STARTING NEW SURVEY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5541, 31 December 1878, Page 3

STARTING NEW SURVEY.

(From the Patca Mail, December 28.)

On Tuesday, the 17th December, Mr. W. Williams, Land Purchase Commissioner, left Carlyle for the purpose of formally starting the survey of the Kaitangiwhenua Block, comprising about 200,000 acres lying between the Waitotara and Whenuakura Rivers, lately purchased for the Government. We have gathered the following particulars from a reliable source:—

Mr. Tisdall, of Napier, the successful tenderer for the bonndary Burvey of the block, loft Waitotara with about 20 natives, who had been engaged for the work, and proceeded in three canoes up the Waitotara Biver, at the end of the previous week, having with them instruments, tents, provisions, &c. Another party of natives who were interested in the block also followed, having with them a quantity of small arms in addition to ordinary stores. Three other surveyors, who had been engaged to survey land on the Wnitotara side of the liver, proceeded up river the same day as Mr. Tisdall. '

Mr. Williams, with his party of natives in two canoes, lefs Waitotara, shortly after bin arrival there on Tuesday, reaching Papatupn the same evening. By dint of strong pulling, the party arrived on Wednesday night at Temamanga, having landed and partaken of food about midnight at Te Puaw, a place belonging to the chief Te Rakie. On Thursday morning an early start was made, and Piraunui,' the end of, their journey, was reached about £» o'clock, though but a few miles as the crow flies, is reckoned to be over forty miles distant from Waitotara by the river, and is situated on the west bank. Just above this point, and running into the Waitotara River from the east, is the Manganuiotahu Creek, the largest tributary met with oh the journey. The course of the river is very crooked, in places almost doubliug on itself, forming tongues of beautiful level land of the richest jfluality. Smooth water is met with for the most ]3art, and excepting occasionally where ell weirs have been constructed or timber has fallen across it into the river, the canoes spin along at a merry pace. Some of the ell weirs lare difficult to get through, and stores have to be unloaded and carried for short distances, and the canoes hauled along with ropes. Between the rapids there are reaches of gently flowing streams from one to between two and Ibree miles long, indicating the gently rising naturo of the land. The fallen timber which now and then obstructs the passage could easily be removed. The river in times past appears to have been thickly peopled, as judged by the many remains of fortifications and now deserted .plantations to bo met with. The inhabitants of the river are now few. The tongues of land formed by the winding course of the river comprise flats of very rich soil, which hare been cleared of native growth and laid down in English grasses and planted with fruit trees, altogether showing a high state of cultivation, and forming some of the prettiest homesteads to be met with in New Zealand.

The confiscated boundary lino lies between Temamanga and Piraunui, and its position near the river was formerly known to the natives by a solitary white pine not far from tho actual boundary. The pinq still stands, and a curious tale is told by the natives of its first appearance. They believe it was formed in one night from the body of one of their young men—that in fact he was transformed from a man to 'tree as a living memorial of the evil which bajjbefallen them. Thvurrjval of Mr. Williams and party at *i«unii. wn i, the signal for a great dsMonstra..

tion. Pirauiiui itself is a beautiful spot, being Bituated on a large flat formed by a bend in the river, is laid down in English grasses, and has an abundance of fruit and other trees, with poultry, sheep, and cattle, and other comforts and conveniences uncommon withnatives living inland. The native whares have been well and neatly built, and together with the clean white tents'belonging to the parties who had preceded Mr. Williams formed as pretty an encampment as could well be conceived. Fully 150 natives were present, many carrying small arms, and immediately Mr. Williams arrive'd there was a general commotion, all flocked towards the landing place, a salute was fired, and a song of welcome started by the chief -Te Pika (who had gone up the river with Mr. Tiadall), was taken up by others, and speeches and songs of welcome were continued all day and until past midnight, Mr. Williams having occasionally to Survey operations having been started, Mr. Williams, with' his party of natives, returned to Waitotara, hiving started about six o'clock •on Friday morning, with the curreut, and having strong pullers, reached Waitotara ia one day. --———^^mmmmmmmmmm