LAND BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 132, 5 June 1903, Page 4

LAND BOARD.

yisrr to the osura country

As is well-known the Taranaki Land Board Itffc New Plymouth about tbe middle of last month for the purpose " of making a tour cf inspection over the northern portion of the land district now being opened for closa settlement. The party left Neiv Plymouth on the 11th May and consisted of the Commissioner cf Crown Lands, Mr Mackenzie, (who had previously been several times through the district) and Messrs Heslop, Ratten'cury, and McOluggage. The o.her member, Mr J. B. Connett, with his usual common sense remained like a wise man in comfortable quarters. Mr Follet Carring ton also accompanied the Board, es he was going up to assist the surveyors to get'the land early in the market. The programme, mapped out by the Commissioner, was to go overland via Waitata-Awakino, as far ss Paemako i on the Mokau-Te Kuiti Road, and en route to make certain inspections of matters that had come before the Board. It was hoped that Paemako, where ordinary civilisation would be bid good-bye to, would be reached on the Eecond night after leaving, and from there the new country would be -entered and a southerly route struck through the Crown land to tbe Ohura Valley, striking the S'ratford-Ongarue Road (about 18 miles from Ongarue). From thenca the Siratford-Oagarue line of roid wbs to be adhered to for about 25 miles, which would have brought the party close to the Upper Tangarakau. From this a ciuree was intended to have been shaped easterly towards the Upper Wanganui River, ending at Taumaranui. From thenee the train was to have be?n taken to Auckland and then by sea back to N.P. It had b6en arranged that eurvay camp* had to be reached at different stages of the journey whero the party would put in the nights. The slart was made from New Plymout h in pouring raip, and the prospect looked aiiythiog but encouraging when the party left the Waitara railway statioc, in the two buggies provided, in the face of a northern gale with drenching rain. Tongaporutu was reached ft nigh? - , and here the party was wasuhevbouod for twodiy.'. It seemed as if tie t-ip would have to be abandoned and a return made, but news Cams that tha road had become blocked in the rear. It was therefore decided to push on. Tha roads everywhere were in a fearful state, and all the rivers bank high. The Lower Mokau was successfully negotiated, but on reaching the Upper Awakino, which was in high flood beyond Mahoanui, where there was neither bridge nor ford, the party had to cross on a wirp, and arrangements were made with the natives en the other side to convey them on to Paemako in a brake, 'the buggies being despatched with a tent back to New Plymouth. Paemako was eventually reached on the sixth day instead of the second, when the party were met by Mr T. Bart, District Road Surveyor, and Messrs Hunt and Paterso?, Governmentsurveyors. Riding and pack hcrsss were also here in readiness. A start was then made, and the upper Mok&u was crossed in a punt above the Warren Fall?, —tho river overflowing its banks and the falls presen'irg a magnificent s^h 1 -. Tho Crown lasds were reached and the northern end examined, and from a prominent hill an excellent view wa3 obtained of the country for 20 miles, which comprised rolling hills and downs, consisting of open and forest country. It was soon apparent that it would ba impossible to carry out the route intended, as messengers came in stating that the rivers and streams were quite unfordable, and the law country had been converted in many places into lagoons and likes. It was therefore decided to go round via Te Kuiti and Oog ;rue, into tha Ohura valley, see what was to be seen friiii !;a' , nd if the river went do.. - L- .ok to the upper Mokau from there. The party, taking their horaea and baggage with them, entrained at Te Kuiti goiog by rail to Ongaeue, and from there down the Ohuta valley for nearly 40 miles. Mr District Surveyor Skcet was met at tbe Gove nancn: whrro on the Mongaroa River, a tight was spans. The country everywhere was full of water and ?. >rkiu<', and me nVeis ail reing of a s!u gish i h .c (mthough tie rain hid i! gel; , w ■:* :-.iill high, in fact : i fcoQ!~ . 'j_*--1 ;sd vising uiore. Tl.o o i..t • hi-meelv-.s hero to lo< iir-g - roc.-nf.ly ta'.-en up, s ui i • •. town hip site V ihoy highly app: vc-i r •:» .<;, i: i,.l mein L ; rs were -m vVi-.y i S i-1 tuiid COUtl "/ ■■:;} - on a A- r: , inco :h. J' : out, un'.H uji .vvolitions, 'li :r, ■ . u . £.,- v £, ■; i(; wis decided to re- utu to 18 tniles of Ong'irue, swiui the horses across the Ohura river, .cd thor. strike north through tbe CVo.Tii lanHs towards Puamako. This was accordingly dene, two days feeing devoted, undor very adverse drcumstar.c??, to ex-.mining tfco (o intry being Tfa.-i i>nt fy .ot hispitaljly n-i-o-y..i::cd ai:d mi; up by Mr Marco'.t, "• sm-v y.-. nn-1 his >ias iy, %••'.■< I '• m;.!rj j.iai rnutgementa lo* •heir comfort. T/:« Com/n •• i_'l ' on the b!« ck ■ . ;>y :;r:■ viz., Mr DiiU'ii'C' ;;i, • u) ". rs-ist-ant aarreyj' 1 , t'-ctv '.--on, Must, \/i,ir, and «.Mure:t', , J) Dii''ni3ncal matters con!i o'c I wi:h tho cojapi tnn (f the sui v . ?-: wr.e !s; u-std, as also toad mVters i h Mr Burd. It r.ssj found qu'tc in; tiiatlotu fee', thi) b .•!; c.u.jiy ' . Paem:ko, sj he Board h-d to content itself with going about Lull v/.y, A very good

however, of the country was gathered, as, in addition to what they travelled ov> r, at least six timf s the quantity was viewed, and the impression generally left on the mind of the Board was that the new districts had great possibilities, and, if judiciously opened in areas of from 300 acres and upwards, there was a great future for this part of Taranaki. They were also much impressed with the important necessity, from a Taranaki point ot view, of completing the Ohura—Whangamomona aud Moki reads, which form the natural outlet towards Waitara,Ncw Plymouth, and Stratford.

Having completed all that; could reasonably b-3 nxp cted, th 9 return j urn;y to Ongarue was started from Mr Marco'.t's camp, in the Maogapa Valley at dawn on a frosty morning, in a fog, and it was understood by the man looking affer the pack horses bringing up the re;r that. the pack horsu with the Beard's swag was with the msin party comprising tb) four members, Messrs Road Surveyor Bird, District Surveyor Skeet, Afsi<t«nt Surveyor Murcottnnd others, butefcer sliding and skidding through seas cf black mud two hours afterwards, on reaching tho Ohura River, still in high flood, and had to be swam across again, it was discovered that the animal in question did not atswer tha docile "roll call," and some, of course, had to go back and make a search. The party, however, after crossing the swollen stream, and* being photographed these, pushed on to tbe township, but when the Board left Ongarue for Auckland the following morning, the wanderer had not then put in an appearance. Subsequently it wbs ascertained that it had gone a cruise "on it's own," and was found two day's afterwards bogged in a lagoon, with everything soaked. These, after being dried, reached New Plymouth about a week after the Board returned home It should be mentioned that on arriving at Ongarue, the resident engineer, Mr Loucb, courteously put a special train at their disposal, and run them out to Taumaracui where certain Crown Lands in northern Taranaki were also viewed at a distance, but this part of the country did i leave a favourable impression from a settlement point of view. Next day, the 23rd May, the party took train to Auckland. The Commissioner and Mr McOluggage returning almost immediately to New Plymouth, and Messrs Hetlop and Ratenbury remaining in Auckland for a few days. . Notwithstanding their somewhat rough experiences, the unofficial members of the Board saw a lot of entirely new and most interesting country, while the knowledge gained will be of great value when afterwards dealing with matters coming before them. It will also give them sam 9 idea of what the survey partus and new settlers have to put up with in the winter in such .country, with no roads, as the districts could not have been visited under more unfavourable conditions, and it will, perhaps, in future, make them hesitate befora attempting such a trip in the depth of winter, if for no other reason than that with their pressnt .Commissioner, at any rat?, they will have to go through with it, some way or other, once they start. In their journeyings through the wilderness the Board were treated with tho utmost kindness and courtesy everywhere, the survey parties, settlors and natives dr.ir.g all in their power to make amends for the untoward state of j the elements and toe moist surroundings generally. Mr Road Surveyor! Burd accompanied tha party d uring j the last eight days of tha trip, and his knowledge of tha district combined! with his cheerful willingness to assist | in any difficulty, made himself in more | ways than one a most desirable acqui- j sitioD, and he was e?p;cially responsible j for a desirable detour to the famons t Waitooma caves, which was able to be indulged in whilst waiting six hours for the train at To Kuiti.