NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 462, 12 April 1890, Page 5

NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY ROUTE.

TOUR OF INSPECTION. Wellington, April 8. The Ministerial party travelled all Good Friday along tho banks of the Rangitikei River, following the railway line for the first few miles beyond Huntersville. They found all the lands taken up. and settled. Tho party rodo through Mr Dalzioll’s property, and were immensely pleased with tho grass-growing qualities of the soil, which is carrying three sheep to tho acre. Tho country thirty-five miles beyond Mar bon is all first rate, and the whole of the country from Ruahine to Wanganui consists of low hills, with rich flats covered with finp timber, botara, white pine, and rimu. Along tho railway route timber milling will last for years. The Crown lands traversed by the railway so far are excellent, and very largo. The road line side is thick with cocksfoot, rye and clover, which are running riot. Many of tho cattle in good condition are grazing upon natural clearings, and the sheep are largo and very fab. The railway is made throe miles beyond Huntervillo, and carries considerable quantities of timber and wool. From points along the road tho party got fine views of the picturesque scenery, especially the towering white papa cliffs of Rangitikei. This fine road will become very popular among tho tourists, because of the scenery, and of the easy character of the drive. The Maoris along tho line where the country was formerly thickly peopled, have died out very rapidly. Forty years ago the Maoris had wheat mills, and ground fine cnor grown on the rich river terraces. (Mr Donald Fraser bought eight thousand bushels on one trip thirty-five years ago. None is now grown. The wheat was first-class to-day. Captain Russell and others visit Birch’s station at Erewhou, inland from Patea, and the rest will reach Mr Sbudholme’s Ruanui property. Both parties will unite on Sunday night, leaving for Waimarino on Monday morning. Tfie vyeathpr is splendid, and the roads are very fair. The Hautapu country hereabouts is all of tho same quality—rich soil and excellent grass. Past the northern limit of Otaranakapua is a very big block of Crown lands bounded by the river Kawautai, dividing it from Awarua, a black, rich, limestone country, part bush and part open, a fine pastoral country. About 40 miles across Hautapu is a long, rich valley of alluvial deposit strewn with trachynite boulders. These are very large and far apart. In the bed of the Kawautai a fine black coal has beep picked up abundantly. The country 55 miles from Marton gone thfough was all excellent. Both Ministers were much sur-; prised and delighted, as was alsd the Lion. Minister for Lands, four months ago. All the strangers in the party were much