CATLINS-TAHAKOPA DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 38

CATLINS-TAHAKOPA DISTRICT.

MR T. MACKENZIE'S VISIT.

Mr T. Mackenzie, M.P., for Waikouaiti, retained to Dunedm on Friday from a visit to the Cathns-Tahakopa district. His object in visiting the district was to note the progress of the railway and to arrange with the people of the Catlins Valley and the Tahakopa Valley for a visit by the Catlins Railway League. The people are taking- the matter up wirb spirit, and the visit will probably come off in a few weeks' time.

"I walked over part of the line," continued Mr Mackenzie — " that under formation and some little distanoe beyond. Ihe progress of the work just now is exceedingly slow, and it is almost ojnazing to think that the section as far as Houipapa is not now open for traffic. The ballasting is being carried out a,t a very slow rate, and an effort should be made to open the section to the Houiapapa Station at onoe for the carriage of timber, if not for passenger traffic. There ie only from a quarter -of a mile to half a mile of ballasting to do now. and if they tapped the Clutha- River for a supply they would not be long in spreading that distance. There are large orders for costs and timber awaiting "l-hs railway to ta-ke the material away, and the district is being kept back for want of Tailway facilities which ought long ago to have been there. "Regarding the condition of the district itself, I met a good many settlers. They are all in splendid heart, and there is an air of prosperity about that is most gratifying. Those who have been able to survive and hold on to their lands yiUL I am

sure, be well rewarded for it. There fit an active demand for all the timber, and the settlers are not wasting a 6tick of it now. The land, too, is of a fair average quality, and if decently treated will give satisfactory results. One of the most enterpnemg settlers there, Mr Gwryn, showed! me a small piece of land of no great quality which he had treated well, and I re\or saw finer turnips or potatoes oa Inehelutha than are now growing on that particular land. This shows that, although the land is only of aierage quality, with the lu-licious sale of timber thore is room for homes for hundreds of families in the counm. I also called on Mr Bates, another p'oneor settlor, who is now glad that he and his wife and family stuck to their land and persevered through all their lian'ships. Another lady I met declared that she was so pleaded with her home that if they wanted to take her away she would grip the trees with her legs and they would not get her out.

"I have always had faith in the district.'* Mr Mackenzie concluded, " and with sceeclv railway and proper reading there should be no doubt as to its future. Altogether I hnd a most eniovable visit, being 1 present at a mnruasre at Mr White's home and at ; the old identities' picnio at Balclutha.''