KAIHERE SETTLERS’ ISOLATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4399, 5 April 1922, Page 2

KAIHERE SETTLERS’ ISOLATION.

WANT OF DIRECT ACCESS, TO PAEROA AND KEREPE%HI. Having arrived at the .landing the trip to Kerepeehi and Ngatea was made by launch. When Ngarua (Kai,here) landing was reached a deputation was- waiting, headed by Cr. T. McLoughlin (Hauraki Plains County Council), Hj B. Walton, and ’A. Sharpies, Senr. Ur. McLoughlin put forward the request, on behalf of the large number of settlers present and others who were unable to come along, that the Government, while it still owned the land, should put ,a bridge across the river, and a canal to give access to Paeroa , Railway Junction, and load the land With the cost off the same. He 'did not want to wait until the local body (Hauraki plains County Council) took over the control, because ■ the hopes of a bridge would receive a seb-back.’ Local bodies had been quarrelling for the past thirty years about bridges over the Waihou River, and they had not bridged it yet. The settlers wanted, instead of having -to 'go all the way around by Ngatea, to get direct access to Paeroa town and railway junction and to Paeroa and Hikutaia stock sales. UNION WITH KEREPEEHI. Mr ’Walton endorsed Cr. McLoughlin’s statements, and said the settlers also wanted to get to Kerepeehi, which was the high ground and natural centre of the Plains. There was a community ofl interest between Kaihere and Kerepeehi, and the people of each place wished to unite. LONG STOCK DRIVE. Mr Walton also' explained to the

Minister that at present stppk had to be driven 24 miles to. the nearest railway in order to truck thejn for, Horotiu or Westfield. PAEROALPOI£ENO . RAILWAY. < Murmurs of fi assent' wept round' when Mr Walton remarked that the proposed bridge would give .Communication to the future PaerdaPokeno railway, which was a weighty factor in its favour., For nine years • settlers had been dependent on the Patetonga outlet, from as.far back as Torehapa. Paeroa Junction and Paeroa and Hikutafa stock sales were the objectives. Mr Sharpies supported the two previous speakers, seating in order to go tp Ohinewai to catch the train the settlers had to rise at 4 a.m. “We have got here (the landing), “but we cannot get any further!; it is not roads but a bridge we have not got which is blocking us in," added. Cr. McLoughlin, POSITION FORESEEN, Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P>, pointed out that the position which' had arisen was foreseen, and that a grant was placed on the Estimates fipr a bridge at one time. * The Minister replied that the did not think the Government could find the money for a bridge at present. The structure would cost £4OOO, as it would need to have an opening span. However, he was glad the matter had been brought up, and he would go into it with Mr Thompson and see what could be done. Had the bridge proposal been part of the scheme of reclamation therp, would be no difficulty about it, and to include it would be .straining a point. The matter was really one for ,tb.e Public Works Department, i ; » WAITAKARURU CANAL. The Waitakaruru canal and the Torehapa rpads were the next subjects introduced by Cr. McLoughlin. Thp road Should be gone on with and the canal needed deepening. Mr Cowdrey supported, stating that tjie Torahapa settlers had now to go 14 miles fbr an outlet. Regarding the canal; 9 chains a day was slow progress when the total length -was 13 to 17 miies. The dredge was not very efficient.' , The Minister answered that when the drainage scheme its in-, fancy the machinery obtainable was crude, but that Mr Thompson had ordered nine dredges from America, all of which had npw arrived, and tbe work would be done more expeditiously in future. ( One of the new dredges was coming to the district in due course. Mr Thompson said the road was going to be pushed bn with, but, progress was necessarily slow when clay had to be carted ft>h to put on top of the peat for a foundation.

A RESERVE GRANTED. The request for a recreation reserve met with an affirmative Response. An area had been, set aside, and this would be l duly gazetted and trustees appointed. The matter of enlarging the wharf shed would also' xbe given attention. ’ ',“We won’t forget You,.” were the Minister’s last words as the launch moved off to the accompaniment of three cheers from the numerous settlers assembled. , , ■ , THE LAND LEVIATHANS. Passing on down the ! Piako, the party was able to get a splendid view of two of the new dredges making drainage canals and stop-banks along jthe banks. These 'two modern dredges (Bucyrus and Walking DipperMichigan), “nionsters of the prime, that tear and wallow in their slime,” are laml leviathans which, with the greatest ease, take a cubic yard and a quarter of water sodden earth out at every lift, and deposit it in a perfectly straight bank alongside, in a line fifty feet away-on either side desired, the total swinging length being 100 feet. One stoprbarik is nine feet in height. Two lifts are made every three, minutes, and all -the labour required is a gang, of two men on one dredge and three on the other. They . are marvellously efficient machines, and their presence alone is aniple justification for the action of the Lands drainage Department in sending Mr Thompson to Anieripa. to secure the latest types of drainage dredges. ! KEREPEEHI KORERO..

And yet another was awaiting the arrival at Kerdpeehi. / Mr E. Jamieson referred to the need of piping a portion of Price’s drain, and -fencing the same,. which matters Mr Thompson promised to look into. The piping 'would be no great trouble, as the Department made its own pipes-. THE SHOW GROUND. , . . Mr Jamieson Also brought up' th 3 matter ofi the Kerepeehi ' Show Ground. He said there was a move-, ment afoot to sell the ground', and which the residents emphatically objected to. It was proposed to sacrifice this fine high and dry ground for a few acres in another part of the district. Mr A l . J. Innis supported Mr Janiieson’s representations. ~ The Minister, abruptly: Who’s going to sell the ground? Mr Jamieson : A report of a meeting to that effect was published in the district paper, the “Hauraki Plains Gazette.”, . , '■ The Minister, turning tp Mr H. M. Skeet, Commissioner erf Crown Lands, said, sharply: “You look into Ch(s matter and see that they don't sell it. They have no right to sell 'it.” Mr. Skeet: They have not got it yet. The Lands, Department has *o» much experience in fhese matters togrant land under such conditions that it. can be sold immediately afterr wards. We will see that they do hot sell- it. INTELLIGENT ROADING POLICY. In answer to Mr Jamieson’s query as to whether it would not be better to road the land before selling it, loading the' sections with- the ’ cost thereof instead ofi selling it first and then have the traffic cutting up the soft. loadways, the Minister replied that it was now the policy to road first. This course would be followed in respect to .the 2000 acres about' to be opened up at Kerepeehi. The deputation also supported. tß|

requcsr, of the Kaiher.e settlers for the Ngarua bridge. The Minister promised to refer the matter ofa police station at Keiepeehi to the Minister for Justice,Hon.- E, P. Lee. An excellent lunch was then partaken of at the residence of the Plains Resident Engineer, Mr E. Taylor, and was heartily appreciated by the members of the ( party. The launch then went on to Ngatea, whore Waitakaruru and/ Ngatea deputations were beard. ' ‘ ——-——rNGATEA DISTRICT NEEDS. RECREATION GROUND.. C'Gazette” Haupakl Plains Resident Staff Reporter.) Deputations were received in the newly enlarged Ngatea Hall. Mr T. W? Rhodes., M, P. (Thames), intrpduced Mr W. G. Hayward, president of the Ngatea branch of the. N.Z. Farmers' Unjpn, and a niember of the H’auraki Plains County Council, Mr Hayward said Ngatea had no recreation ground at all, and he understood that other surrounding districts had grounds. Ngatea was becoming quite*a centre, and greatly missed grounds for recreation. He asked for a piece of land near the factory which, he ■ understood, was the only Crown land available. I Mr Guthrie said he would go into I the matter and consider it sympathetically. ■

SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS, Mr Rhodes said Ngatea was in an 1 unenviable position, and had a school far too small, and which could noi admit all the children who wanted to • attend. There. Were, at least’ 85 on the roll. The previous teacher could not get a residence and the present > one, Mr Jamieson, was in a similar predicament, and had several “olive ) branches” held but to him. He introduced Mr McDuff, chairman of the committee. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. Mr McDuff said he had hoi; come to speak on enlargements of the school, ’or for a teacher’s residence, !. but to ask for a piece of. land for educational purposes. He asked that the existing educational land should be permanently set aside. The present school site was not too small today, but it would be later on. If Ngatea got a .technical school the t present grounds would be fhr too small. Mr Guthrie said that the matter of a residence was outside his Department, but he would communicate with the Hon. C. J. Parr,, Minister of Education. If an educational reserve had been properly gazetted it could not be used fon other purposes, but Ke was not aware of this. |/ Mr Sheet (Commissioner of Crown lands) said that part of. the land in p, question was for a reserve, but not the whole dfi it. The Minister said he would go into the matter and find out exactly what the positiop was. . ,•■;. ■ ' -i ' ORCHARD EAST ROAD. Mr Spence, representing Orchard Bast Road settlers, said there Was a , stretch pf road two or three miles long, and , unmetalled. He ' understood. that the tramlines were to be J laid', to the junction, and, He asked If the trams could be continued along the Orchard East Road and 1 the stretch metalled. y Mr Guthrie said funds/ ( were not available. It might be a matter for - the Public > Works, Department, and would 'therefore be outside his Department. However, he would make inquiries. '■ Mr Spence said the land adjoining the road was not altogether freehold land, but a Government block. The Minister said he would go into the matter and see what money was available. Mr Thompson had infprm- / ed him that £BOO could be ;pu-t. at.-, the disposal of this work. r THE DRAINS'. Mr Hallyburton Johnstone coinplained that the drains were only half , cleaned. After a. short time the cows could feed in them. Mr E, Taylor said lie would see that the drains were; cleaned proper- „ ly* ■’ * . MIRANDA-WAITAKARURU. Or. C. W. Harris, chairman of the finance committee' of the Hauraki Plains County Council, with regard, > to County matters, referred to the Miranda road, on which the settlers had undoubtedly a decided grievance. Thepe had been a loan *for Widening and metalling roads, .and £3500 had k been raised. The unfortunate part was that in the advertisements' the loan proposals were given for Waitakaruru roads, and the Waitakaruru Stream rbad had > absorbed most of the money, Practically nothing h 0 been done on/the Miranda Road. Only £27 had been left for the Miranda Road, and nothing for the back Miranda road. They could not get the ‘subsidy, as It had been paid-on the work on the Stream Road. He urged that the Government should give £lOOO free money to enable the cil to go on with tde road, and, also £ £3OOO free money smd for a loan of £350. With regard to work done this, last year, he said Waitakaruru was in ’a' bad position. The Council was unable to dp any great work, but had been doing what it could out of revenue. I He .asked that the Minister A should bring the .matter before the to hand over the amount for a subsidy. The road was in a worse state than it Had ever' been '■> before. The settlers certainly had a great grievance. The telephono poles were, being laid along the Mi- - randa Rbad, and it would probably be a main road to Auckland. Mr Stubbs, glso. representing the ratepayers in that district, said it would be the shortest way to Auckland. There were, however, 3% miles of nad road. 'The Minister said the Council had lost the subsidy on the Miranda Road because they Had got it on the Waitakaruru roads. It was not a legal action for the Council to take the money from one work and spend it on another. r . Mr Harris said the loan Was advertlsed in the old days by the Thames County Council for Waitakaruru roads The Stream Road was

do..c first, and the Council was unable to do the remainder; of the work. The Minister said the Department would like to pay the amount in one sum. The work was solely for the Pubic Works Department, and ne would communicate the position tu the Minister of that Department. MINISTER’S DIFFICULTIES RECALLED. Mr Harris, regarding the WaitakarurwiMaramarua road, said thit there were about four miles unmetalled. He recalled that about three years ago Mr Guthrie had experlenc-* ed some difficulty in getting througn that road, and had promised to have something done. He urged that something more should be done. Mr Hariris added that a mail service might b.e run on that ro.ad. Mr Guthrie said he would recommend it to the Public Works Department. Mr. Harris said . settlers on , the Canal Rohcl at Waitakaruru were ex ; - perteneing difficulty in getting to their sections. , They had 'to go through mud axle deep. The settlers experienced considerable difficulty in getting to their sections. He urged that the road should be metalled before winter. On .the other side of the canal there were soldier settlers who had no means of access except by means of a punt which he had put at their disposal to cross the river. He urged that a road Should be formed on that side before winter and .that one side should be metalled The Minister, said he would look into it, but he did not think ■they could do it before winter, even if they had the funds. He recognised that it was an important* matter.

SOLDIERS’ REVALUATIONS. Mr Harris brought up the matter of revaluation of soldiers’ holdings. The Minister said revaluation was not pdssible until after three years occupancy. Mr Rhodes said there were . two points, revaluations, or remission of rents. Mr Guthrie, said' it would be the saW for the soldiers on peat lands. Postponement of rent could apply at the end of the time, and they could capitalise it, remit it, or take it spread over a period of several years. ’ RESERVE GROUND. : Mr Harris/ referring to* a public domain granted to Waitakaruru--a portion of a Government reservesaid, that there were several. sports bodies there, and asked that the. ground be handed over to a- proper controlling body. ( The Minister said a domain was usually vested in a domain board. The settlers could meet and elect trustees. Mr Skeet said the land had no: been gazetted, but he would expedite ! tha<. j ‘ I Mr Guthrie said he would see to | the matter, • ■ _ ] CHURCH SITE. Mr Harris said he would like the Hon. Minister to expedite the granting of a site for a Church of England at Waitakaruru. A quarter of an acre had previously been available, but an exorbitant price had been asked and the site was lost to the church. He asked for a piece of land at a low pricey pi perhaps free. (Laughter,) Mr Skeet said there were two other churches after land. He would cut the price as low as possible. FRESH WATER SUPPLY. Mr C. W. Parfitt, Pipiroa, said the settlers had made application for a, report for fresh water from Waitawheta. The report had been refused, and he'wanted to know Why. PIPIROA BRIDQE. There were plans for a bridge over the Piako Riv.er at Pipiroa. The soundings aiid all. data had been takdn, and he wanted information on this point. Mr Guthrie said he would investigate. PAEROA-POKENO RAILWAY. Mr J. C. Miller, chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council, spoke regarding the Kirikiri bridge and proposed railway through . the Plains. Referring to the railway, he said that the Hauraki Plains was practically on ap. island, and trouble was experienced in getting metal for roads. The cheapest method would be by railway. He urged, the construction if the Paeroa-Pokeno railway. The railway was their only\ salvation. , THAMES4PLAINS BRIDGE. . Referring to the Kirikiri bridge, Mr Miller said it had been spoken of for 45 years. An estimate had been given for the structure in wood, but this w,as Considered unsatisfactory. An approximate estimate had been given for a steel superstructure bridge. The engineer had since taken soundings, and now recommended a concrete bridge, whiph would cost about £58,000, The half, £30,000, would be a' big proposition for the local bodies to undertake, but they Would tackle it if the Government would give £ for £ subsidy. He would point out the exact position the next day, when the Minister would be visiting that locality, 1 Mr Guthrie said it was a matter entirely for the Public Works Department. • ,

THE ORONGO ESTATE.

The Hon. D. H. Guthrie and party arrived at Orongo by launch from Thames yesterday morning. The party inspected the estate, which is being settled by returned soldiers, walking down a clay road, Which runs through the centre of the estate. This road, it was explained by Mr J. B. Thompson, was soon to bei metalled. The two large draips on either side of the road were really too larg: for the present requirements, but had been made so to supply spoil for the road. The estate appears to be composed of very fertile land, which is at present being ploughed and disced by tractors. One drawback at present is that there is a certain amount of tall fescue, but i.t was seated that firs was not really as had as it at

first appeared. Efforts are now being made to eradicate the fescue., ' There are few fences yet on the block, and few houses, but some houses are now being erected. SOLDIERS’ RENTALS. An Orongo deputation met the Minister, and spoke with regard to the rentals of their sections, Mr P. Hall said something would have to be done in the way of remission of rentals. Some of the sections had teen opened up without fescue being removed. In most cases the rents had been postponed for 12 months', but this was not much use ,to them, as it would be a big burden later on. They agreed that they were in real good country, but it would fail them under the present conditions. The Minister said the Orongo Estate was one of the best sections of land he had seen. If the settlers let the fescue get ahead of them it would beat them altogether. If the Government could assist it would do so if the, settlers were absolutely powerless. Mr Guthrie explained the three courses open to the Government, namely, postponement, capitalisation, and emission. The. Government made no profit from the land. The cost of improvements was added to .the cost of the.land and sold accordingly, The Government was tied down tightly as the County Council, and could not spend motley entirely. as it pleased. "Don’t sit. down and fret over the position,” he concluded. Mr Gardiner: This is the most optimistic settlement in New Zealand. All we want is for you to stand behind us.

PLAINS WATER SUPPLY. Mr Rhodes, MJP., brought up the matter of a fresh water supply. The settlers were all willing tp bear the burden, but they wanted some suggestion. ■The Minister said that apparently the surface water lasted for a while, and then there were bores. Mr Rhodes said the bores were not permanent. . Mr Gardiner endorsed Mr Rhodes’ contention. The Minister recognised that the water supply in a country like the Plains was the main thing, and he said he would go info the matter., Mr Holden said thousands of gallons of watjer were to waste in the ranges, • and a pipe across the river and a reservoir would be sufficient. . Mr J. B. Thompson said that a scheme would probably cost £35,000 for that section, and about £250,000 for the whole of the Plains. ASSISTING THE SETTLERS. Mr Guthrie, referring to the help to the settlers, said he would meet the settlers in the matter of ploughing. , . Mr Oldham said he had ploughed •2.1 acres of a 44-ac're section, and all he had ploughed had. come up in fescue. He .further said the settlers had taken their sections out on the understanding that they would be ploughed and put down. in grass. Mr Skeet said that when the Orongo Estate was put on the market no other sections could be bought on the Hauraki Plains at double the price. PARTY DEPART FOR PAEROA. After receiving a deputation pfl settlers, the party pushed on by. motorcars tp the Kopuarahi wharf. The road in places was very spongy after the recent rains, and a big Hudson car, conveying the Minister and Mr J. B. Thompson, stuck once in a bad place and a little difficulty w.as experienced in running the car, from the hole. No deputations were received at Kopuarahi and the party left immediately, travelling, along the Kopua-rahi-Kerepeehi road as far as Horcihin. turned back, and .arrived at Turua at about 12.30, when luncheon was the next important item in the itinerary. Receiving no deputations at Turua, the party proceeded without molestation to Paeroa, Netherton. On' the latter portion of the journey the party experienced spme of the worst roads on the Plains, and were bpmped 'about quite a little.

(To be continued.)