MAHAKIPAWA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147, 25 June 1914, Page 3

MAHAKIPAWA.

A VA&XEY OF PROMISE. {

It is -fAther astonishing to find how j Je\v Mariborough people—latter r year j 1-esitl.eixts, at any rate—have visited \ the rich and fertile Mahakipawa Val- j ley-, Avhidi lies pi-actically within an , houv's jburney from Picton by sea, | :and a little more, perhaps, by road. ; -©I late years, the stretch of magnih- s 'cent country which extends from the i 'Orove to the waters of the Pelorus . has once again been brought into prominence, not so much on account of j its gold-bearing fame, but by the j opening and cutting up of the cpun- J try, the excellence of the crops, and, | last but not least, the introduction of I "Her Majesty the Cow," and the cooperative principle of dealing with her payable products, I In years gone by, the valley was famed world-wide in name on account of its gold output. Thousands of men rushed to the fascinating scene, and won 'and loqt fortunes in quest of gold. The importance of Mahakipawa as a district, and as a close connection with Picton, is to-day realised more than ever, and a twice-daily service between Picton and the Grove is fast cementing the trade and friendly relations of the two centres. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, Oaptain Bowderi's steamer, the Gannet, has the running, while on the other days the Sounds Motor "Company maintains a similar and most appreciated service. The trip to the Grove is undertaken j well under the liour, and is a pleas- ! arable water journey in itself, while the fares are reasonable in the extreme. The service is worthy of better patronage by residents and visitors alike. The majority of people apparently are not aware of this daily service, or, /the number of passengers carried would be considerably larger,, particularly during the .summer months. However, the excursionist trade is. gradually but surely growing, and it must continue to do so as time goes on. A visitor to the valley a few months ago, who had not previously been over the ground was surprised at the extent of level land between the ranges, and tlie marvellous spectacle presented to view in the fully-ripened crops. As far as the eye could see / on either side of the main road, fields 'of oats and peas principally, with, occasional acres of wheat and barley stretched before him, and iho could understand why residents were so satisfied witli their lot. Harvesting was then in full operation, and the whole countryside presented a realistic picture of the farming industry. Although, the Valley has been cut up into smaller holdings of late years, there is still room for 'improvement in this respect, and one large propertyowner—Mrs t Gregg—intends to offer to the public on the first of next month some 725 acres of valuable dairying and agricultural land, in sections of convenient size. This is otic of the most valuable properties in the district, and if young farmers from other parts, in search of profitable lands, could only be persuaded to visit Mahakipawa, and see for themselves the quality of the lauds, ready sales would bo effected. Small farms in the North Island, especially in dairying districts—not to be compared with .those to be placed under offer at Mahakipawa—have been and are rushed by prospective clients who are willing and .anxious to carve out homes for themselves, and at prices that are astounding. Little do they know of the pickings yet to be obtained at a reasonable figure in one of (the prettiest and most fertile valleys in the country.. Dairyings too, has worked wonders for the Grove and Mahakipawa, but it is still in its infancy. Settlers are annually increasing their herds,, and are .fully satisfied with the returns obtainable from the co-operative factory. But this industry is only just starting, for the valley has a carrying capacity for thousands of cows where now there are only hundreds. In the month of January the Linkwater Dairy Company paid out between £500 and £(300 to a mere handful of suppliers for their December output, but, in the opinion of ait least :otne -dairyman, the district is j large and fertile enough to permit of iully four times that amount being | earned, if only the settlers would tackle (the industry in a whole-heart-jed manner, and make the most of the advantages a beneficent Nature has accorded them.

Mahakipawa is possessed of a comfortable and well-kept hotel, called the "Hotel Linkwater," where visitors may rely upon a hearty welcome from Mr and Mrs R. Storey, and comtor L able surroundings wliich are appreciated by the travelling public lhe house has been entirely renovated and refurnished of late, and compares more than favorably with any country hotel In the province. Mr and Mrs Storey are deservedly popular in tlie Valley, and so long as they are m charge of the hotel, old and iieiv mends may always rely upon homely and generous treatment.