £SOOO and £6OOO, but with regard to this no one can be sure, as the promised estimate is not yet forthcoming. A year or so ago (a few months make no difference) Mr Carroll promised that a Government Engineer should bo sent to make an estimate and that the Government would subsidise pound for pound. The most

pressing wants of the distriot aro the cutting up of Paremata and the erection of this bridge. The former has been trotted out at every general election tor the last nine years as a strong plank in the Liberal programme, and promises have been made and not redeemed. The residents of Tolago havo little doubt that failing Paremata the bridge will be made the main plank at the next general election, but I venture to say that any promises made will not bo received in such good faith as hitherto. There is yet time, however, for both those matters to receive attention so that the member of the district will stand with confidence before the good people of Tolago.