DACRE'S CLAIM

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 337, 26 January 1889, Page 5

DACRE'S CLAIM

is the name of the block of land selected by the late Government for the Omaha settlement. This block is about 2,400 acres of broken undulating land situated between the two Omahas, having a water frontage of several miles on the East Coast, and Whangateau Harbour. The most northern section runs almost close to the township of Little Omaha and is about a mile from the wharf near Point Rodney. The southern sections extend to Big Omaha. Strictly speaking, nearly the whole of the settlement is in Big Omaha. The settlement is most picturesquely and pleasantly situated, extending nearly round the large harbour of Whangateau. This harbour at high tide is a fine sheet of water, with promontories and creeks running into it from all sides. At low tide it is nearly dry except the creeks, extending; for several miles from north to south. It is formed by a long sand spit extending right across the large bay, with a narrow entrance, where small craft, cutters, scows, barques, etc., can come in and anchor in deep water round what is called T Point. A large trade in timber, firewood, etc., has been done from this harbour; in fact, the native? who lived on sufferance for many years on this claim of Dacre's disposed of nearly all the best timber to European lumberers. Some of the land is fairly good, some of the sections on T Point are superior volcanic land largely covered with grass. The land in some sections is considered very inferior, being low ti-tree scrub. It is generally conceded that to value the whole of these sections at one uniform value is hardly just to those who hold these inferior section^. This i 1i 1- the chief bone of contention so far as> lontis concerned —many objecting to pay a rental of more than double the value of the land ; this more especially as the land hat, been feo largely cleared of timber and firewood, which would have been of immediate value to the settlers. All the sections are well watered by fre^h mountain streams? running all the year. Mount Tamahua is about three miles west of the settlement, was noted in the early days as the great native pa to which the imprisoned Maoris escaped fiom Kawau and entrenched themselves, defying for &ome time the colonial troops. Ftom this high eminence a good view of Auckland and neighbourhood can be obtained on a clear day.