IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 273, 2 July 1910, Page 5

IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS.

Taagitu-Mapara Blocks. - SAD SCENES OF DISTRESS. (Special Correspondent.) The following particulars of my experiences and what came under my notice, while en route to Te Kuiti, by road from Ongarue, via Waimiha may be of interest to your readers, and I trust will rouse public sympathy to induce the authorities to render some assistance in relieving the sad cases of distress amongst the settlers of Waimiha or what is more properly known as the Improved Farms: Tangitu and Mapara Blocks. I left Ongarue about 2 p.m. on, the 18th inst. by track, through Tangitu Valley, arriving at Chubb's camp about dusk. Mr Chubb knowing what was before me, kindly gave me an empty whisky bottle which was the best lantern he had I then

proceeded towards the settlement, and after each chain of track found the depth of mud in proportion. Further I went, deeper the mud and darker the night. Exhaustion overcame my horse I although I was then leading him, and once my boot wa3 sucked off the foot which caused delay in recovering. With whisky bottle lantern in -one hand, I proceeded further till at last I heard the pleasant ferocious welcome of what afterwards turned out to N be Mr Malonefy's dog. I was a stranger, he took me in, clothed and fed me. Never was hospitality better appreciated. Mr Maloney then informed me that he arid - others had been at work forming a proper road, and only a day or two prior to that had received notice to quit. "Why?" I asked. "That is the query," said

he. He further informed me that no fewer than three pack horses had died beeently while traversing the same road, being thoroughly overcome with exhaustion. The following morning I proceeded to the centre of the township, where I met several of my Taumarunui friends, several mothers of bright young children, whose education is now a matter for Consideration, there being no school. The bulk of settlers were mustered, and their present situation discussed very seriously, which is as follows: —The food supplies of the whole settlement is practically exhausted, and the packers had given notice that they had ceased carrying until a suitable" road was made. The conditions upon which they hr,d their holdings com pelled them to reside there, or otherwise forfeit. Here was the problem, solved only by deciding to finish the road work on their own responsibilities, and trust to the good nature of some-

one whether they received any pay. Recently the wife of Mr Williams required medical attention, and was carried shoulder high by twenty-five neighbours ac.ross the present bad track. Later, a 'Ta.umarunui doctor was called to Mrs Brennan, and he. during the journey was more than once stuck in" the mud. Present conditions make it almost impossible to obtain a doctor at the fee—£s. Other settlers with holdings there were given notice that the residential clause must be complied with by the 21-st inst.j cr> forfeit, but under such conditions, how in/ the name of common sense is this to be done. The land of this locality is of splendid quality, and with fair consideration and reasonable •help, there is the backbone of an ideal and prosperous settlement. Why should such good prospects be wrecked and industrious people be held in suche a position, all for the want of a pack-track? ; After partaking of the be3t which Mrs Guilford could place before me, I resolved to reach Te Kuiti via Afla, as by this time I learned that five horses in all had been lost in the mud, and I could not spare my own. I then proceeded and reached Mr Lindsay's camp, where I was treated most kindly. Partaking of a hearty breakfast with Mr Lindsay, who is now surveying additional sections to the aforesaid, I received from him all available -information of tracks, formed only by the hoof of animal and seldom trod by man. Through swamps and hilly bush, which hitherto thought impossible for my horse to climb, I continued until darkness overcame me. Having had no- food since morning and fearing the frost corning on, continued until all signs of a track were lost. Here was a fix —no food, no bed. Where W2S 1? Resolved that I make the best of it. Getting near a giant rimu, I gathered sufficient wood to make a lasting fire.Pmade ? bed of fern and slept a little, while my dog did sentry go, Eeeming uneasy the whole night. I have heard since that a notoriously wild bull has been resident in the same locality several years. Feeling the pangs of hunger, Providence may then have been doing its best, ai, at that instant,-a good specimen of Native bird came and perched so close that I, with the skill of a Zulu, got him. .Plucking off the feathers and cleaning him I made a savoury roast by the fire, and relished it, as well as my dog, who anxiously awaited the serving up. I then proceeded to find a track, and after much Struggling and wading through swamp, caught sight of a house which after wards turned out to be that of Mr Hughes, a beautiful log-cabin. Reaching this goal, about nightfall, I was treated to a good supper, dried my clothes and rested. The following morning made a fresh start, and had many miles to travel- before reaching a starting point. I was finally put on the right course by Mr Messenger, and after another sixteen hours reached Aria in a exhausted condition, but felt much better the following morning after the treatment of a kind lady there (Mrs Brown). The above is one of the, worst experiences I have had in New Zealand, and my sympathies are very much with the settlers of Waimiha. There is an old saying that half the world never 4cnows how the other half fares, and I am sure that many here with sfippered feet, have no idea of the hardship t of neigh- . bours so close as the settlers mentioned