WAIMIHA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 334, 4 February 1911, Page 2

WAIMIHA.

I ANOTHER NEW KING COUNTRY i TOWNSHIP. (Fly Our Special Commissioner.) The growth of the King Country of : recent years has been as all are aware of phenomenal account. The spring- : ing up of townships in various parts due tc the settlement of the land has been the cause of these results. Where the people get the opportunity of taking up country and farming it, in our outlying districts success in the . ways of business always comes along. Waimiha is one of the latest of these distributing centres to come into 1 prominence. A little over a year ago there were no places of business of any kind, and with the exception of the homes of railway employees the whole white population was very scanty. The settlement of a large area of country under the Improved Farm Settlement scheme has already proved what close settlement will do. There are three stores there, all doing good business, besides other conveniences requisite for the distribution of supplies required in the ! back country. ! Looking from the township across ! the Waimiha creek are to be seen many thousands of acres of good country lying idle and in the hands of the natives. A big part of this country has been in the classification of pumice lands, and, of course, on that account were considered useless for settlement. These ideas must, however, be dispelled as all these lands would be worked intelligently if only put on the market. There would be plenty of men only too glad to have the opportunity of breaking in this country, and I hope that the day is not far distant when my hopes will be realised and when that time comes Waimiha, with its railway facilities, will no doubt attain prominence.

In the Tangitu direction there is also a good amount of native land. A fair amount of it has been taken up on lease from the Maoris. There are also some Crown land farms which are already looking well, although only settled during recent years. An area of native land, about 6000 acres adjoining the Tangitu block, has been surveyed into areas of from 300 to 400 acres and it is understood will be put on the market at an early date. The country is fine bush land, is easy and undulating. Water is plentiful, and, in fact, everything points to this being an excellent piace of country, which will no doubt attract keen competition when the time comes round. It will also be a valuable asset to Waimiha, as it is al! within easy distance. Another important industry has also commenced there in the timber line. A new mill has been erected about a mile from the township, and, besides the value that it will be to local residents in procuring timber in their own district a big trade is anticipated all along the. line. The mill is also equipped with up-to-date machinery. The Waimiha stream has attracted a good few anglers for trout fishjng. The fish caught there are usually of a nice sige and provide plenty of sport. On the whole the district for such a short period of settlement has made rapid progress and provided the settlement of the native lands is commenced without delay the future of this young country township will be a bright one. There is plenty of surrounding good land, and all it wants is settlement. When that comes about then that part will be like others where the farming industry predominates.