To THE Editor OF THE Nelson Evening Mail.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 125, 26 May 1873, Page 2

To THE Editor OF THE Nelson Evening Mail.

Sir—ln spite of your somewhat sneering article on the efforts of the zealous " financsal reformer " and the zeal of the new members to " win their spurs," the public are glad (though from a somewhat different point of view to your own) that such a report has been made. In addition to the extravagant travelling expenses, the questionable expense of the AntiSeparation Committee, and other small matters hidden under the cloak of 'miscellaneous,' ' contingencies,' &c, the majority of people out of doors still think that at least ten per cent, could 'have been struck off from all salaries above £200 ayear. As it is, let us be thankful that even £1500 has been saved. It may as well be mentioned now that the votes of some of the members (from whom better things were expected) are carefully noted and will be produced at the next election. I allude particularly to the votes of one of the members for the city, of the member for Waimea West and Moutere, and one of the members for Motueka. It is hoped that this is the last time that these men will be allowed to insult their constituents by their votes in the Council. Yours, &c, - An Elector, P.S.—A new Council perhaps will look more to their constituents' welfare than the present, which t is certainly the worst and most pliable one that has ever disgraced Nelson.

THE WAIKATO FOR SETTLEMENT TO THE EDITOK OF THE NELSOff EVENING MAIL. Sie,— Many questions having been put to me since my return to Nelson from the Waikato and Tauranga districts, and hearing that several young men in the Waimeas are anxious to know my opinion of the country preparatory to leaving Nelson with their families, I take the liberty of troubling you with this" letter. You are probably aware, sir, that my occupation for many years in the Waimeas has been threshing by steam power. Seeing in the telegraphic intelligence about four months ago that Mr Bridgman of Waikato had grown 50 bushels of wheat to the acre, induced me to go and see the country, and asoartain personally its requirements before deciding to take machinery to assist tha farmers in the profitable cultivation of their land. I landed at Onehunga on the 12th of March, went on to Auckland, and made many inquiries there relative to the Waikato. With a few exceptions, the information I received was of such an encouraging nature that I called on a firm to make arrangements for sending for a steam threshing machine. On conversing with a corn-dealer, Mr Hinks, I was told there was not much grain of any kind grown in the province; also, that they (the dealers) regularly supplied the farmers with oats for their green crop?, as the oats grown in Auckland were not fit for seed, and that nearly all the grain consumed in the province was imported. On this information, I determined to see the country and ascertain personally what were its inducements for me to settle there before sending for machinery. I left Auckland in company with a settler from the Upper Waikato district. The land to Oiahuhu is some of the best in the province for growing grass, and many of the homesteads there, if taken as a criterion by a stranger contemplating settling in the country, would be all one could desire, but I advise all intending settlers to go a few miles further to Papatoitoi. From this place to Papakura, only twenty miles from Auckland, the country for miles around is nearly all in its primitive state, covered with scrub, manuka, or tea tree and fern. On conversing with an old settler of twenty years standing at Papakura, he assured me no machine was wanted there, as they could Dot grow any kind of grain, nor yet even a crop of grass, without sowing from seven to nine bushels of bone dust to the acre, and this has to be repeated about every five years. This statement was corroborated by both male and female residents, and on my asking how the people lived, or rather existed, one said "the best way they could," another, '/that they lived on rice and burgoo." I think, sir, that any comment of mine is unnecessary. Our second day's journey brought us to Mercer, Point Russell, in the Waikato river, 40 miles from Auckland. I had been informed that a machine was required at this plac£, as the farmers had a limited time allowed them to thresh their corn. I found, however, there was no grain grown within 20 miles of the place, so much for the truth of the information a stranger may expect from those whose object it is to get settlers into the country, I was told by residents on the way that, the land would not grow wheat, and on my remarking that where grass would grow, as I saw it on the slope of a " razor-back " hill, I should think any grain would grow, the answer was, "it might now, but there were ten bushefs of bone dust sown to the acre, where you see that grass growing." From the remains of what was once a good fence on. many places abutting on the road, and the dilapidated buildings to be seen, it appeared to me that an attempt had been made by some energetic men with means at their command to make a home and failed, as all was going to ruin; this was within 35 miles of the City of Auckland. At the Queen's Redoubtthe land is more level, but it looked poorer, than any I bad yet seen. I was given to understand that it was a small farm settlement for poor immigrants ;' if true, a life time of toil is before them and the returns is very uncertain. To the left, eastward of the redoubt, a swamp extends for miles, but it is valueless, its level being |very little above the Waikato river, and at times inundated to a considerable extent ; there is no drainage. I expected to see some fine country beyond this, as Mr Aiken, Land Agent, Auckland, informed me that the land marked "Meremere" hills on the plan only required cultivation to -produce anything, but the people were too lazy to work it. Now, Sir, I found that from Mercer- to Rangariri, a distance of 16 miles, the appearance of the country for miles on. either side >of the road was similar to our Moutere Hilla. No better, and could not be much worse for agricultural purposes. Buyers of land beware of the Auckland land agents, and ascertain from a personal inspection what you are buying before you part with your money. From Rangariri to the coalpits, a distance of 12 to 14 miles, the land is better, being of a. sandy alluvial, nature; portions of it have been cultivated, but all are now forsaken ; this was our third day's resting place. We started the next day for Cambridge, 105 miles from Auckland, and the eastward boundary on the confiscated lands, and on turning tfie bend of the Waikato river, above the coalpits, an extensive plain opens to view of from 30 to 40 miles square. The land at Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, and Cambridge is all of the same nature, more or less, a light alluvial sandy soil. The swamps consists of pipeclay or rushy bog. On the right hand side of the road bejtween Ngaruawahia and Hamilton, I saw more than one deserted homestead, the dwelling houses possessed some preventions of respectability even in their desolation, but the fences and the outbuildings were a wreck, and all I could ascertain about the places was that the owners had held on while they had the means to do so, but at

last had to leave, as the land would not support them. Between Hamilton and Cambridge there are a few good farms, one in particular belonging to a Mr Reynolds, consisting of 600 acres, is the beet in the country. I- anw hay, grass, and root crops, but no grain; the land. waß well stocked with cattle, all looked in excellent condition, r and plenty of feed* I staid ,two days 'atJ Cambridge making all inquiries from the settlers I visited as to what they were enabled to produce; wheat tolerably well; indifferently; barley, none at all. Grass and rootcrops are the principal things grown. AMr Kirkwood has imported here, this season a small 6-horsa power threshing machine of Ransomes, Sims, and Head, Ipswich. I met several gentlemen who were deairou3 of settling here, but were diffident on account of the unsatisfactory state of native affairs. I went to Douglas and Walker's Station, across a swamp of 15,000 acres, came" to Rangiawhia, ihence to Te Amamutu, Kiki, Orakau, Patarangi, and chapu. At these places I found the land was better on the whole than any I had seen before. I called on Mr Bridgman at Te Awamutu. The 50 bushels of wheat grown to the acre (of which I have a sample) was correct, but there were only two acres of it. Seven acres grown by his father yielded 30 bushels to the acre. There are hundred of acres" in this district that I think, with proper cultivation, might yield an average of from 25 to 35 bushels per acre. I next went to Alexandra, the nearest settlement to the western boundary of the confiscated line. Whata-whata, a small settlement on the Waipa River, between Alexandra and Ngaruawabia, a miserable and forsaken place, and like many others in the Waikato, will not for many years to come offer sufficient inducement for parties to settle there, 'the land being of such a light, sautiy nature, that, to use a Settlor's expression, "If it rains for a week, it is all gone in ah hour," and the country is all of the same description until you arrive at Ngaruawahia. Te A;wamutu is in my opinion the centre of the best land for agricultural purposes of any I saw daring my journey, but the expense of cultivation will, for many years prevenj its becoming a graingrowing country, even if the land proves capable, aa it is too rough, being a succession of low hills, or downs, on the whole too steep for advantageously working mowing and reaping machines. Orakaw, Ki-ki, , and Rangiawhia to the south and east ; Ohapu, Pataranga, and Alexandra to the north and west, a district of about 14 miles square, is generally of the same nature; but a finer country for sheep and cattle grazing no one could desire. . In planting potatoes, it is customary to break up two furrows, on the sides of a grass paddock, plant the seed,, plough three, furrows, plant again, and so on ; the grass is considered necessary to the production of a good crop. This method of cultivation will prove to agriculturalists the lightness and quality of the soil. In returning. I came to Ohapu. This is the German settlement, a second Moutere, and about twelve or fourteen miles from/Hamilton. The country betwixt Ohapu and Hamilton, is more sandythan towards Cambridge, being a mixture of pipeclay and quicksand. For miles the vegetation consists of stunted fern and manuka, but no grass anywhere. A rabbit might find food, but no other animal.. As you near Hamilton, the soil becomes better, but too light for growing grain, and orily suitable for grass, or, by. manuring, root crops. I have now endeavored to describe the country through which I have passed,, and in answer to the many enquiries as to why I would not recommend young men to go the Waikato,in the Ist place, it is not what it is represented to be, or why is it that the • greater portion of the wheat ground at ■the Steam Flour Mills at the Ngaruawahia, 90 miles up the Waikato, is imported from Canterbury — so I was informed by the manager;; also^ that nine-tenths of the oats used in the country by the Mounted. Constabulary, carters, and packmen, and even by the farmers themselves, are imported from other places. Freights up the river, are TOs per ton, which is a eonv'inciiig 5 proof to me, that the land in the Waikato is not what it is represented, or that the settlers are too indifferent, or lazy to cultivate it. Barley cannot be grown, because) of ; the;caterpillars; root crops in some places do well, as also rye-grass, cowgrass, red and Dutch clover; but in all cases the land must be broken and exposed for a length of time ere it will produce a crop of; anything, there is comparatively no s: nojtiye .grass, in the country. My second objection is, the great difficulty in obtaining land worth having.. Land Agents" will tell you they have plenty of good land-, and. when you see it you find what a,, great mistake they made. This will 1 be' understood when I state that of the three allotments recommended to me. as desirable ■ investments, the first was a swamp'; the second a deep gorge, and the third a hillside. There are parcels of good land obtainable in 50 acre allotments (military settlers), but the owners are not to be found. Again, fencing is scarce and dear; white pine posts and rails, 50s per^ J00; purjiri or totara posts, 80s per 100, or Is each; firewood, white pine, 5s per ton?.of 40 feet in the bush. Very few require labor, and unless you have means to support you for two or three years until you get some returns, you had better stay in Nelson. 7 I saw many who had spent their 'ail| ' and expressed their desire to lea've'the country but could not. My last, and 1 .greatest objection is, the insecurity existing to persons living in the outlying districts. The Government may circulate any reports they please, their papers may publish extravagant accounts of the country, and of the peaceful relations existing between the two races, but the fact remains the same, it is"all hyperbole. If my statements are unsatisfactory to some, I would advise such

to spend a fortnight on the frontier, as I'have done, and ascertain for themselves if id would be advisable to take a family into so unsettled a district. The only reason why the natives assume a peaceful disposition towards Europeans is, that any aggression on their part will certainly in the end entail heavy loss to themselves in the confiscation of more territory, their policy is therefore to profess a friendly feeling towards us, to serve their own ' interest. Peace there cannot be until perfect confidence exists between the two races. I left Hamilton for Mercer, returning by the river in the p.s. " Bluenose," returning to Auckland by Cobb's . coach, over 40 miles of the beßt road in the country. Before returning to Nelson I wai persuaded to visit Tauranga on the East Coast ; it is a pretty place, and in extent about the size of the Waimeas, but I saw nothing that would induce me to settle there, or advise others to do so. There were several hundred bushels of wheat grown in the district last season, but chiefly by the natives. The land, on the whole, I consider better than the Waikato, but though sold for miles beyond the Gate Pah there is only one settler. South of it, towards Oripe, is a succession of hills, or downs, but more easily cultivated than the land at Te Awamutu, as the downs are not bo steep, though the land is heavier, and more suitable for cereals. On my- inquiring how the people existed, I was told that Government kept the place going by the.? expenditure in connection with the Mounted Constabulary, other officials, and road "making. On asking why so few settlers were located in the outlying districts, I was told that no dependence could be placed on the friendship professed by the natives. Io conclusion, Sir, I believe there are thousands of acres of land in the two districts, suitable for general, farming purposes, but until settlers can feel perfectly secure in their holdings, the capabilities of the country will not be known, and I hope that the Government will soon put a stop to the temporising policy hitherto practised towards the native race, and that the peace and security so often boasted of may be an accomplished fact. lam, &c., S. E. Gapper.