THE UPPER MANAWATU.

Manawatu Herald, 16 November 1880, Page 2

THE UPPER MANAWATU.

[Notes hy a Thavkixeb] A description of the county we lire in might b'j interesting to some of your renders. I shall confine myself to the upper Or north end nf it for the present. I am persuaded that there are hundred* in this county who know little or nothing about its quality, or its Ciipubility to carry a large population, and there nro thousands out of it who mow less ; and hence it is that I feel called upon in some ft'eble mcasuie to wive at any rate nn outline by which it may be judged of I may say that until 1 travelled from KeiMiiij; «o the Gorgo via Cheltenham, and from Feilditig to the Kiwitea Block, and thence to the R> tigiiikei liiver, I had no idea whutevei of the character or progress of this part of 'he county, and this fact led mo to the couclusion that many others might know equally little on the Hamo subject. I also felt ns-im-d when I Unversed these several roads that iC the outside world only knew tint there was such fir.o country available for Kefth'^eut on ?uch easy terms —as much of it is — it would not l>e the Waimute Plains or nr.y other plains in an unsettled country, at foi r or five pounds an aero, (h»t would attract them fiom this county, when; they have all the advantages «f good in* -1-allml roads nnd settlers on all aides; and that, too, within easy distance of Br>ro<>ph towns, where all articles m-cessnry for v thrifty settler can be ob uined nt reasonable p ice*. W'l', Sir, I will mn rapidly through my description, lest my notes be too long for inspition. First, from Feili : in<» to a point where the SfaUino and Kiwitea Roarts diverge, is a distance of ten miles. On each lido of this line m»y he seen a row of houses, situated in clearings of various sizes, and many of them planted with ornamental tree", nnd vitj nice garden* in various Btage9 of progress. The land for the most part is undulating, or undulating regular slopes, nnd is evidently of the beat quality, as shown by the grars and crops that grow on it. At the divergence of tho abovenamed roads there is a natural clearing of a considerable extent. Thin is called the " Brethren Clearing," nnd will probably take the Mmpe of a towns-hip nomo day or other. There are eevrral good fwrtn bouses round this clearing, and signs of industry and progress are visible in all directions.

Then from this point to the Rangitikei river is p distance of sir miles. On each side of the road mny be aeon houiJ es, clearing*, and gardens similar to that above described. Both these roads are metalled and in a good state of -repair, -and on both ruads there is a good, supply °f useful bush, consisting principally of white nnd red pine, nifttoi. and a small sprinkling of totari*. On tfcp road line leading from Feilding to Ashing, or the Gorge, there is not quite so, much wojj: done in the shape of building, clearing, sc. When you loave Feilding, you travel along tho Cheltenham Road for a distance of about four miles, when you come to a road leading off to the right, which takes you to ABhurPt, the whole distance bt-ing seventeen miles, through a splendid piece of bush country, part of which is light and mipht ba easily cleared. whil« the o»h«r part is heavy and well suited for sawing purposes. This part of the country only wants seeing to be appreciated, and th« prices aiked by those of the settlers who wish to. sell seemed to me to be reasonable, and would pay any intending purchaser. The prices quoted are from £3 to^ £f per acre, according to the amount of improvements. I know of one magnificent farm in particular for which £5 per acre is asked, and which is well improved, and tnoßtly Bown in English grass and partly fenced, which I should imagine well worth £10 per acre in ordinary good times. If those good people who spend their money in unimproved baok country only paid r visit through this part of the Manawatu County, I feel assured thej' would profit by the experiment.