THE OTARA GORGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1482, 16 June 1905, Page 4

THE OTARA GORGE.

LAND FOE SETTLEMENT.

A writer in the Opotiki Herald gives an interesting description of a trip to the Otaro Gorge, the following being an oxtrnot: — We commenced to ascend a high range of hills so as to get a good viow of Hie ourroundiug court tryy but I did not bargain for quite such a tireeomo task. On, on, we •travelled, for upwards of tv/o hours, mostly through heavy undergrowth, thus lessening our pace more than it otherwise should do. At last wo reached the highest peak, from which wo got a magnificent view of the Burrounding country. In the distance could bo soon the deep blue sea, while apparently at onr feet, and only a few miles distant, the town of Opotiki stood out very prominently. Wo then turned our attention to Motu, and thoro at his door was our dear old friend Hunson, just having his “ morning pipo.” Aoross tho top of this hill we came across Te Kooti’s old track to Poverty Bay, and on one tree there wus an inscription in Maori, whiob wo were unable to read save tho figuros 1868. : After shooting a few birds and frightening the reat wo retraced our steps to camp. On, on we went, descending sometimes, bb sailors soy, on our boomonds, at others on our heads, now a sudden drop and disappearing from sight for a few moments, and then traversing a deep ohannel-shaped gorge, and again following a stream, and so on for nearly three hours. It was a piece of sound navination at times to oscapo serious injury, so rough was the country over which wo passed. At last we arrived at the bottom of the creek, the puzzled look on my mato’s face betrayed this important fact, and also my own brains, as I could not nedt S:6ind how a Btream could run up-hill. ‘ Loot,’ I said to uiyself,-but neither of us mentioned it to each other, but decided to follow the downward course of the river. . , We waded through the roaring waters and over enormous boulders for over an hour. “We thou discussed the situation, ond were satisfied we bad got on the wrong track. A little later I used my breech-loader as a fog or distress horn. After the second sound died away, to our joy ond surprise a loud coo oe ’in the distance replied, and in n very shore time one of Mr Allom’s men was beside us. Ho escorted us safely to thoir camp, made us a fine meal, and informed us we were on the Te Waite river, not the Pakihi, which we left in tho morniDg, expecting to return to tho same. We had thus travelled six miles away out of our course. However, after a little rest wo sot sail for our camp by a well worn track. , On our way thoro wo met Mr Sydenbam, who owns a large tract of country, and who had been kind enough not only to graze our horsos, but also saw that they obtained food. In speaking to that gentleman ns to the grazing qualities of the land and the good condition his paddocks were in, be said that for over a month he had had 400 sheep, besides horses, grazing on 70 acres of grass, and I must admit the grass as I saw it was etill good, sound sheep feed. ,As has been shown, most of tho country around the Pakihi is. hilly, while that on tho Te Waite stream is rough, but in all it must be admitted it is good grass land. In pass should any of thii land be let in less than 1500 to 3000 acre blocks, on account of the diificulty of- obtaining a homestead site and reasonable fencing lines. There iB little doubt if roads wore given settlement would follow, and with the settlement of, say, about 200,000 acres ofi land Opotiki would get a new lease of life. From practical experience I have hod in farming, I should say this country would winter -2 to 2£ sheep per apre, besides horses for requirements of the farm and a few head of cattle to each thousand acres. That would mean say 2,500,000 sheep; The'income from-which should-not be less than on an average of 1120 net per hun. dred sheep, but may by careful management be risen fco £33 per hundred sheepior a total snm of from £IIO,OOO to £190,000, most of which would be spent in fellingthe bush, grassing, fenoing and building ; to be very mild this would cost £2 5s per aero? or ivtotal sum of say £400,500. This expenditure of necessity would be extended over o period of 7to 12 years. But this is merely-an outline to show what Opotiki is missing through this land; lying-idle. Let the Government push on the roads, and offer the land in survey sections of-good large areas and settlement will advance rapidly. . ' , ~ I had the pleasure of going aloDg the Pakibi track, which will some day connect■ Bay of Plenty with Poverty Bay. The policy of making the road is too slow to get the beßt results.- A main road like this .'should be pushed through mostspeedily, aDd ibstead of hundreds being spent on it. tho veto should bo for at least £3OOO to £SOOO annually until such time as the road is made good for coach traffic. We were delighted with our trip and the information obtained.