THE GREAT UREWERA

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3421, 27 February 1920, Page 6

THE GREAT UREWERA

PRODUCTIVITY OF THE SOIL. J -A_ long horseback jouri ‘V through‘ the heart of the Urewerla. country was recently made by the Rev. G. Budd,‘ of Devonport, in his capacity as convener of the‘ Maori Mission Comrrittee of the Presbyterian Church. Sp-aking of his tour from the tourist point of vieiv, Mr. Budd said the bush scenery was unsurpassed, but the neglected state of the roads beyond Ruatahuna, which is the coast terminus, made what Ought to be an easy journey arduous. The ordinary route is from Ruatahuna to the head of Lake Waikaremoana, a distance of 20 miles by horseback, and thence to the accommodation house by boat. Mr. Budd and his party travelled round the lake, however, the journeypccupying 12 hours. ’ Ffonl‘the' aceommodation house Mr. Budd proceeded to Nuk-aha, on ‘the Ha‘Wk.°’s Bay side, and returned o_ver~ .lall"<lHvia Rua’s put at Maur.;,..pohal<a. Here the Presbyterian Mission Coni--Ini'_9'€9 has opened a school and intends ‘to CSt3«bliSh a small hospital. Rua was V9l‘? hoSDitable to Mr Budd, and spoke ‘ in appreciative terms of the’ \vo‘l~z.: of: the Mission’ His comma-mt WC: -Che} 13011 0f I‘o‘sl‘-is and means of communication, the nearest post office being at Ruatahuna, 25 miles aistalm and the nearest telephone ~.to‘miles. Pointing to the sawn timber houses, he said the community was capable of doing good work but was denied oppnitunity. Wh(‘ll Mr Budd was ]_)‘.'osont. the Biaoris were cutting uo<:kst'oot_, the gr-ea of which will have to be sent m»1.(,,., ‘].,m._k horses. Mr. Budd was strum:-ll; u'it,l. nu. productivity of the cleared ‘land intl]iS district, eoeksfoot, pot?xtoe.<, and vegeiables gl‘owing luxuri:nltl.y. Most of it —is }lillyJ:lnd cc\'ol'ed with timbi-r.