A TRIP THROUGH MAIROA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 604, 20 September 1913, Page 7

A TRIP THROUGH MAIROA.

PROGRESS OF DISTRICT. THE PUNGAREHU ROAD. The sections comprising the district known as the Mairoa wire amonc; the first to be op-niad in this part of tha King Country. It ia now about twelve years since tho first rccliona were thrown open, and progress throughout the district has continued steadily since that period. For several years access to the Mairoa was obtained by tho Pio Pio-Mairoa road, but as a resuit of continued agitation by the settlers the Government was induced to tske a road further to the north,and leading elmost directly towards Te Kuiti. It is now soma,years since the Arapae ruatl was laid off and the wisdom of the step is apparent. In addi* tion to opening up a considerable amount of very fine country the journey by this vrivi as compared with the old route is shortened by at least ten or twelve miles. Before the formation of the Arapas road was completed the Mairoa settlers promoted a bitf raetallirg lean and the Arapae was naturally the road chosen to give permanent access to the district. The contracts for metalling the Arapae from Te Kuiti to the Mairoa junction have been in hand for two seasons and the end of the present summer should see the completion of the work. On the Ivlan-oa and Ngapaenga roads taa greater portion of the metalling has been completed while on the Pungarehu road tha metal has been laid for a mile. In order to complete the chain ox metal road to Waitanguru the Pungarehu settlers are nu-.v promoting a further loan,a>.:d this summer phuuld see the metalling completed in order to provide proper access for the settlers"tu the Waitaiv ;4uru dairy factory. A feature of the district is the prodigal supply of good metal. A great portion of the district is limestone conutry and outcrops of good stone are to be seen at frequent intervals on the road. In many piacea also aro found large deposits of rubble rock the suitability of which for installing purposes is becoming widely recognised. The rubble ia considered by many to °be superior to limestone, and granted its durability there is no doubt the rubble makes a beautifully smooth road. The Pungarehu is the shortsDt route tcrWaitahguru and ever it will be carted the output from the fectory. The class of country opened up by the Arapae road is excellent, ample evidence to its fertility being offered by the manner in which it is being brought into grass. The properties of Messrs Thomasen Bros , H. Boddie and R. M. Somerviile, which are looking in really good heart, and both sheep and cattle bear evidence of having wintered well As the road ascends the country becomes somewhat rougher for some distance, but when Messrs Naiah and Chapman's property is reached the view opens out somewhat and the real nature of the country is observe! Beautiful limestone downs carrying a splendid sole of grass are to be seen on both sides of the road, Mr J. Francis having the property opposite to that of Messrs Naish and Chapman. At present the land is carrying sheep, but it ia nearly all suitable for dairying, and as the industry extends in the district there i 3 r.o doubt this portion of the Mairoa Will be given over to the .production oc butter instead of wool. Adjoining, the Mairoa township are the properties of Messrs W. A. Tboms and Chestnut •at the corner of the Pungarehu road. They consist of a similar class of fine limestone bush country and are in excellent heart. Further on the country on the Pungarehu becomes of a somewhat lighter character the frontage of Messrs Spmerfield,|Mitchell and'H. Voyce's sections consisting of manuka country. Mr Voyee has stumped and ploughed portions of hi? frontage and the manner in which the land has come into pasture conveys some idea cfi is fertility. Towards Waitanguru lie the properties of Messrs Cole, Armstrong,Larsen,Quinlan, and Richardson ali of which have been brought in to a large extent, while the sections of Messrs Murray and Jones give some idea of the sui'ability nf the country for dairying The road approarhing the factory bears out the proverbial saying of the bush that the better' the land the worst; the road, and considerable attention will requuire to be devoted to this portion in order to prepare it to carry the traffic Surrounding the factory are the properties of Messrs Frederiksen, Jackson, Buckley and Thomas, and there is ample evidence on ail that the cream supplies will be drawn from right up to the factory dojr. Ther*e is no doubt the factory occupies the most suitable position in the district, and supp ies will be drawn from a wide soruce. from Mairoa, Ngapaenga, and Mangaoiaki, to say nothing of the yet uncompleted Maire road, all converge at Waitanguru, and the scope of country thus served ia enormous. The usual pioneering difficulties confront the factory promoters, but with the metalling pushed ahead reasonably there can be no doubt of the ultimate success of the concern, and the rapid growth of dairying in the district. The factory is being Btarted with about five hundred cows guaran teed, and this number will probably bs exceeded in the first season, while th re is little doubt the figures can be doubled at a very early date. The factory is thoroughly Well equipped, the machinery having been inptallerJ by Messrs Meson, Strutherj, Ltd. The plant is thoroughly t;p-to-ciat2 in every respect, and is designed iu deal with homa-separated civ-i:;.! ;:•]!;,-. Frcm the receiving vat to the i-hwrA-ir.K room the crewn; * 1 process u? uastem'isauo:'; and sw■ftiny: en the most nirjcer:; pwiudple arjd the factory Is equipped with a tin.? freezing chamber c?.p:.,die oc ;::orino; from eia;hl to ten to:;a of butter. Thin storage capacity will r:revs highly valuable to thfi j'T.ci ;ry wr a few seasons until i\:3 vj'iils, aw; metalled and ii;aii;irii!a:.', :-» ;.u; lo allow of the i;ec-asary supply faeiijy taken to tho railway. The factory reflects credit

° n Kuiti, and e<:ee' c ick, V7hils the :ii fcbers, Ltd , is auincrent the quality ol' the machinery TwPBB gethsr she propsonts are of the brightest, and i;; the course of a very few 3esis= p.b the settlers will have reason to eongrr.filiate themselves ou establishin;- an industry vrhich in essentially associated with the eloee settlement oil the Dominion. Atlec all. close settlement is Uie cmly ixu'rhcd of dissipating the isolation of the bad; blocks.