OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 6.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 42, 17 January 1884, Page 3

OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 6.

[BT OUR SPECIAL REPORTER, j MARAETAHA. A stranger visiting Gisborne, in lobking at the surroundings of the town and district, if tolu of the existence away up in the mountains of inch a magnificent spot as owned by Mr. James Woodbine-Johnson would almost riuithe idea, and credit his informant with JUrfig given to romancing, From the sea the traveller gains an impression that there is only a small quantity of fiat land in the district, and that the foOt of each hill or mountain range could be reached and the mountain tops explored without having to undeigo much fatigue, especially at this time of year, when the scorching hot sun gives your nose ■ucb a tint as to create a suspicion that you have been ih titties past on terms of familiarity With the whisky bottle. But when the stranger lands, if in the town he soon finds out that in Poverty Bay there lies an immense valley, and that even behind the woodlands, which appear to run up into the kre still extensive fracas of land destined to become famous as the dwelling places of civilised .people, and yielding food for man and the lower animals. The white cliffs on the opposite side of the wat§r from the town of Gisborne, bearing the no wise euphonious name of “ Young Nick’s Head,” are the cynosure of all eyes as a vessel approaches Ihis port, and a special interest is at once betotred in that when the stranger is told that it was there where the old Maori rebel Te Kooti landed after his arrival from the Chatham Islands, prior to the terrible scenes he and his Hauhau followers enacted in Poverty Bay in murdering wholesale husbands, wives, and Innocent little children, It is, then, of this Spot—-not a small one, away up beyond that notable landimarkj I am now about to write, The name of the station is Maraetaha, the homestead of a very old and popular settler, James Woodbine Johnson, Esq. By road from Gisborne, in passing over which the traveller traverses along a splendid road—the work of Cook County Council—passing Mr. Cohen’s hotel, at Matawhero, then Steggall’s hotel, near the Big River, and over that water-course by means of a gigantic bridge. A straight course has then to be followed, Mr. Bloomfield’s palatial residence, Pipiwhakao Bush, Mr. J. Clarke’s splendid station at Opou, on the Oweta Boad (where there is a large tract of Native land on both sides), over Karawa Bridge, Pakirikiri, and the Murewai being passed on the road, until a distance of seventeen miles from the town of Gisborne has been covered ere the traveller reaches his F>al, the estate of the gentleman whose name have hereinbefore given. During the course of my journey, milch of the distance on foot, I tbbk cognizance of many little things that must Subsequently be treated in this communication, blatters that affect the well-being of the district T ihink, having now plainly showed the giouud over which I travelled to reach that home between the mountains, it is full time, without further preamble, I should make a few remark a about the station and the gentleman possessing it, of whom it can be said, when he is at home, is “ monarch of all he surveys,” Maraetaha Station comprises an area of 11,600 acres, and is four miles wide by four miles long, striking an average, Although from the distance this stretch of' country appears to be all mountainous, it is not so, for there are flats for several miles before the actual mountain land is reached, leading into some delightful hill country. Mr. James Woodbine Johnson came to New Zealand in 1867, from the grand old English and historical County of Suffolk, having first passeu a couple of years in Queensland. He is a son of the late Richard Jonnson, Fellow of Gaius College, and Rector of Lavenham, bufful**, and brother of the Hon. Baudall Juunsou, MJj.Ci, whose Poverty Bay estate is at le Aral, reference to which I shall make ux a special article. * Originally Mr 4 Johnson held 20,000 acres in this district on lease, subsequently purchasing the freehold from the a Lives, hum the late Captain Wilson (who was Milled at the massacre), and the late Mr. Laune, of Napier, who had used it principally as a sheep-run. Mr, Johnson, when the ixaunaus broke out here in 1868, became a member ot the Militia, He saw le Kooti and his party cast anchor within sight of his own house, when they arrived from the Cnatnams, but simply regarded them as a banu of smugglers. His suspicions, however, having been aroused by the declaration of a couple of natives, who hastened to his house, that the Haugen ■ had come, he took the precaution to send a messenger to Captain Biggs, who, however, regarded the arrival of the rebels’ schooner in the same Ugui as diu Mr. Johnson, but nevertheless pul nis men on tbb Alert in obm of there being danger. Unfortunately for the then few inhabitants of Poverty Bay, the fears entertameu by the natives who aroused Mr. Johnson were not groundless. The men who forth to resist the invaders were poorly armed, and had only a few round* ot ammunition between the whole of them. What followed is A story too well known to every old settler in thia Bay. But as it is not my special mission to write reminiscences of the war of 1868, I must now confine my remarks more particularly to the subject of my sketches—“ Our District and Our Settlers.”

The site upon which the residence of Mr. Johnson has been erected is a very beautiful spot, surrounded by varieties of trees, ornamental and fruit-bearing. There is a capital lawn-tennis court facing the front entrance, and the grounds immediately surrounuing the house are fenced off into a number uf small paddocks, nicely studded with trees. At the rear is situated the orchards and kitchen garden. The orcharding is a special feature here. It covers a large piece of land, and the trees comprise every variety of fruit that can be grown in this country. Here the filbert-nut flourishes to perfection; the mulberry, raspberry, and other choice fruits are to be seen in profusion. The plum, pear, and apple trees are heavily laden, and apparently free from blight. But there is no f«t in the orchard more beatiful in appearance than the old green gage pium, a wonderful favorite with every Englishman. The peach, nectarine, quince, and other wellknown fruits common to us all are there as if by virtue of native rights. How wonderfully well these trees flourish and bring forth fruit in this adopted land of theirs. Mr. ■Johnwon is a Rtonnch believer in the principle of continuous tree planting, and therefore has made it a rule for many years to cover additional ground in this respect. It is his intention to plant as soon as the season comes round a special alotment of ten acres, and annually make additions to his orcharding. (To be continued.)