OTAMATEA COUNTY

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 February 1915, Page 3

OTAMATEA COUNTY

MATAKOHE EACES — A SPLENDID OUTING An Immense Orchard Company CAPITAL ALL-RIVER TRIP FROM HELENSVILLE Tby our own special] BEFORE proceeding, your Echo special tliinks'it a pity the large centre of Helensville does not fraternise or associate with its distant neighbours more, or even learn something about thg lay of the country* and its settlers, who are all in the same swim, to cultivate the earth, grow beef and mutton, and milk the cows for their butter-fat all they know —just, for a quiet living. But we hope for better times, and that our: people here will stir themselves and know things.

Leaving in the not too roomy but comfortable K. S. S. Co's Turangi (Captain Ross), chief engineer Hughes, and Mr P. Megson, steward, with a full ship but fortunately no ladies, as the stewardess was away on a holiday, we took the handcuffs off the piles on Thursday morning, February 14, and steaming out through the winding river which surrounds the larger portion of Helensville township, soon got into the placid waters of the Kaipara River. THE SCENERY The scenery is certainly not " great" to one who has resided in the Bay of Islands and made many sea trips from Auckland-Whangarei-Russell - WhangaroaMangonui and Parenga. However, there are a few interesting spots worthy of note. After passing the South Head of the Kaipara (Pouto Point), and right on past the Wharehine country with the almost blind entrance to Port Albert on our starboard and thence on a few miles we enter the Otamatea River with the large block of land once known as Fitzgerald's Estate on the same side, and Kumete Bluff on our port. IMMENSE FRUIT INDUSTRY Both these blocks of land on each side of the River, contain ing some 18,000 acres, are now being operated upon by the Kumete Fruit Lands Development Company Ltd., with head offices in Wellington. There happened to be on board with us Mr J. H. Thorp, supervisor, who willingly supplied the ECHO with much interesting and valable information. Their capital is £40,000, and the Company's two estates on both sides of the river, so far, comprise 14,000 acres of good, second-class land. Their export point will eventually be the landing near the Otamatea railway station. 15 miles up the River. Last year no less than two miles of pine trees were closely planted, and in the meantime while they are growing for shelter, ploughing, harrowing, etc., is proceeding preparatory to the planting of 20,000 fruit trees from Hawse's Bay (principally apples and pears), during the coming season. The manager's house and several small cottages for workers and families are already in evidence, whilst others are in course of construction ; and a number of workmen will shortly be advertised for in the ECHO. It is almost needless to say here what all this means to the whole district as regards the fruit industry and progress. SETTLEMENTS Going up the river the old settlement of Batley, with Bickersta'ff at the hack, i s reached. A number of farm implements and machines were on the long and spacious wharf, to be transported inland, The old fish-tinning factory is still lying idle, but from information received, work will soon be resumed by another company. A mile or two of nets were hanging out to dry, and a number of fishermen are still engaged. Mullet is the principal fish, and they abound in millions for many miles around. ■•■■.• MOVING AHEAD. The Wha.kapaparau Dairy Co's factory is opposite Batley, and has a long wharf running out for steamer and small craft convenience. The cream is brought from many distant settlements. The Pahi'iy our next "wharf of call." Here is a large and commodious two - storey hotel, kept by Mr Ryan, and a large store run by Mr Chad wick, both i old settlers of the' place. There jis a growing settlement at the hack and the whole country I hereabouts and "fqr many miles | around is decidedly good, if not first-class. Bush is scarce, hut pines abound, everywhere. The tide was fast running out, "to low," therefore we were stuck in the mud, as it were, until midnight, when a fresh' start was made for our terminus, Matako^e,

which is just about six or eight miles farther on. MATAKOHE EACES 1 was disappointed at not being able to get to Paparoa, a distance of perhaps 10 miles, as the Races were scheduled for the day. These proved to be' very interesting and successful. The weather - was glorious, and the attendance most surprisingly large, people from Dargaville, Whangarei, Paparoa, and elsewhere, arriving in their motor cars, buggies, and on horse-back. The ladies were present in goodly numbers, and the large grand" stand was well patronised by one and all. There being no tote on the ground made things somewhat dull at times, but sports will have their *' little bit on," and they [but it is not

for the writer to say]. There were plenty of men present from Auckland with their games of chance or skill, I scarcely know which. But one or the other was certainly played „on board the Turangi during the first night of her run down, as the steward, who has no safe place for storage, had several bottles of whisky stolen.

Our genial Member, Mr J. Gordon Coates, was absent through a severe attack of influenza.

Mr G. Gallic, secretary and handicapperyhad his work cut, out but got through handsomely; while Judge J. M. Metcalfe and Starter T. J. Stewart carried out their several duties satisfactorily. There were some large fields and close finishes. No space available for particulars. A settler close handy (Mr J. M. Downey) catered very generously for the public, supplying tea, sandwiches, cakes, etc., in galore at 1/ a head. The Committee is a large one, all good sports, while the Club, known as the Otamatea Racing Club, is an old one, possessing a really good course of nearly a mile in circumference THE EVENTS—FRIDAY, FEB. 5 Maiden Plate,—Myrtle, 1, Tokatoka 2, Golden Bell 3. Myrtle was never headed, and won easily, the second and third horses being separated by two lengths. North Kaipara Handicap.—Nildah 1, Matakana 2, Roseberry 3. Won by a neck. Otamatea Cup.—Miss Avalanche 1, Matakana 2, Valdinoy 3. Also started : Bully and Myrtle. Won easily. Ladies' Bracelet.—Myrtle 1, Dolly Clements 2, Golden Bell 3. Maungaturoto Handicap. — Miss Avalanche 1, Master Hilda 2, Theresa 3. Won by two lengths. Flying Stakes' Handicap— Vladinoy 1, Nildah 2, Tokatoka 3. Won easily. Matakohe Welter Handicap. — Matakana 1, Miss Avalanche 2, Regain 3. Won by a length. THE RETURN As the Otamatea is a tidal river, our boat could not make a start on her return journey until mid-night, arriving at Helensville a? 7 o'clock sharp next morning, Saturday 6th inst., and just in time for most passengers "who toil not, neither do they spin," unless it is a game with longodds on the spinner, to catch train for Auckland. * The next trip I take to the Races, I hope to be in the company of "workers,"