PROGRESS OF THE KING COUNTRY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 5, 23 November 1906, Page 3

PROGRESS OF THE KING COUNTRY.

M&iroa Riding.

[By D.H.L.]

If any apology is required for the issue of the King Country Chronicle, it is abundantly supplied by the great lack of knowledge that exists, as to that enormous tract of fertile territory, which is known by the somewhat misleading name of the " King Country." The public of- New Zealand generally, and a majority even of the inhabitants of the provincial district of Auckland, are in ignorance of everything connected with this important, and exceedingly progressive part of the colony. The majority scarcely know its geographical position, and are entirely unaware of its importance, and the great part it is destined to contribute to the pastoral wealth of the North Island of New Zealand. This is distinctly a misfortune for all parties concerned, and we therefore devote a portion of our space to the reliable description of the various natural divisions of the great area between Te Awamutu in the north, and Taumarunui in the south of the district, and give to the public a clear account of the extensive operations in progress for the conversion of a wilderness, into smiling homesteads. It must be admitted that Te Kuiti is destined to be one of the chief business centres of the King Country. Mairoa District, or Riding, may therefore justly claim attention, as one of the principal " spokes," and in our present issue, we propose to give a short account of that locality, and what has been done there during the last five years. Mairoa Riding of the newly created County of Waitomo, is immediately to the west, and south-west of the township of Te Kuiti, and at that point, nearly approaches the Main Trunk Railway line. The area is between fifty and sixty thousand acres, nearly all of which is a gently undulating, or "rolling" country, quite two-thirds of which was, until lately, covered with heavy forest, and the soil for the most part is a deep rich volcanic deposit superimposed upon limestone. It is therefore undoubtedly an exceptionally good grass growing district, the cattle and sheep grazed upon it being particularly healthy, and in great favour with the butchers. Nearly half of the whole riding is still Native land, unoccupied and unused. This has hitherto greatly retarded the progress of Mairoa, for the simple-minded and guileless Maori in the past, when disposing of his surplus land to the Government generally sold the part which was of least value, and as the bringing into cultivation of forest land was more difficult than operating in the open, the Government, and through them the white settler, had to be content with the forest land, and the most inaccessable portions of that in the first place, but notwithstanding this and the absence of roads, much good work and great improvements have been accomplished by the settlers since igoo. When the Maungamangero block was thrown open for selection it was eagerly competed for by farmers from all parts of the colony, and as many as fifty applicants were desirous of securing the same section. When it is remembered that the block was all heavy forest land, over twenty miles distant from any township and without roads, it will be realised how highly the land was esteemed, and what hardships and difficulties the settlers thereon have had to contend with. Let us see what these stout-hearted pioneer settlers have accomplished in the Mairoa district within the last five years. Of the Native land within the riding, amounting to nearly half the whole area, it need scarcely be reported that it remains almost entirely unimproved, and therefore a detriment and menace to the well-being of the district up to the present time. Now, however, there is a prospect of great changes for the better, if only the officials who, have the administering of the Native Land Administration Act of last session of Parliament, try to make it work smoothly, and avoid the " Taihoa " policy so notorious in the dealings of the Native Department. The Pakeha settlers and the Native land owners both realised that business might be greatly facilitated by the fair working of that measure, and within the last six months satisfactory agreements have been made for the leasing by desirable settlers of the greater part of the unused Native land in the Mairoa riding. But to return to work accomplished by the Mairoa settlers on their forest holdings. It is worthy of notice that every section has been occupied and improved. Of the 30,000 acres, at least 10,000 acres have been cleared, and the greater portion grassed and fenced on almost every section. Substantial cottages have been erected, and gardens and orchard planted. In accomplishing this heavy preliminary work there has been expended in cash for labour and material £IO,OOO, while the labour of the settlers and families •may count for another £SOOO at least. In addition to this the newly-grassed land has been heavily stocked with cattle and sheep of good quality, and it is exceedingly gratifying to learn that their number will shortly be almost doubled, to meet the increased carrying capacity of the new clearings, which improve every year, the grass increasing in quantity and improving in quality with every year of its age. No wonder then that the Mairoa farmers are pleased with their holdings, and consider that they occupy an ideal sheep and cattle country; but they suffer from many disabilities, and have many hardships to contend with, principally through the want of roads. So, fully realising that no great degree of comfort can be attained or profit made without better roads, they have decided to rate themselves heavily for the purpose of raising a loan of £7OOO, provided the Government will subsidise the same for the purpose of making and metalling a direct road from Te Kuiti right through their district. It will readily be admitted therefore that Mairoa is a distinctly progressive place and well worthy of a visit from those interested in seeing what may be done in a short time by the right class of men, and we will have much pleasure to more fully " chronicle" their doings and sucr cesses in a future issue.