MAUNGATAWHIRI VALLEY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 245, 6 November 1914, Page 3

MAUNGATAWHIRI VALLEY.

" Times " on " The Track."

(By Our Travelling Representative ]

* Ab this was a new district to me I decided to make my way in via Bombay and Paparata, and so work tbe Valley out oo the homeward trip. This certainly proved the best proposition, there being no necessity to go over the same ground twice as would have been tbe case in going in and out via Pokeno—aid the country Paparata ard Utoppy Valley proved interesting travelling. I do not purpose dealing very much with Paparata or Hsppy Valhy; it rufficea to lay that Happy Valley made a pleasant break after the hilly country from Bombay onwards, and the welcome cup of tea at the last house befere croseirg ihe Paparata ranges was specially acceptable. This was at Mr Rotson's, where the telephone ends, and also the road, and the rest of the way into Uaungatathiri is only a b. idle tr?ck but ceitainlv.a very grod one. On the list of Government grants which appear in the 1914-15 Estimates £I9OO is set down for this road, and though this amount would not by any means make a good road it will a long way towards improving many of the worst placer and make it possible to get a vehicle through. Tha track m the Mauogatswhiri side follows a sparkling littls stream right into the Valley, and by a singular coincidence this stream divides rich volcanic hills oi the right band side from poir clay, gum land on the left. Along the stream 1 noticed quantities of aplendid stone, and in places where odd pieces were broken it seemed to be of that hard blue quality that is like so much china to break and is telished by stone-nappers. The land on tbe right hand side belongs to Mr J. H. Parker: he has a block of 1500 acres here. I found one of Mr Parker's sons ploughing a piece of new land cn one of the volcanic hills, and I expressed surprise at the horseß being able to walk along tbe steep sidlings that Were already turned over, but Mr Parker said it was wondertul how clever tbey had become at it, and as long as the ground was dry he could tackle almost anything.

Suddenly rounding a bend I get any first light of the famous Valley, is now so noted for its rich pasture land and for the phenomenal increase that has taken place in dairying of late years. The Valley is bounded on the side by which I came in (the west side) by the Paparata rapgea and to the north and east by tbe Sur.y redoubt, which was so well-known in Maori war days. To tbe south and southwest is tbe Maungatawhiii swamp and the Koheroa ranges. The swamp is about 100 acres in extent, and if the Waikato River Board's drainage scheme produces any result the major portion of this should be easily reclaimed. Over the Koheroa ranges was the first track into Maungtawhiri and it was by this track that the early settlers entered. The land in its original condition in those days was mostly swamps and ti-tree and everywhere great high masses of raupo. It thus required a large amount of work and expenditure before it could be brought into profit, and in those early days, when farm produce was anything but

remunerative and the great co-

operative movements for irozen meat * and farm and dairy produce were still in tbe dim futura, tarming operations were carried on at considerable disadvantage. Tbe valley land comprises some 4400 odd acres and is divided into about 30 holdings, and there ere some tine farms among them, wellkept and well-managed. For the . most part tbe settlers ate in comfortable circumstances and go in for all-round farming, though dairying of course predominates with a small amount of cropping. The most noticeable feature of the district is the quantity of hawthorn hedges. Seemingly all farms and all fields - are divided by them and along the main roads fine high hedges, in many place 20 feet high, are the fences. At this time of the year t*tse hedges with their- wealth of the green fields on every aide ri..»i».e the district look from the high lands as a garden country in some green fairy land. Everywhere there was abundance of feed, notwithstanding the dry spell, and the luxuriant growth upon such lands as I inspected are possible only on good land and come a 9 the result of generous dealing on the part of the owners.

PIONEER SETTLERS. Mrs R. J. Lyons can fairly claim to tank amongst the pioneer settlers of the' Auckland province. Mr Lyons died some six years ago. Mr and Mrs Lyons were easily tbe first settlers in the Maungatawhiri Valley; f3r it is now 47 years since they made their way over fiom Mercer, and Mrs Lyons still lives with her sons on the original farm. There are four sons, three of whom are living on almost adjoining land. Mr R. Lyons' name is best known to "Times" readers as tbe County Council representative for the Mercer riding, and to him I owe many thanks for courtesies and valuable information. Mr K. Lyons has a comtoitable house built in a sequestered nook at the foot of the bills, but sufficiently high to command a splendid view of moßt of the Valley. The farm comprises some 250 acres and is mostly flat land. It is well watered and iicb in Ihe beautiful hawthorn halges before mentioned. This is exclusively a grazing farm and 100 choice bullocks are now living in ease and contentment on the flats, and many woolly sheep assist t3 keep down the vigorous growth of feed everywhere noticeable. Mr | Lyons is of an engineering turn of has utilised a small stream that runs past his house in quite a surprising manner. By damming up the water he is able to drive a powerful 18-feet water-wheel which in turn operates a saw Dencb where all clases of timber are cut; a firewood saw where long lengths of wood are quickly sawn into Btove lengths; and also a chaffcutter where chaff is cut as required. Much of the timber used in the Valley is sswn here and though at one time a fire almost destroyed the whole mill everything is now built up again in quite a substantial manner. Other early settlers wero the Applebys, tbe Fagans and the Reids. The two former have just recently sold out their interests and have left for suburban residences near Auckland. (To be Continued.)