THE MOKAU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 207, 17 September 1903, Page 4

THE MOKAU.

Bt New-chom. ?,i:;;esti.t I took a trip m one of tha Gtaaaaors trading to the Mokau. The steamer loaded small at the wharf, uut wi oa bho go: into the tortuou3 1 upper ratche? of tha river she looked ; uiic ! t"io en W"»> had a plea-U-.ac u-ji-'.x mi . .rat Mokau, l-od .itix-ay ai'c-fvv.-r:6- unged into j3 ;• ic*. 1 river turns •.-•.id »vir.ds R.oa.'vJo suivui: 'icgmanner, >r: -izc stc<u»i jfcu ->"• at good speed, ; .u ~»uri in beautiful awi costiivaa'iiy revealing new ! I.inc'fjCßpia aau bi au'ii'a; scenery, j Thu busti ii novf dotted with a beautiful white fioiver, like orange blossom, glowing it, Ciiittors up to tha sira of a good sizea dining table. Whether these are orchids or not I do tot know; they sewn to take root in tiie forks of trees cr hello* s where dirt and decayed vegetation can lodge, In some tiees the flowers are on the tops and others on the trunks, and others! again near tha ground. The eft'ect of the white flowers in abundance amongst the green foliage is very pretty and pleasing to the eye after city life and brick walls. We shortly passed Mr Greenaway's mill, where the busy hum of the saws and escaping steam told us here was an important industry in full swiDg, with a large number of hands employed. The mill is only a few yards from the river bank, The logs are brought in at the back and rolled in to the breaking-down saws and passed on to the smaller saws, which cut the timber into desired siVs, and it is then passed on to the wharf ready for shipment. There is a large clearing at the back of this mill clothed with rich green grass, which sufficiently indicates the splendid quality of the land. There are large areas of level and undulating land along both sides of the river, extending away back to the slopes of the ranges. This broad valley of the Mokau, with its riafa land and water frontage, should be an ideal place for dairying. The climate is perfect, all winds and rough weather being cut ofl "by the surrounding hills. As regards scenery, there is no greater beauty spot in New Zealand, and so readily reached by steamer or road, the trip from Waitara only being of three hours duration, and the cost trifling. The return trip can be done comfortably on £2. If the river scenery could only be preserved in its present state it would form a National asset of mere value than could be got out of the land by any other means. Ido not know of another place where there is a navigable rive? running through natural forests reaching to the waters edge on 4'her bank, and in the season wild flowers and ferns of various descriptions abounding in all directions. The only way this beautiful place can be pre- j :-rved is for the Government to acquire he land and set it apart for enjoymeßt a'id recreation of the people. I believe j the native owners are willing to sell. About five jailes from Mr Greenwafa sawmill is Mr A. Kelly's splendid property and sawmill. This clearing also proves by its healthy green grass and fat stock the richness of the soil This mill was not working, but we saw the men on the banks rolling logs, preparatory to being floated to the mill. Above Mt Kelly's it is dense bush to the cal mines. Mr McGaechie, the mac agar, very kindly showed me through the miae and pointed out the Various places where the miners were at work getting coal. They looked like a colony of gnomes, delving away for bare life, in bare pelt and little lamps hung on their heads. There is a comfortable accommodation house here, also store and post office. A short time before my visit there had been a social gathering of the people employed about the miqe, organised by Mr McGaechie, ae a little relaxative from the daily toil. There were some really good songs sung in splendid style, nearly every one present (ladies included) contributing songs or recitations. One of the miners reckoned that Oapt, Phillipson took the cake, but another suggested that it should be divided between thfi Oaptain and Mr MeGaeohie. However, tfrey all agreed that a very enjoyable evening had been spent and hoped t hat it would be continued at a regular interval in the future. ; The distance from the mine to the Heads is 22 miles which was done in about three hours. Upon all this natural beauty and loveliness there is one foul degrading bJ.it introduced by man—sly grog, I was tti.'d that it U freely sold in the township and that all this is well within the keu of the authorities, The return to New Plymouth was asj pleasant as the upward trip, and I ew satisfied that no sUore eiijoyable or beneficial outing could b? taken in the colony for the money.