MAUNGATAWHIRI VALLEY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 246, 10 November 1914, Page 4

MAUNGATAWHIRI VALLEY.

" Times " on " The Track." [By Our Travelling Representative.] This article is continued from last issue. Before proceeding further I would like to mention two other striking features in the Valley—the Hilvery meandering Maungatawhiri stream, and the artistic suspension bridges that in two places span it. The stream rises in the ranges near the sandspit and singularly the Mangatangi and the Wairoa have their sources close by. The Maungatawhiri flows through the upper Otau Valley and through the picturesque Otau Gorge. Between Otau Gorge and Maungatawhiri there is a 1500 acre scenic reserve and Mr Lyons irforms me that there is scenery here equal to anything in the Manawatu Gorge. fhough the route is very rough picnic parties occasionally go up and by taking a small boat to sail over the deep places a very interesting trip can be made. The acclimatisation society have several times sent trout out and these have been liberated by Mr Lyons at the Maungatawhiri end, but though occasional fish are seen here the majority seem to have gone up stream and good fishing can be had in the Otau Valley. The suspension bridges mentioned are built for foot traffic, the banks of the stream being so low that it can be forded by vehicles almost anywhere, and on the spots where the road crosses a particularly easy grade has been found. The suspension bridges are very strongly built and to Mr R. Lyons much of their design and construction is due. THE ROADS. "And what do you think of our roads '" was Mr R. Loyns' query on mv return journey. I could only say what was right: "Atsolutely the best in the county," I replied. The sett! rra here are no sloths and believe in the old adage: "God helps thoie who help themselves." When roads were wanted they turned out almost to a man with drays, shovels and other implements and made their own roads. They did not wait for either road boards or coui!ty councils or any such bodies to do the work in their sometimes dreary way. From Appleby's eld homestead to Pokeno is about nine miles, and truly a better road could not be wished for. The Maramarua road is also W; 11 metalled, and is in an excellent state of repair, and all the roads should be splendid travelling for motor cars. There are no ruts and there is a good tight-I should say almost watertight—surface. But metal has been very cheap in the valley for into the river bed the carts can back and shingle can be shovelled up for the taking, whilst in other places quarry metal can be broken for about 2a a yaid. This latter, while perhaps not suitable for heavy traffic, makes an excellent surface and as it is so easily and cheaply obtained can be renewed at very small cost. In other ways also the Maungatawhiri settlers have shown their independence. When a school was wanted a site was given, £SO was subscribed and a school was built! Later nn a factory was wanted, and as Mr Spragg ha? not sufficient confidence in the capabilities of the district to build one, the settlers again took the work in hand. Mr J. Keith gave a site, a subscription list met with a ready response, and a creamery was built by Mr R. Lyons. This ran for about eight years, when Mr Spragg realised the possibilities of the Valley and the New Zealand Dairy Association came in ar.d r.ow Maungatawhiri is one of the leading creameries. At present there are J9 milk sup pliers and 6 home separators. The daily delivery is about 14,4001bs of milk, producing about 113 gallons of cream, and there is about 30 gallons from the home separators. The largest suppliers at the time of my visit were J. Fagan 18601bs daily, C. Pope 16601bs and 7001bs (two dairies), and Mrs Motion 16001bs. Mr H. Dale is the present mauager and has everything in splendid order and condition. The past generosity of the Valley folks has already been told and the same continues right up to the present day. These good people fulfil their public duties well, for the sum of £2lO was recently subscribed towards the Patriotic Fund. A largely signed list towards the Belgian fund shows that the younger generations possess the generous spirits of their parents.

The best farm in the Valley is unquestionably that of Mrs Motion, a 180 acre holding divid d into 12 paddocks. A splendid compact little place farmed ligbl up to the knocker and not a quarter of an acre waste land. Eighty cowa are milked here, and very careful and comprehensive records are kept. The cowa are chiefly milking Shorthorns and some very high-class animals are amongst the herd. Stock from such noted breeders as Dalziel Bros., Manawatu, McNicholls, Clevedon, and the Sunnyside Mental Hospital are in evidence. The paddocks are never ploughed excepting to put in maize, and I was shown fields that had been down for sixteen ytare, that had never been top-dressed and carried a perfect wealth of feed. A lot more could be told about this delightful farm which is really a model holding, but space will not permit at present. When it is mentioned, that the 180 acres wintered 100 head of cattle the quality can be gauged. At Mr J. Keith's I found an old friend and here 1 was induced to spend my second night. Mr Keith is a resident of 30 years' standing and has the post and telephone oflice on his property. The farm comprises 100 acres and is also a line one. Mr Keith informed me that his place has carried 54 head of cattle, 80 odd sheep and 9 horses up till the beginning of wioter and had cut 3 paddocks for hay. Mr J. Keith's, Mr W. Keith's and Mr C. Pope's were the last farma taken up in the Valley for settlement, and at the time it was not considered that they could be drained. However, it 1 was done and the owners are reaping a wealth trom the woik. When the Poker.o-Paeroa railwa comes through it will skirt the Maungatawbiri Valley on the Koheroa side and provision is made for a station on Mr O. Reid's property. There will be a saving of about 50 miles in the journey from Paeroa to Auckland, there are no engineering difficulties in the way and some of the best lard m the Dominion will bo opened up. When this eventuates the dairying output will be considerably increased and the coui.tryside will present an even more prosperous appearance than it does at present. To others in this locality from whom 1 hsd notis I must apologise for their non-appearance in this article. To thoec who so kindly assisted to make mv run through Maungatawhiri such a profitable and pleasant one, I convey my rincerest thanks for 1 really left their hospitable region with much regret and a promise unto myself to return at some future date.