PROGRESS OF THE PATEA DISTRICT.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 219, 16 May 1877, Page 2

PROGRESS OF THE PATEA DISTRICT.

[from THE TARANAKI HERALD.] It is only necessary to travel through the country to understand how largely the ameliorating influence of increased cultivation is improving the prospects of the settlement to the south ot the Taranaki County. It forms a striking contrast to the stretch of desolate looking country along the coast between Opnnake and Stony River, covered, as it is, with flax and toitoi, where there are no buildings to relieve the eye, no cheerful face to greet the wayfarer, and no roads to travel on, but everything wild looking and in a state of nature. There is the sea to the right with its monotonous roar as the breakers dash upon the rocks, which are so abundant along the coast, whilst to the left, nothing is to be seen—the country being hid from view by overgrown flax bushes. ’ Tis truly travelling through a wilderness—wearisome' and irritating to an active mind, when the speed of the conveyance is reduced to a slow walk across the soft sand of the Harriet Reach—and a great relief is at once felt by the traveller when Opnnake is reached,, although this township is not even what it was some four or five years since. Opnnake in 1872 was a scene of industry, there being two flax mills at work, but now it wears a look of desolation. The Opnnake Flax Company’s mill is now occupied by the Armed Constabulary; and the Cap;? Egmont mill comfortably sheltered by a range of hills, forms the dwelling place, or did so till lately, of the pilot, The dam which was ■ being built in 1872 across the Otalii creek (the water from which was used to drive the waterwheel of the Opnnake Flax Company’s mill) has burst, and the stream Hows unimpeded as it originally did. The Telegraph and Post-office is now in charge of Mr John Black, formerly Postmaster and Telegraphist at Hawera. The building has a dilapidated look about it, and evidently not received a fresh coat of paint on it since the day when it was first built. Mr Bartlett’s hotel, and a large house just erected a little way inland are the only signs of progress made here during the past five years ; everything else about the place looks as if it was going to decay. Mr Bartlett’s hotel is conveniently situated, forming, as it docs on the coast road, a, half-way house between Hawera anil New Plymouth. Travellers by tiie coach dine here on their way south, and very excellent accommodation is provided by the host and hostess. After leaving Opnnake it is but a short stage to Oeo. Mere is to bo seen a pleasing, phase in the civilization of the Native race—land fenced in and under cultivation, comfortable houses, and a very d> cent hotel, which by the way is kept by Mr Beamish, who with his family are the only Europeans about the place. There appears to bo good stable accommodation for the coach horses, whilst the animals about the village have a healthy appearance. After leaving Oeo, there is another tiring journey for the traveller before be readies a settlement; still the country he passes through he cannot help admiring. Wild, but level, luxuriant and extensive are. the only terms that can be applied to., the Waimate Plains, and although the native-owned cattle and horses that graze on it are wild, they look fat and lazy. The road during this portion of the journey is good, and the rivers are bridged, which enable the coach to rattle along at a good pace, and in a few hours the township of HAWERA. comes in view. Anyone who has not visited a district for five years is more likely to notice improvements made during that time than' the traveller who is constantly moving backward and forward in it. Passing during the day through a country where no progress has been made, the writer, when entering Hawera, was agreeably surprised to notice the change he found had been made in the town since lie last visited it. He remembered but a large swamp, a block-house and two or three small cottages. There was then no sign of a road, and perhaps no better idea could be convoyed of the place than to say it looked like a paddock with a few cottages in it. The chief and only hotel was a small building whore beds had to bn secured in advance by telegram, and lucky was he who failed to do so, if he got a mg and a “shakedown” in the stable. All this, however, is changed, and the only building of the past now recognizable, is the Post Office, which, by the by, would look all the better for a little paint; but even that edifice is so surrounded by buildings—and substantial buildings too —that it looks insignificant beside them, although in 1872 it was considered a very decent looking edifice for the place. Hawera is well situated for an inland town, and from the rapid strides being made, it may be presumed that the inhabitants are doing well financially. There is not a town in the Taranaki County, with the exception of New Plymouth that can be compared to it. There are three very good hotels, but as additions are being made to them, it would look as if the accommodation was not sufficient to meet the demands made upon the landlords. The roads in the principal streets are rounded up and metalled, and have good footpaths at the sides. The houses and shops are built pretty regular, and are close to each other, so the streets have a neat appearance. Mr Prosser keeps

the Hawera Hotel, which is oil one side of the first one that had a license, but to all appearance there is not a vestige of the original edifice to be seen. I was told that the old building was at the back, but on looking I found it scarcely recognizable* The hotel is ot two stories, well furnished, and the accommodation good, whilst the general management is equal to that found in hotels in towns of larger size. The old coach road used to be through what is now the main street of the town—the one leading up to the stockade, but it has been - diverted, and although the traffic from the Mountain Road comes through this street, the coach road is made to continue on with the one leading to Carlyle. This has been the means of extending the size of the town, and as the traveller approaches it has the appearance of being built upon a square block if land. The street leading from the Patea Road into the Egmont Road, is fast filling up with buildings, and at the corners of the junction of it with the Egmont Road two fine hotels have been erected. The Egmont Hotel, the stopping place of Cobb’s Coach, is a large building, and is kept by Mr Charles Brown, late of Wellington. The hotel is • bid the back of the section, which leavei wfarge area of ground in front for coaches and veichles to draw up on, so that they need not interfere with the traffic on the road whilst stopping. There is a largo number of bedrooms in this hotel, which are well occupied on coach nights. The arrangements sue'all very good, and the hotel well patronized. There is another hotel which has just been built on the opposite corner of the street. The site of this building, is where Messrs Taplin and Muir formerley had a store, and it may be remembered there then existed a large pool of water in which ducks used to swim about. This has disappeared,, and the spot would not now be recognized. The hotel is well furnished and the arrangements very complete. I noticed several New Plymouth faces at Hawera. Mr MoCnskor has a brewery here, and doing very well with, it, I believe. He has just put on an addition to the building (which is a two-storied one). Messi's W. R. King & Sou have a good sized shop, with large plate-glass windows, in which there was a display of drapery, &c., equal to some of the shops in New Plymouth. Mr Davidson, who had but a small building in 1872, has now a fine large shop, which is well stocked with goods of every description suitable for a general store, *bnd does, there is no doubt, a large business. The Bank of New South Wales, of which Mr Bate is the Manager, has been established some two or three years here; and lately the Bank of New Zealand has started an Agency, Mr W. White (son of Mr T. White, the lata Provincial Treasurer), being in charge. There are several churches and chapels in the town, and private residences, of which there is already a large number, are springing up in all directions. A medical gentleman (Dr. Cole) has recently established himself there, which must be a great boon to the settlers; and an auctioneering firm (Messrs, Inman & Co.) will commence business on the 2(sth. (To be continued in our next).