THE WAIAU DISTRICT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 242, 27 October 1914, Page 1

THE WAIAU DISTRICT.

Another Interesting Run.

[By Our Travelling Representative.] i When instructions came to proceed once again into the Waiau district I was rather pleased for, apart from the enjoyment of being on the road, Waiau possesses some sort of fascination for me. This attraction is due firstly to the many pleasant hours spent at fishing excursions in the vicinity (a particularly favourite pastime of mine, notwithstanding the serious cost of a fire on one memorable occasion), and secondly on account of the marvellous and rapid progress this part of the district has made during r:cent years. To one having witnessed such a change, the transformation of a seeming wilderness into the smiling fertile plains, the prosperous homes ot industrious settlers, whose fields are grassed equal to other places that were never despised, and whose cattle and sheep and horses show almost unbeaten records. 1 say, no wonder the district has a fascination for me. To live on one of those delightful grassy farms that stretch down to the water's edge, or to be the owner of one of such farms and to be possessed of a smart motor launch as several lucky Waiau farmers are, would, to my mind, be to live in peace and contentment for the rest of one's days. I often picture a palatial residence alongside one of the sheltered bays, with the evergreen pohutakawa trees stretching around the sandy shore, and a fine wide flight of steps tight down to the water's edge. "Wild dreams," you may say, "where .-is all the money for this to come from?" 1 believe lam not wrong in saying that it can be done in Waiau, and that many such places will yet be in reality. , But what has caused the transformation that is so apparent to any who has known the district for, say, even the last ten years. Doubtless it is due to more scientific methods in farming and to the- proper application of correct fertilisers. One of the first to demonstrate the correct methods of treating the so-called inferior lands in these parts was Mt E. ('. Cuff, who proved that by lengthy fallowing and analysis ot soils he was able to supply exactly what the soil was deficient in, and with a balanced application ot such cheap fertilisers as Blag, super and kanit produced a result equal to any in other districts. Later still, further demonstrations have been made by Mr J. W. McLarin, and rr.ost excellent results achieved. I am not now, of course, alluding to the rich, sandy loams along the Manukau, much of which id owned by the numerous families of Clarks, and which is capable of growing almost anything without manurial applications, but to the so-called pcor land on the plateau above, which at one time was a waste of heather and fern. The old Drury road, at one time the main road between Waiuku and Drury, and during the early days the only thoroughfare frum Auckland to Waiuku, is the divide between Waiau and Patumahoe. About a quarter of a mile from here the main road from Patumahoe to Waiau meets the Drury road there stands the old Mauku bridge, a very old landmark in these parts. At one time the Mauku hotel stood here, just at the head of the Mauku creek, and this part was looked on as the centre of the district in those days. Ot course that was before the Waikato railway was dreamt of and in the days when all produce, etc., was carried by boat from Onehunga. The first farms one encounters on the main road into Waiau are those of Messrs Taylor Bros, and Mr N. U. Litchfield. Both of these were originally taken up by Mr Cuff, and here he proved what this land was capable of. The good work he started has been transferred into capable hands, and on both Taylur's and Litchfield's farming operations are being carried out on sound practical lines. Large numbers of sheep are kept by both farmers mentioned and are in the very pink ot condition.

The only fault I could 6ee was one mentioned in a previous report regaiding bachelor establishments. However, at Mr Litchtiekt's I was entertained to a very sumptuous lunch in a veiy teat and bachelor's abode, where it was made very plain to me (bat both Mr Litchfield and his brother are quite as capable iu the housekeeping arts as they are in their farming op rations. Between Mr Litchfield's place ar.d the Mauku cnek there is what is commonly called the "big Bwamp." This swamp is some 10 or 12 acres in extent, ar.d has been the temporary home ot parties of gumdiggers for probably the past 40 years. It has been pot-holed and speared and paddocked ai.d drained by all classes and nationalities, aid it wculd be hard to estimate the number of tons of gum that has been taken from it. For the past few vears it has been looked on as "due out." HoWever, where a:me men would starve others will life well, and a swamp is never dug cut till it has been treated by tome capable Dalmatians, and a very capable cne has recently taken tbii swamp up in the person of Sam JVe.eep. A long lease has been sicuied, and Mercep's plan, which is already well under way, is to dig tfie whole swamp over in a face. Up the centre channel, which is about 12 feet wiie, digging is being done to a depth of 11 feet; over the rest of the swamp about two feet deep. But this is a fairly big order when one considers the area involved, but "Sam" was very sanguine over it all and considered the proposition will pay him alright. To shnw that notwithstanding the years of digging some nuggets are yet to be found, it may be mentioned that quite recently a nugget 64lbs in weight was unearthed. As one passes along the farms of Mr J. W. McLarin, McLarin Bros., J. Nicholson. P. Millen and B. Whitehouse ire seen, all •?! which are showing the results uf go.-i ; management, 'lhe McLarii.s ko in principally for croupier and sheep farming; the othtia . \ "i the eVer-popuiar cw and eome tine herds I can be seen. Home separation is the ai tern employed, and the New Zealand Dairy Association carter picks the cream cans up on his way to Patumahoe with the cream from the Waiau crcimery. These farms were originally all in Mr J. W. McLarin s block and were broken in and • sub-divided by him. The last cno-tfrken up, 333 acre*, now belongs to Mr H. Learning, who baa a four-cow milking machine installed, and 25 cows are at present being milked with a numbet more vet to come in. A new house has been erected here and further signs of progress are to be noticed. Ascending a small bill one passes a very tine-looking farm belonging to Mr J. Henry, of Patumahoe. This place looks particularly well and notwithstanding the dry spell clover was growing luxuriantly. The place seemed well stocked and all paddocks appeared to have a very line sole of clover. All varieties of clover seem to do particularly well in this locality. On top ot the rise one gets a splendid view of the Manukau. To the left the junction of the Mauku and Waiuku creeks can be seen, while across the water and to the right the Waitakerei ranges and the hills round Auckland and Onehunga show up to superb advantage. The many farms along the foreshore arc below you and the beach slopes so gently that there is a generous breadth of sand at low water. I made a fast trip down to the Waiau wharf and back. 'lhe roads here, as well as in rrost other parts, being in excellent order. The Waiau residents have a grievance against the Northern Steamship Company, in that they do ni> put Waiau on their time-table. Other wharves of much less import ance are tims-tabled, but Waiau Pa is omitted. Apart from being an advantage to tba company it would be a small advertisement to the district and would allow strangerß to know about what time and where on the journey Waiau was. However, I think the matter only wants pointing out and the manager would have the omission rectified, for there can be no doubt that there is a good deal of trade done by the company to this point. A few new places have sprung up along this road since my last routid of the district. A farm taken up by Mr Grinter has a pretty cottage thereon. Another place has been taken up by Mr Mapp and a new house has erected; the old farm so long known ub "Canadian" Finlay's is now owned by Mr J. J. Robinson. Mr Robinson has the contract for cream-carting from Waiau to Patumahoe, and also carries the mails. A "Times" agency was successfully established here successfully because Mr Robinson attends to all the settlers' mails as he pafcses and can be relied on to deliver their papers at the earliest possible opportunity. And so ended the lirst day in Waiau.