THROUGH THE BACKBLOCKS.
TANGITU SETTLEMENT
(Special Commissioner.)
The Improved Farm settlement of Tangitu, of which so much has been heard of late regarding the unspeakable road which is supposed to give it access to the railway, is situated at the nearest point eight miles from Waimiha railway station. The blockcontains about 14,000 acre 3 and is subdivided into 88 sections, carrying a popualtion of over 500 souls It is r.ow approximately three years since the land was put on the market, and a little over a year since the full complement of population arrived. The block on the whole is a splendid piece of country, and is without doubt a creditable testimony to the Taranaki Land Board for their choice in picking the block for close settlement. There are 3455 acres of Crown land still to be settled, 1513 acres of which lies between the Mokauiti and Mapiu streams; 1673 acres south of the Mangaiti Valley and east of Mapiu, and 269 acres near Tanigtu. These areas, if cut up into similar sized farms as are found at present, would mean another 20 settlers in the block. On the road from Waimiha to the settlement all along the line are now to be found settlers busily engaged in improving their farms. Approaching the settlement a number of sections of an average of about 250 acres were put on the market by the Waikato-Maniapoto Maori Land Board at the beginning of last winter. The land is heavily timbered, and is easy, rolling county of a first-class quality, an equal to anything in the district. 'A number of the lessees got down a fair amount of bush during the winter months, and like many others in the district have been very unfortunate as regards their burns.
MAPIU. At Tangitu is to' be found the point where the various main roads run to the different parts of the block —to Mapiu, Mangaiti and Mokauiti. Following in the direction of Mapiu some good country is gone through. Here and there, on thu low lying flats occasional strips of pumice are encountered but, nevertheless, these flats show that they have good grass growing properties. There seems to be a considerable difference in the quality of pumice land where heavy bush has grown, than to this class of country found in the open fern lands. However, on the road to Mapiu the pumice land to be found is of very little moment. It is four miles from the junction to the township and good improvements are to be witnessed on all sides. In this part of the block several acres of bush were felled during the past season, and many have had the misfortune to have anything but satisfactory burns, although one or two were fortunate enough to get very good fires through their bush. This part of the country is being dealt with vigorously by settlers with the idea of being able to milk as many cows as possible at the earliest date. A few of the settlers in that locality did commence milking for the Te Kuiti factory this season, but owing to the bad condition of the main road had to discontinue. The township site is in a very central position, and is a piecß of fine fiat country, and when required should prove a very good locality for the future needs of the settlement. The school will be erected at this place, and will be a central position for the attendance of a large number of children.
MANGAITI. After leaving the township some good country is passed through until reaching Tatu junction. From this point entrance is made into the Man gaiti Valley. For a little way the country is inclined to be a little rougher, after which a fair amount of open country is to be seen for a couple of miles, and is in the most part ploughable. The soil along this distance is of a light, loamy nature, and that portion of it which has been laid down in grass has every appearance of land well adapted for clovers and cocksfoot. Continuing on this route a fine valley opens uti with rich flats, and easy rolling country. It is a beautiful piece of country, and is equal to anything to be found in any part of the district. Lying nicely to the sun it is a warm valley and stock do particularly well. A part of this portion of the valley is suitable for agricultural purposes, and here and there are to be seen where settlers have taken care to secure crops of hay. An occasional patch of turnips is to be seen, and judging by the aspect presented, farmers will have little difficulty in making certain of having splendid crups for winter fodder, that is, provided seasons are favourable. This valley bids fair to give a good account uf itself when the dairying industry is established. Several farmers in that locality have been milking cows this season with excellent results. The country right through the valley to the Tata road is of a similar kind. From the Tata road back to tne junction of the main road the country is slightly rough, but is in all cases, from fair to good, and adaptable for dairying. There is also a school situated in the valley and is of great convenience to settlers. MOKAUITI. Going back to Tanigtu, and following the road to Mokauiti for the first few miles it is heavy bush, and inclined in places to be a little steep. On arrival at the top of the hill, and looking in the direction of Aria are to be seen thousands of acres of good rolling country and rich Hats. Of course, the whole expanse of country viewed from this point does not belong to the Tangitu block but a fine big holding of Messrs Eriksson arid McDonald is contiguous, and without doubt, can be classified as Mokauiti for the reason
that the development of this fine run ia adjoining the well settled portion of Mokauiti-Tanigtu, and is in the interest of all concerned. Thess farm 3 that are being brought into a state of productiveness brings hack to memory the imprudence of legislation that allows people to hold equally aj good land as the Tangitu settlers, and Messrs Eriksson and McDonald without producing a blade of grass. The speculator has a big hold on this line area, of country, and the most annoying part of the performance is (but. he iies low, and allows those who have a say in the country's government to imagine and classify their lands because they are to be seen in their wild state, as native lands.
After descending from the top of Tanigtu hill into the valley une is struck immediately with the idea of the tine future settlers will have when this land is brought into productivity There are a large number "f settlers in this valley, which contains a number of rich flats, capable in the future of intense cultivation. A movement has been on.foot for some little time to erect a dairy factory, but owinp: to the lack of access thf matter has been abandoned for the present. A site for the factory has been secured, but in the meantime other arrangements have been made. In the Ramaroa part of the valley there are a number of settlers, and the country along this line is mostly heavily timbered, and of first-class quality, and will all be dairyed on. Mokauiti boasts ,of having the largest number of children attending school in the block.
ROADS. Although tha Tangitu settlement comprises good land capable of an enormous output of produce, and has settlers willing to do that work, the district is se-verp.ly handicapped in many ways by the scandalous condition of roads from the beginning of the sett'ement right up to the present time. Some people might think at times that these cries are exaggerated, but I can safely say that, after considerable experience of not only King Country roads, but in other places where conditions have been classified as bad, that I have never encountered such a road as the main thoroughfare from Waimiha'railway station to the beginning of the block. There had been a considerable amount of dry weather experienced when I passed over it, and then it was indescribable. In mentioning the matter to settlers they considered tha then condition as good, in comparison to what they experienced during the winter season. It was not really necessary to describe what it was during that time for anyone with half an eve could imagine that horrible picture of settlers battling over with food for their wives and families in the wilderness, for nothing else could it be termed. Ruts where horses had been ploughing through were plainly visible, and could be classed on the average of being 3ft 6in deep. The road during the wet season was nothing short of a quagmire, and in places it was impossible for the horses to get through, consequently corduroys had to be resorted to in places considerably over a chain in length. Slips took places along many parts of the roaid and rendered it very narrow and dangerous. The hardship and isolation experienced by settlers has been absolutely of an outrageous kind and the trials endured beyond description. The cost of living has been enormous the freight in many cases being equal to' the cost of the goods. From Waimiha to Mapiu, a distance of twelve miles, the freight averages £5 per ton. and to various other points £lO. Several settlers commenced milking, but owing to the fearful road conditions had to discontinue. The attempt made by settlers to help themselves and get a return from their sections, despite adverse conditions, deserves credit. How they managed to get their cream through to the railway is a mystery, and would only be attempted by settlers such as these who have the plack and couragw to carve out a destiny„un the fontier of settlement. This main road ia the gireat essential for the success of the settlement, and the news that a substantial sum had been granted for the metalling and fascining of the road was gladly received by settlers. ' Now that the grant has been authorised the matter that remains is to have the work pushed on as expeditiously as possible, so that settlers may not have during the coming winter to experience such privaitons as has been their lot since the settlement of the block. Tne roads through the various part of the settlement have progressed fairly well during the past year, and are in good order, due no doubt to the fact that the traffic was not so heavy. About three weeks ago all tha men on the various roads were knocked off, with the exception of- the main road. This baa caused considerable discontent amongst settlers. It proved to be particularly hard this season for such a step to have been taken, because settlers have little or no work to do on their farms on account of being unable to burn their bush. Several settlers stated that the work they had done since they were last paid they would not get. the money for until the middle of April. It is to be honed that n continuation of road work through ibis important settlement will not be lost sight of, Colon roads at present the settlers depond for existence. The advent of the dairying at an early date demands that reading must be carried out systematically and continuously until such times as settlers will be able, to get their produce, to the market at the least possible cost as well as tlie necessaries of life equally as cheap. A very i a: nor tan L road that little or nothing has been done to ia the Ramaroa road. It is in a very bad condition, and a number of settlers along that way are being put to a great amount of inconvenience. One settler pointed out that he had been camped away from his section waiting for a burn so that he could have a suitable site to erect his home, said that there was a swamp
which it was impossible to oei ! through, and that when i in." ins n ; wore knocked off the road work > few weeks ago, the drain which ; would take away all the water was; j left uncompleted less ih:u: h:ill .i i chain avvav. it; is by acts of mis- ; management Fiieh ai this thai dissai is- ; faction is ease:'. On the r;tuu» u»;al there are to lu> seen many similar pieces of incompieie work. When tii- J men were stopp"d working the weathei had set in fair, and was the proper : time tai finish this drain, \\ !u o the i wonther breaks it will be aimer; mi- j possible to complete the work, and j the settlers concerned, will ha\e in; spend another winter <>f misery m J getting to and. from their homes. 'She matter appears to bo but; another exani|:le of the drawbacks attendant mi the. red tape system of departmentalism.
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King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 456, 13 April 1912, Page 3
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2,189THROUGH THE BACKBLOCKS. King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 456, 13 April 1912, Page 3
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