A VOICE FROM THE KING COUNTRY. LAND ALONG THE TRUNK RAILWAY. [FROM A CORRESPONDENT]

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 400, 7 September 1889, Page 6

A VOICE FROM THE KING COUNTRY. LAND ALONG THE TRUNK RAILWAY. [FROM A CORRESPONDENT ]

Sk\i;ual years have passed since the Land Court commenced its labour*, and it is a long time since the turning ot the first sod of the new railway, yot with the exception of the narrow strip on which the iron lines are laid the d'ovornment do not own a single acre within the aukati lino. In another two y.ears, perhaps- sooner, the present lestrictions on private purchase will lapse, and, therefore, if our rulers arc really in earnest to promote bona Jt'de settlement, they have but a short period in which to practically demonstrate their sincerity. But maybe they have other intentions, and when we think of the vast capabilities, pastoral and otherwibe of the surrounding' country, this is within the range or possibilities. Carved up in extenfrnc aieas and owneu by companies, wool growing and stock-raising could be made a very profitable speculation tor capitalists. Ten thousand acres hero with an average expenditure of 7s 6d per aero in grasring and linji-tencing, would carry with ease htteen thousand sheep. It will therefore be seen at a gWuice th tt t unlimited free trade in land would open up golden prospects to syndicates, and speculators. Although the terny uplands and higher ranges are admirably adapted for sheopfarnnng upon an exten&ivo scale, yet the nathe owners do not seem to bo possessed of the energy, even if thoy had the capital, to enter upon this most lucrative industry. Taonui, Wahanui, and some others are each possessed of a few hundred sheep, mostly of an inferior description ; but starting upon such a small scale without capital or experience, the venture will be for \ ears to come an undoubted failure.

WAHANUI'S HOUSE. The handsome new villa being erected by the Government lor Wahanui in approaching completion. 1b is of considerable pretentious, and has been aptly christened by the natives " Uoveinment House." Being built in a commanding situation on the right bank of the historic Waipa, at the junction of the Mangawheio, it receives much attention from both visitors and residents. It contains six looms, and is fitted up both internally and externally with every modem appurtenance — stoves, tanks, ranges, etc. It is even said that a suite of luxurious costly furniture and a piano are promised. It is extremely interesting to note how complaisant our retienching rulers are to great territorial JNJaori magnates in building them palatial mansions and providing for their necessities by pensions out of the public purse. If the same men were landless Europeans who asked for assistance, say, in the work of pioneering, what would be the amount of their pension, and what kind of a villa would bo provided for their accommodation? Such a policy may be defended on the plea of expediency, bub must be condemned u hen righteousness i? invoked. To Hatter and fat-ten hereditary chiefs, while shamelessly neglecting the people, cannot be upheld on any Cluisbiau principle. There is nob a school in the whole extent of the King Country, though thousands of children aie growing up to manhood and womanhood in a dij-graceful state of mental darknets — peihaps in the future to be a tioublc and a menace to the colony.

THE FLAX TJRADE. Both ova local flax mills are in full working order, and their average output is about four tons of diessed hemp per week. The one at Kiskis, owned by Air Colenian, •was the iirat to stirt and id progressing favouiabh. The one that is nituated within the township is owned by a company con-ii-fing of Mr Lewis (uf the Te Awn mu tv Hotel), and Messrs Howard and Bridgeman. In starting they had many ■vexatious delay?, caused through most troublesome native disputes, in addition to neaily two months of wet weather. With indomitable courage, perseverance and a considerable expenditure of hard carh they have succeeded in surmounting all obstacles, and now Otorohanga adds its quota to swell tho increasing exports of the colony in a beautiful silk-like tibve that commands in the market the highest price. Both firms must be congratulated upon then enterpiise, for they are the mean. -5 of distributing in wages alone about £50 per week. Nearly all of thi-s amount is paid to Maoris, tlieie being veiy few Emopeans emploxad, the managers being of opinion time Maori labour is much cheaper and moic productive. When natives become accustomed to work under the superintendence of Eiuopeane, they gradually abandon those habits of indolence w hich are so characteristic of the modern Maori. An average of about live tons of green flax produces one ton dressed fit for export. The expenditure in the production of this ton will be from £7 to £9 10s. As will be seen the&e figures leave a considerable margin for the payment of inteiest, profits, and the cost of management, all ot which items are considerable. Flax-milling is a business in whicli there is much room for expansion, and if present prices continue to rule many other mills will undoubtedly be established both in this district and around Kawhia. The gi*3ab drawback at present is that the raw material is altogether in the hands of tho nativ^eH, but this obstacle ought to be soon surmounted if the Land Purchase Commissioners will only wake up from their lethargy. The hills close by the township areeo\ered with acres, and acres of white fibre spread over the top of the fern to bleach and dry. The tra\ oiler, when he liist siuhts these ferny bleaching giounds, thinks at once thai ho beholds a newlyshorn mob of tfheep depasturing over the hills. The delusion is both striking and perfect;. Tho "snoring of the machinery (a Maori simile) may be heard for many mile« f as the green leaf i= grasped by the iron jaws and forced against the revolving iron beaters. Lewis and Co. '3 mill is kept going sometimes both night and day, and then the shrill steam whistle startles the slumbers of midnight as it calls the "hands" from labour to refreshment and from refreshment to labour, that piotit and pleasure may be the result — to somebody.

PRESENT AND FUTURE. — THE NEW TOWNSHIP OF OTOROHANGA. Otorohanga is growing in size and importance every day. During the last few months over thirty new buildings have been erected, and many more are in contemplation ; besides, every sheltered nook has its canvas village, and single tents are scattered in all directions. The Court has lately decided to subdivide the township block, which will give the place another impulse forward. A road is. to be made by the Government to connect with , the Waitomo caves, and it is contemplated to illuminate ,their interior with the electric light. Another road is also soon to be commenced connecting with Kihikihi. As this is the market centre of the King

Country, its volume of trade is not to bo despised. Tourist?, considering the winter months, are plentiful. Surveyors and Government officials are as numerous as pheasants in a preserve How so many officials can earn their salaries is to tho uninitiated a solemn mystery. To residents in the interior this is a source of never-ending wondci. A very tew years auo Otorohanga was a lonely wilderness covered with brown manuka and impenetrable gone ; now as if by magic tho nucleus of a promising township has sprung up. Hotols, public buildings, the villa" of Government officials and the mansions oi Maori princes grace tho view. The piercing shriek of the iron hor.--e disturbs the aforotimc solitudes as it gallops and rumbles into the Railway Station amid a crowd of dusky sightseers. On the spot where in ancient times fierce warriors deftly spirted each other with manuka speais, or dashed out each other's braius with highly ornamental clubs, whero their women tended the o>en thao cooked the savoury meal of human Mesh, now rite to •' adorn " tho landscape corrugated iron stores whero urbane and suavo Pakchas dispense their " silks and scarlobs " to swarthy daik-eyed belles, or weigh out tea «nd sugar and flour to tatoood veterans who perhaps fought atNgatapa, or bled at Orakau. Such are the developments of the past and the years of " the to corau "' ha\e still more surpassing wonders in their womb. If the Europeans would cea^o and legislate against the laws of God and Nature, by making the lands of the Maori and the lands of the Vakeha the common property ot the whole people, then of a surety theie are days of golden prosperity before New Zealand. But whether our legislators promote or letard the development of the King Country, it has a future of much promise bcfoieir. Its plains and valleys shall yet wave with miles and miles ot yellow grain, its ppuis and ranges shall yet be green with English grass ; Hooks and countloes herds shall browse on ils thousand hills ; its swamps shall be mown for eweotsmelling hay and >ts marshes shall be meadows of rank clover, and on every hand shall be seen tho smiling homesteads of industiious settlers embowered in tho foliage of orchards and vineyards and gardens and groves. Its fore&ts shall be resonant with stroke of axe and maul, and ring with the ear-splitting report ot the teamster's whip. The whirling scream of the circular saw shall re-echo among its till pine columns, and the regular creak, creak, creak of the crosscut shall disturb the solitude of its deepest recessesand astonish the tuneful songsters that flit from branch to branch. By the gravemounds oi its dead warriors shall be sunk the deep dark shaft in the search for copper and iron and coal. The gold - seeker shall pitch his tent by the bankb of its winning rivers, and wash his wages out of its waterworn sands. Then the village shall become a town, the town shall grow into a city ; and refinement shall follow the path of industry. A stalwart race of New Zealander3 will spring up (who shall not know the stunting prejudices of tho oM world) to take their part in the resistless inarch of enlightenment. The continuous interplay of thought, science and productive "forces shall bring about results political, social and religious, which as yet aie almost undreamt of. Such (in conjunction with the whole colony) is the great futuie that looms before the erotwhile centre of Tawhaio's Maori Kingdom.—' 4 Auckland Star," August 30.