OKURU NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1926, Page 4

OKURU NEWS.

(From a Correspondent). • and r.vDKit cri/ri yatiox. OK TRC. ./an. 21. •Mi' II Busch is in tin* district In procure stoi c i nUlo. Air Busch expresses surprise after viewing the district with its cultivated crops, subdivided dairying, and fattening pastures, and healthy stock. Okuru can claim to he the most up-to-date district south of the AVailio River. In tact., it is possible that more land is cultivated here than in some of the closer populated farming districts north of the W’ailio. lls huge acreage of ribbon wood, blarkpine, niggerheud country, highly suitable for dairying, fattening and cilore settlement, extensive halts of white pirn*, silver pine, and mixed forests, large areas of drainable Hats and peat swamps, extensive and proved mineral belts, cheap water

power, commercial (lax. and its natural harbour, abounding with many varieties of fish must assure population, progress and prosperity in the future and let's aim at it being in the near future. IJKKCII KOIiKST. An unusual feature of the West Coast forests is the presence of a large I itroti of commercial red beech growing I timber in the upper Arawala Valley, l considered by tin Otago native, to he superior to the Otago beech forests, being younger and more suitable size for milling and free from the faulty hollows in the larger and older trees. When seasoned this beech is like the West Coast totnra which is so much in demand, and is said to require an expert to distinguish the two, when seasoned. The whole of this belt is in a workable distance from .fackson's Bay. This is believed to he the only area of red beech in Westland. Another area is to he found further south in the I’yke Valley in the Otago province.

.mus'it.rin;;- at marti.vs bay. .Messrs McKenzie Bins., graziers of .Martin's Bay. are engaged in mustering. Some period has elapsed since cattle were last taken from this large tract of little known country. It has keen said that McKenzie Bros, cattle are the best on the Coast, being aU locally-bred hereforcls of fine stamp and type, but somewhat wild. They have for years past secured the top market price, and are in much demand. Graz-

iers and dealers have often penetrated this wild isolated country to buy u line of these cattle. Often bullocks are from eight to ten years of a"o before they are marketed. The McKenzie's are the only residents between Okuru and the Sounds, and their 'access is by Mossburn. Otago, by a rough I horse track, hut considered not prne- ! tieal for packing stores in. Their stores etc. are landed twice or three times each year with their mail by the Government steamer at Big Bay. halt of which is in Westland and half in Otago Province. This is their only means of communication and the only time they get any information from the outside world. The late war had been on for over six months before it was known there, and during the later end of the war it was a hiding place for deserters from Trent hum. It lias been said their runs comprise many thousands of acres of first-class ribbonwood country in continual blocks of 500 I to 1,000 acres and should support many families and raise and fatten many i ;housapds of cattle. i

DIFFICULT OF ACCESS. Tho access to tills locality via the West Coast is very rough. ' A track was formed sonic years ago but has since been allowed to revert to a lKld state, though still passable but with difficulty. Tho route was down the sea coast and passes through some GO to 70 miles of mineral bearing country. A road was formed in the back country to connect with Otago at the upper Pyko Valley via Gorge River Plateau and Red Hills, but was never completed. OTvURU. Jan. 29. WET WEATHER. Heavy rain and floods occurred between the 21st and 2Gth inst. laying down the standing ceieal crops and causing a severe chec-K to the young

turnip and other crops. Snow fell heavily on the high country on the' 23rd and 21th inst. During the night of, the 25th inst. over three inc lies of rain were registered at the local meteorological station. This is probably the worst season experienced during recent years, the priinarw producer suffering most, 13.8 inches of ruin has been registered so far this month at the local meteorological station. Tourists are passing through the Haast- Pass track this week from Wniho. Correction:—ln reference to “Okuru Votes” dated December 28th, “A party of six arc inspecting tho Cascade Flat areas” should have read “A party of six arc inspecting tlic Cascade FLAX areas.”