TE KUITI TO MAROKOPA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 556, 5 April 1913, Page 3

TE KUITI TO MAROKOPA.

(Touring Corrsepondent.) Accompanied by several Te Kuiti residents I recently paid my first visit to the Marokopa district and must admit from the time we left Te Kuiti until the moment of our return, the journey was an entirely pleasurable one, which opinion was shared by the whole party. A somewhat late start was made from Te Kuiti, so the firfit day's journey was necessarily a short one. The party had the good fortune to be accompanied as far as Mairoa by a resident of that district, who pointed out the beauty spots en route. All were impressed by the healthy appearance of the country passed through at Oparure and the Mairoa. A halt was made at Mr Francis's residence where most acceptable refreshments were dispensed. The Mairoa country is looking very well indeed, and paddocks, where three sheep to the acre have been grazing for some .months past, still showed abundance of feed. The first day's journey ended at Ngapaenga. A portion of the party were kindly accommodated by Mr T. Porter, another portion sought and found a hospitable shelter under the roof of Mr J. Troup, The fine properties of Messrs Porter and Troup having been inspected, a start was made for Marokopa via the Kairimu track. The scenery practically the whole way from Ngapaenga to Marokopa is indeed very beautiful. As one rose from the misty valley to the top of the saddle, where the sun burst forth, one was impressed with the beauty of the surrounding country, and more than one member of the party was impelled to burst into poetry and song. During the descent one or two obstacles were met with in the way of trees which had fallen over the track during the night, but ingenuity and dogged pluck will overcome much, and these obstacles (in one case a rata at least six feet through), were scientifically negotiated. On arriving at Marokopa the town was found to be en fete, the holding.of the annual sports meeting being responsible for the large number of settlers, and others, who had gathered together in Mr Stanley's paddock. The ground selected was an ideal one for such a„ gathering, and one soon realised that keen sportsmen were contesting the various events on the programme, and that experienced officials hpld the reins of government. In the evening, although bespattered with mud one was allowed to witness a delightful social held in the Town Hall. The many bright faces and pretty costumes seen occupying the floor, keeping perfect time with the excellent music provided, showed that dancing at least was not a ''lost art" at Marokopa. The hospitality extended to the party during their brief stay in Marokopa was much appreciated. "Mine Host" Willison, of the Marokopa boarding house, and others, doing all in their power to make the visit a pleasurable one. A trip by launch up the Marokopa river as far as the butter factory, over which the party were kindly shown by the manager, was thoroughly appreciated, the scenery, in the opinion of several present, compared most favourably with that met with on the Wanganui river. The return journey was made via Te Anga, Waitomo and Hangatiki. The scenery again met with was extremely fine, the Te Anga Falls be- . ing particularly striking, and worth going a long way to see. The sometimes road-sometimes-traek was in good order, and afforded comfortable travelling. The rich land passed through, owned by Messrs Haylock Bros., and also Messrs Vicary's property were much admired, and one could easily imagine that in the near future the dairying industry in this great district would indeed grow and prosper. The properties owned by Messrs Wratten, Kilminster, W. Johnston, and in fact all the improved properties seen from the road appeared in good heart, and it was easy to realise the possibilities of this portion of the King Country. If the people of Te Kuiti realised the fact that magnificent scenery was to be met with, close at hand, summer trips of the nature described would be more frequently undertaken.