AWAKINO AND MOKAU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 31, 8 February 1900, Page 3

AWAKINO AND MOKAU.

(I'HOM OUIt OWN CORRESPONDENT.) One thing that surprises the settlers o this district is that the outside peopl know so little about it; in fact, fror what we hear on the few occasions tha business takes us to New Plymouth there appears to be an idea that ou lot is C-iSt in a ini-utt' and inuccessib! region, It is wellj than, to aniigiitv

i the world at large on this point. In , the first place, the roads are in very - good order even for light spring traps. 3 Just before Christmas, one of our 1 settlers drove here from town in a ) vehicle of that description, and since > then two lighter traps have gone up, 1 while last week a native drove up in i a four-wheeled buggy—the first seen , on the road. It is now possible to ■ drive right up here on the main road i without taking "to the beach. There is ' only one river unbridged—the Tonga- , porutu—and in crossing this the water does not reach higher than the axle. At Mokau the river is crossed in a punt, and the growing demands on this means of transmission has necessitated a new punt being built on up-to-date lines, and on a principle far superior to that of the punt now in use. From Mokau to Mahoenui the road is very good. About every twelve miles from New Plymouth there is an accommodation house, so that travellers need have no fear of being belated by the way. Mr. Gibbon has just completed a first-rate accommodation house at Awakino, containing about a dozen rooms. As we take quite our share of interest in the news of the world, it is very satisfactory to be able to get the Saturday papers on Sunday morning, and there is generally a good muster at the Post Office to devour the contents of the Taranaki News. No doubt it will surprise some people to learn that a sale yard will shortly be . put up, and should prove a great success. One of our settlers is intending to erect a small dairy factory, which is expected to be in full swing by next Spring. Every available section along the ; road is now taken up, and, what is > more, the plough is at work in several j places, and cropping increasing rapidly, j There is no doubt about the district ; goiog ahead and being well settled, so rapidly is this process going on that ' one sanguine settler has forecasted the 1 erection of freezing works at Mekau 1 1 within the next eight years—the excellent fattening land, the large runs, s and the quality of the sheep and cattle ; now on the land would seem to justify \ the fulfilment of the prophecy. Mokau boasts of one of the finest i police stations in the province. It is certainly a building that would be an < j ornament to any town and a credit to 1 any builder. Messrs. Pikett and Grayling, of New Plymouth, were the contractors. It can now boast of a > suitable To>vn Hall. Nor have the re- ! ( Iquirements for the recreation of the , ladies been forgotten, for lawn tennis is in full swing. ] Anyone desiring a really enjoyable 1 drive, possessing the attractions of fine rugged and varied scenery, could not do better than take a trip to Awakino . or further north if so inclined.