KING COUNTRY PROGRESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 454, 6 April 1912, Page 6

KING COUNTRY PROGRESS.

WAIKAKA AND OTANGIWAI DISTRICTS. After crossing the buundary of the Waitomo County into the Ohura County on the Pio Pio-Matiere road, the Upper Waikaka district is entered. There is some splendid country to be found of excellent producing quality. The country is of easy grade, with large tablelands and easy rolling hlils, and is for the most part heavily timbered. This part of the district is well settled by a number of progressive farmers as is indicated by the improvements to be seen. Although this part of the country was settled about six years ago, and good progress made by settlers roading facilities are far from satisfactory. The main Pio Pio-Matiere road has not yet been completed as far as Mr J. McGrath's farm, about ten miles from Aria. On the other side in the direction of Matiere there are about seven miles of only a six-foot track which, indeed, is in very sad repair-. From Matiere in the direction of Kaeaea the road has only been made fit for vehicular traffic as far as the Mangakahikatea Valley with the result that a large number of settlers between these points have to endure most trying conditions. It is without doubt incumbent on the Government to give the people who have been settled on Ihese bush sections during the past six years reasonable access to and from their holdings. A large number of settlers in this, and the Otangiwai, and surrounding districts are being seriously handicapped The Upper Waikaka district is only about 16 miles from the Ongarue railway station, and to get there under present conditions they have to travel via Matiere, a distance of over 30 miles. The Otangiwai settlers, which are only about 12 miles from the railway station, have to traverse 27 miles to eet their stores, and farming requirements. The position that these settlers are in on account of this state of affairs is decidedly trying, and one that requires going into. The cost of living is considerably increased and the inconveniences are generarlly undesirable. The foming of the Mangapapa road would relieve the tension, and would be certainly a just act on the part of the Government. In fact, it is an absolute duty that requires performing. Settlers in the Mangakahikatea Valley are similarly hampered. All these settlements are located in the Otangiwai riding of the Ohura County. The council laid off £BOO worth of road in anticipation of the road, which runs through these parts, but on inquiries being made j there was no money for the work, with the result that settlers were sorely disappointed. A move is now on foot to have the road metalled from the Mangakahikatea junction to Matiere. It is the intention to create a special rating area and make application for a £1 for £1 subsidy under the State-guaranteed Advances Act. This necessity is brought about by the fact uf the strides dairying has been making, especially in and around Otangiwai, which has really done the pioneering part of the dairying industry in the Ohura. When the industry started at Matiere the major number of suppliers were from that part of the district. A creamery was installed in the locality, but owing to the advent of the home separation system the creamery has been abandoned. The progress of dairying has been due to the fact that all the settled lands in the surrounding district are Crown lands cut up into medium sized holdings and in consequence there are a number of settlers. The land is of fairly good quality, and is for the most- part easily worked a very essential feature when it is necessary to provide winter fodder for the dairy herds. In the Waikaka district sheep farming prevails, and so far has been successful. The district until recently boasted the biggest school, and the largest attendance in the Ohura County. The rapid progress of Mangaroa of late now leaves the school in second place. However, the attendance has not fallen off, and the school still retains its status as a two-teacher school. Mr Bicheno has been head teacher for rome years, and takes an active interest in agricultural work. In connection with the school Mr Bicheno has a fine experimental garden in which pupils and parents both take a keen interest. A speciality of the garden is the experiments being conducted as regards the most suitable root crops and grasses for the district. This work is proving of good benefit to the district, and alreadj a number of farmers have benefited considerably by the. results of the work carried out The school garden in the Auckland Education Board competitions tied for first place during last year, and Mr Bicheno, his assistant, and pupils are tu be congratulated on the success attained.