THROUGH OUR HINTERLAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 43, 16 March 1909, Page 4

THROUGH OUR HINTERLAND

THE LAND BOARD'S INSPECTION. . UMPKESSIONS OF A MEMBER. In the course of a chat with a Daily News reporter, Jlr. John Heslop, of Jiatapu, a member of the Taranaki Laud Board, supplied some iuterestiug information on the Board's recent trip through its domains, into the King Country, mentioning the different places visited and the points of interest noted en route. Starting from Stratford by. special coach filum Stratford on the morning of 17th February, the Board travelled as far as Whangaiuomona thu: j day, being thoroughly drenched en rouu The following day was occupied rea-i. ing local deputations and inspecting uiu country down the Whanga road. Au interesting sight on this trip was a high level suspension bridge erected at their own cost (about £150) by the lessees of a Crown section to give them access from the Whanga road over the Whanga stream to their holding. Next day, tne. ll)th, a start was made for the Uhura country, and lunch was partaken of in' the Thngarakau Gorge, at a spot near' whew tie first outcrop of the great Taugarakan coal beds is to oe seen. Here, also, (ie members of the party who had driven from Whanga, mounted saddle horses for the continuation of the journey. Shortly after resuming, and about the centre of the Gorge, the Board were interviewed by the mother of a very large family, who with her husband and family is camped at that »pot. mis iamiiy was without any other home, and desired to select an I.F. section near Tatu, which has been without a tenant for some considerable time. The next point of interest noted was a high-level suspension bridge site on the Tangarakau stream, and the Board expressed the opinion that six feet was much too narrow a bridge on so important a highway. Uoal Greek, as usual, came as a surprise to those travellers who had not previously seen it, and the party arrived in good time ac Alls Baggie's, in the Heao vditey, where the night was spent. The Board were agreeably surprised by the progress made by settlers generally, and the way in which the country was opening ouu. Next day, the 20th, was occupied travelling from Tatu to Mangaroa, and in inspecting some of the country surrounding that township. One member at least expressed disappointment at the number of buildings erected in Mangaroa since his last visit, but it should be remembered that the township has I ecu greatly hampered by the dill'iculty ot • obtaining building timber, the stale of the roads for the greater part ot the year, and last, but not least, the fact that the majority of the best building Bites are in the hands of non-progressive outside speculators. Many of these do not appear in any hurry to assist iu improving the township, out rather retard its progress by demanding exorbitant prices from those wishing to purchase sections at second hand, in order to hniM.

The next day, Sunday, was spent quietly at Mangaroa by two of the members, the other two driving to Xiho Xiao (wiere there is a large co-operative dairy factory) and to Maticre (where there is a proprietory factory on a much smaller scale). On Monday, 22nd, three members of the Board proceeded u the direction of Taumarunui, calling shortly after leaving Mangaroa, at the residence of Mr Geo. Loveday. The visitors were much impressed by the quality and quantity of the fruit in Mr Loveday's orchard. The growth, of the trees, especially peaches and nectarines, which had only been planted three years, was something to marvel at. Shortly after leaving Mr Lovedaj's, good-bye was said to another member of the Board, and the remaining two members proceeded via the Tokorinia Valley and the new swing bridge over the Ohura river to Aukopae Landing. A slight deviation was made from the direct track to inspect the old Maori clearing at Aorangi on the Ohura Kiver, Some fine country held by Mr Robert Craig was als u wen at this point of the journey, Aukopae Landing was next inspected, and the night spent at Messrs McDonald and Rule's selection near Aukopae, the Board being well •pleased with the progress made by settlers in this locality. Next day, the 23rd, the tour of inspection waa continued via Niho Niho (where the school, site was inspected) and the Pfcntice Eoad, through some fine country well suited for dairying, to the wonderful Waitewhena Valley. This valley runs fairly straight, and about level, for some 17 miles north wsfcrds from Mangoroai, through coal bearing country, a continuation of the Tangarakau coal-areas. The country between the Kie Kie Road and the Mokau river in the Paraheke Valley showed up well on this occasion, and the members of the Board arrived at Aria well pleased with the country they had inspected 'during the tour. Round Aria was seen some very fair agricultural land, continuing out of the Main Trunk line. Coal and limestone are also found in the vicinity. In fact, from the south end of the Tangarakau Gorge to North of Aria, there is an almost unbroken chain of coal fifty miles in length, running parallel with the proposed Stratford-Te Kuiti railway, and this country should be taken into consideration when the proposed State coal mine in this Island is being discussed. Regarding the controversy over the route of the East railway, Mr. Heslop says there is no doubt in his mind that the railway ought to divert from Mangaroa through the Waitewhena Valley mentioned above, and through Aria, functioning with the Main Trunk somewhere South of Te Kuiti. This route he considers superior to that to the proposed Ongaruhe junction.