A Trip From Raglan to Huntly.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 5 March 1915, Page 3

A Trip From Raglan to Huntly.

VIA WAINGARO, PUKEMIRO • COALMINES, NGARUAWAHIA AND TE AKATEA.

(From the Raglan CHRONICLE)

As I know some of your readers have been looking for an account of my journey as above, want of time must be my excuse for not furnishing it earlier. It is now some weeks since, one day after dinner, I mounted my horse and set out on the journey. It was many years ago that I visited the above-named localities, and what I saw on my trip was therefore of much interest to me. The first thing that struck me as needing immediate attention is the road from Mr Cogswell’s to the Springs. As, what used to be the very worst part of the road, at Ohautira, is metalled, a few punt-loads of gravel from Mr Arthur Wallis’ would make it Safe and passable for motor vehicles between Raglan and the Springs Hotel, thus obviating the necessity to go such a distance round by way of Ngaruawahia. However, I am glad to find that Mr Harold Wilson has since motored over this road. Near Mr Picken’s I found improvements being carried out in quite up-to-date style, and also learned that Mr Picken is in possession of a motor car, an example that has since been followed by our old friend Mr Darrow, as well as by several other residents of that neighbourhood. On arriving at the Springs I was astonished at the improvements made by Mr Darrow since his advent there. An air of hustle and bustle was everywhere apparent, the store being full of customers, and a motor car outside, just from Ngaruawahia. I was most hospitably entertained for the night by Mr and Mrs Darrow, who did everything possible for my comfort and enjoyment. After a good night’s rest and a good breakfast, I started for Pukemiro. Leaving the main road I soon reached Pukemiro township where I found a Post Office and a primitive school. From the township I was soon at the mines, where progress was everywhere visible. Pukemiro Hill, which,|the last time I was there, was all bush, is now all in pasture, with cattle and sheep grazing on it, and from this eminence a splendid view is obtained of the railway from Huntly, in course of construction. It was easy to see that there are no engineering obstacles to the line being carried through to our Harbour, which no doubt it will be in the very near future# On leaving the coalmines I had a cross-country ride until I again got on the main road to Huntly, where I dropped across a very pleasant companion in Mr McKinnon, who resides in the vicinity. Passing a lot of miniature canvas towns, the dwellings being tents with iron chimneys, I reached that portion of Huntly this side of the river, which is now bigger than Huntly proper was when I last visited it. A noble bridge crosses the Waikato, and the town everywhere presents the appearance of progress and prosperity. After feeding myself and my horse and attending to the business that took me to Huntly, I retraced my steps across ttfe bridge, and called on my old friends Mr and MrsL. B. Harris, sen., who afforded me their usual hospitality. Mr Harris and I were born in 1834. We had a good old-time chat, as we both knew the present town of Huntly when on its site stood but one dwelling—a small whare with the old native name “ Rahuipokeko” affixed to it, and which was used by Cobb and Co. as a changing-place for their horses in the first coaching days. The country around Pukemiro comprises thousands of acres of undulating land, still in a state of nature, but all ploughable, with the railway running through it, and it only requires a supply of lime from the Raglan harbour to be a big producing area of wheat, oats and barley, to say nothing of other crops, live stocks, etc, Mv old friend, Mr Harris, says he is going to live long enough to see the railway extended to Raglan. I told him I hardly expected that, but if he does I might expect to do the same. However, I said I did now expect to see a good vehicle road from Raglan to Hamilton, after having spent so many years of my life in anticipation of it. fn this connection, I may say, I am glad to see in the last issue of the CHRONICLE that tenders are called for the commencement of this most desirable work, and nothing can now stoo the progress that is setting in ; in fact, the future of Raglan will so astonish many of our old settlers that I fancy I hear the old “ seer” of Karioi, instead of asking Who’tl ’a‘ thought it?” remarking “ Did’nt I Tell you of it years ago ? ” Bidding “ goodbye ” to my old friends, Mr and Mrs Harris, I was soon in the

saddle and on my way to Ngaruawahia. Between Huntly, Taupiri and Ngaruawahia the progress has been slow, but at Ngaruawahia great strides have taken place. What is one of the best streets in that town a street of shops, offices, etc. was almost in a state of nature on my last visit. There I renewed acquaintance with my old friend, Mrs J. K 1 McDonald, late of Waingaro and Raglan, and I need not say I was again most hospitably entertained. After another good night’s rest I set out again on my homeward trip, and was soon atTe Akatea township, where I found a large store near the mines, and saw a train of sixteen tiucks, filled with coal, on its way to Ngaruawahia. It was my intention to finish up my journey from the Huntly junction, through Te Akatea to Raglan, but my horse having broken out of the paddock at Ngaruawahia, I was late in leaving there, so I pushed on to friend Picken's, where I refreshed myself with afternoon tea. Continuing my journey, I called on our old friend, Mr Cogswell, senr., reached “ Glencoe ” in time for tea, and thence to my own home. My trip was a most enjoyable one, and the time was well spent in observation by the way. In conclusion, I would add that to my mind, one of the most pressing wants is a motor traffic road from Raglan to the Hot Springs. Let it be made at once. A few weeks’ work would accomplish it, and the bugbear of the road lying through Native lands should not be allowed to stop it. I say, by all means make the road. If John Bull made a bad bargain with the .Maoris under the “Treaty of Waitangi,” why should the pakeha suffer for it? Yours, etc., T. B. HILL.