AS OTHERS SEE US.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 252, 14 March 1913, Page 6

AS OTHERS SEE US.

TARAXAKI EXTOLLED,

A PFEP IXTO TIIK PAST

■Tarauaki, picturesque, historical, agri- _ cultural, industrial." is given much space in a special number of Progress, now in circulation. Much interesting reading matter is interspersed with many excellent photographic views, among which occur representations of Mount Egmont, the new accommodation house, two panoramas of Xew Plymouth, one taken from Mftturoa Island and the other looking seaward, seven charming peeps of the Recreations Grounds, Xew Plymouth, snapshots on the Mokau river, a magnificent view of Hell's 1' alls, and a picture of St. Mary's, Taranaki'.s historical church. "THE HARDEN' OF NEW ZEALAND." The literary part of the production contains much that is good. Jn an article extolling the beauty of our glorious mountain it recalls ' that Governor Hobson called the Taranaki country "the Garden of Xew Zealand." Then it was the home of the forest primeval. Tt is still the garden of Xew Zealand, but much of the forest has ceased to be primeval. Nevertheless, the country is most fascinating to the lover of the'picturesque. Tt is a country typical of the scenic style of Maoriland, so unique in the scenery of the world. For example, .like-most of the districts of these '•fortunate isles," the scenery is dominated by mountain shapes. But the domination is of the handsomest mountain in the Dominion, an'd one of the most graceful in the world. Every landscape centres in that wonderful cone, and from the sea the traveller has it in his satisfied eve always. Seen from llawera the beauty of the mountain is greatest. One does not. know which to admire the most—the majestic grandeur of the mountain, the grace of the icy ! cone poised in the "blue dome or air." the marvel of the curve uniting it to the J plain as an integral part of itself, tlu tints of the forest, of the ice and tlu J pleasant land. j SOME HISTORY, j The history of Taranaki, which begin j- witli the arrival of the Maori' navigator } Kupe in the canoe Aotea. is dealt with in ail illuminating and fascinating manlier. Tlow the Maoris established after their first coming GftO years ago or so. and grew and multiplied on the lands of the ancient inhabitants: whom, finding to lie iinwarlike. they exterminated duly, is picturesquely told, after which the writer passes on to tell of the first, European settlement of Xew Plymouth [iiid its environs. Mention is made of the raids of the Waikatos on the Xgati- ( awa tribes, who held the Taranaki conn- ! try. When the Waikatos got to Moturoa they found a ''pa" strongly fortified and garrisoned by some 350 men. Among these were half-a-dozen white men, old sailors under the celebrated "Dicky Barrett." a whaler of great repute in those far-off days. The seigc lasted for four months, when hunger compelled the Waikat os to beat a retreat. When the invaders commenced to fly, the triumphant garrison fell on them and massacred . ninny braves, and Barrett was so sure that the Waikatos would come back one day for revenge ; that he migrated to Wellington (Port Xicholson). There lie ■ was, states the article, when tlie Tory arrived with Colonel Wakefield, and was accepted as interpreter. Hp acquired' the piece of land near PI limner's Steps about that time, and built on it a hostelry known for year's as ''Barrett's Hotel." The name is borne now by a stately building near the said steps. Such was the origin of "Barrett's Hotel." The fears of Dicky proved correct, for the Waikatos came back for "utn." and between them and the raids of To Raw* paraha the ancient race was driven out —what was left of it—and. according to Maori usage, the land became the property of the conquerors. . I THE FUTURE. Ample justice is done to the potentialities of the oil and ironsand, much space being devoted to the activities of the Taranaki (X.Z.) Oil Wells, Ltd'. Tts prospects arc described as. on the whole, being decidedly good. and. passing on. Progress devotes some space to "R'nral Taranaki." and then summarises the future. The attractiveness of t'fte province from a tourist's point of' Vi'e'w is not overlooked, ami the article concludes in the following strain: "It is already a great dairy country. The test of the herds properly and systematically ■' conducted will double >-the output without increasing the number of head. Later , the development will be. almost incalculable. The western country also has a tremendous future. It will not be long before the railwav is through to Ongarue. and then the shedding of the traffic both ways, Auckland-wards, and to Xew Plymouth, will be of phenomenal effect. The mineral future is assured so far as oil is concerned. 11l this matter we shall hear of rival'ry to the great American Trust and a refuge against it. There will surclv be a per cent, drop in the price of petrol in this connection. That means a vast revenue to the Taranaki wells. Lastlv. there is the coal, of Mokau, which will make fortnnes for tlu- lucky owners of stock in the 'sweet by-and-bye.' -On the whole, the 'Garden of Xew Zealand' is destined to justify a great; part of what, we may call the well-founded prophetic welfare of the Britain of tlu' South."