EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 386, 10 April 1902, Page 3

EAST COAST NEWS.

TOLAGO BAY TO TOKOMARU,

(By our Special Correspondent.)

It is only within tho last few weeks that a dray road has been completed from Tolago Bay to Tokomaru, and even now the journey on wheels is not accomplished without some inconvenience. The completion of tho fourth of the Hikuwai bridges now under construction should, however, be a great improvement. It is expected that this work will be finished in a few weeks and then in fine weather one should easily bo able to drive through. I would not recommend the drive during the wet season, when tho road at places becomes a regular quagmire, the soft naturo of the country and the fact that the road has recently been formed accounting for this. Most of the roads tc the north of Tolago are composed of clay formation, and although hard and dry in summer weather, becomes a veritable bog in tho winter. Leaving Tolago the traveller journeys inland, and nothing is seen of the sea until the Tokomaru hill is reached. For the first throo miles the road runs through the Wharekaka flats. Here there is a native settlement, and tho Maoris appear to be fairly industrious, as is evidenced by the crops of maize and potatoes, which are to Oo seen in the j vicinity. Most of the Wharekaka flat is in the hands of Mr A. Hooves, and the whole of tho land appears to bo of excollont quality, eminently suitably for dairying. Properly drained and cleared, the laud should certainly be as good as thebest of the Poverty Bay flats. The Lawa river is navigable for several miles from tho mouth, and the scenery on both sides is throughly typical of Now Zealand. Willows have been planted at many places along the banks, and the native toi toi is seen in great profusion, making a pleasing contrast to the darker shades of tho karaka trees and pungas. A little later the property of Messrs Dixon and Cannon is passed. This is a very nice holding of about 400 acres, all under cultivation. Following the course of the river the road runs through the Maungatuna flat, and a second native settlement is also passed. From Tolago Bay to beyond Maungatuna, a distance of about eight miles, the road is under the control of the Cook County Council, whilst beyond that point the Waiapu County is responsible for its maintenance. The Cook - County Council’s portion of the road beyond Tolago is not nearly so well looked after as the road from Gisborne to Tolago, and a littlo expenditure is badly required before the winter sets in. Seeing that the

Waiapu County Council have spent something like £IO,OOO on the road from ‘their boundary to Tokomaru, the Cook Council might stretch a point and put their eight miles of the road in first-class order. One or two wooden culverts badly pant replacing,and the approach to several of the bridges requires attention. Fifty to a hundred pounds would go a long way towards puteing the road in good order, and would be money well spent. The road for the next few miles runs through Mr Fitzgerald’s property, and the effect of the expenditure of loan money by the Waiapu Council is apparent in the improvement that the traveller finds as he rides along, a first-class dray-road, twenty-four feet wide, having been formed from the Council’s boundary. The section of this road from the Council’s boundary to the Hikuwai was carried out by Messrs McCracken and O’Shea, at a cost of qjjout £I6OO, the work being a capital one, and giving great satisfaction to the Council. The Hikuwai stream is met with about half-way from . Tolago, and on the occasion of my visit Mr McLaughlin was completing the last of the bridges over that stream. Three handsome bridges have already been constructed, and with the fourth now in hand represent an expenditure on the part of the 'Waiapu County Council of nearly £B,OOO. The old line of road used to run on the - eastern side of the river, sometimes along the edge of huge embankments, and at other times along the bed of the river. It was in places so subject to slips that it was impossible to construct a dray road, and for several years the Engineer urged that the road should be taken across the fiats, and that the bridges in question ; should be erected.. Upon receiving a promise from the Government that they would contribute a pound for pound subsidy, the Council decided to raise a loan in order that the work might be proceeded with, and a dray road thus constructed from Tokomaru to Tolago. The ’ money was raised, and the bridges con- 1 structed, but so far the Government have not kept' faith with the Council in the matter of the promised subsidy, although it is possible they may think it worth their while to do 30 before election time comes round.. The Council has one satis* faction, however, and that is that they have something to show for the money expended. The work has been faithfully carried but, and the bridges are very fine structures. The principal piers are of concrete, carried on to a - solid rock foundation. The piles, sheathing, and all wood touching earth .are of totara, and • the trusses, stringers, anddecking of kauri. Three of the bridges are within a few hundred yards of each other, and the fourth is three miles further on. Mr McLaughlin is pushing on the work with the utmost despatch, and the men engaged on the fourth bridge are working ten hours a day. The country on either side of the road for some distance is owned by Fitzgerald Bros., and is one of the finest properties on the coast. It is all good sheep country, and has been much improved during the last two years. Between the properties of Messrs Fitzgerald and Busby the road runs through a nf native nroDerties. and a small

nuiuuci. ui t, r —-—:r native settlement is also passed. For the last few miles before you reach Tokomaru the road is of clay formation, and although hard and dry in the summer time, it is anything but pleasant travelling on it after heavy rain. There are about two or three miles of hill to travel and about the same distance to descend before you reach Tokomaru. A beautiful view of the bay is to be obtained from the top of the hill, the outlook of the coast and sea being perhaps the finest seen on the trip from Gisborne to the East Cape. Mr Busby’s property, which comprises over 10,000 acres of freehold, is worthy of special mention, being considered by many judges to be the finest property on the coast. It takes in somo beautiful undulating country,, all of which has been cleared and put in grass. It is managed by Mr W. D. S. McDonald, of Tokomaru, who has reason to be proud of the success which has attended his efforts since ho assumed control of it. The property is well stocked, and upwards of twenty thousand sheep were shorn last season. At the back of Tokomaru there aro a number of fine properties. Adjoin: ing Mr Busby’s is that of Mr G. J. White, a very nice property of over 7000 acres. There is a beautiful homestead on the property, and extensive outbuildings. Mr White has recently erected a largo woolshod, and this year put over 15,000 sheep under the shears. Mr-A. H. Wallis property is nine miles from Tokomaru, and consists of three thousand three hundred acres. Since Mr Wallis removed to Gisborne the property has been managed by his nephew. Mes'srs Cotterill and Frampton have a grazing run of 6000 acres, most of which is at present in bush. About c j„ht hundred acres are in grass, and considerable improvements are under way Mr Eldred Beck’s Bcxhaven property managed by Mr W. B. Mil!, is another well-known station. It is 20 miles inland from Tokomaru, and is all first-class pastoral country. About seven thousand sheep were shorn on this station during the past season. Across the Mata river there are also li number of good holdings. Mr K. Moat’s'Huiarua property consists of 400. Q acres of freehold, all fine undulating country, and well watered. About seven thousand sheep were shorn at this station. Mr Moatb has a hice homestead on this property. - Farther back is E. E. Cotterill’s holding of 2900 acres, all freehold. It is all in grass, and carries a good number of sheep, about 5000, including lambs, beinf Bborn last season. The property is owned Mr Cotterell’s brother, who resides in Napier. Mr W. Willis, who manages for Mr Moat, has a Government section lease in perpetuity. The area is 1200 acres, and the land is of first-class quality. Mr Willis’s house is situated on a pretty flat on the Mata river, an ideal site for a homestead. This property is twenty-four miles from Tokomaru. Mr Willis is making considerable improvements to his bolding, and haa already several hundred

acres in grass. Further down the river Messrs O’Regan Bros, have a Government section lease in perpetuity, the area being 640 acres, 000 of which aro in grass. Mr G. Powell has 1000 acres in the same locality, a good portion of it being in grass.