THE FAR NORTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1917, Page 8

THE FAR NORTH.

AN UNDEVELOPED COUNTRY. A PROMISING FUTURE. The itinerary of the trip recently taken by the Parliamentary party was arranged so as to enable the members to see as nuteh of the country as possible in the fifteen or sixteen davs at their The. promoters —the North Auckland Development Board, of 'which Colonel Allan Bell is a prominent figure—set themselves no light task, for beside having to arrange for motor and launch transit, billeting had to be arranged for the members of the party every night of the tour. But the promoters were equal to the task, and everything worked smoothly and pleasantly. _ The party was large and representative of Parliament, the Press and commerce. Tarauaki was represented by Mr. ft. J. H. Okey, M.P. for Taranaki'; .Air. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for Egmont; Mr. G. Pearce, M.P. for Patfa; whilst the Tarauaki press was represented by Mr. W. .1. I'enn, editor of the Herald"; Mr. T. (.'. List, editor of the Daily News; and Mr. R. Page, manager of'the Hawera Star. The programme was a heavy one, the idea being to show the visitor's as much of the district, its general features and resources, actual and potential, in the time at the party's disposal. To do thorough justice to the great extent of the country traversed would have occupied thrice as long, but the visitors saw sufficient to realise that in the "winterless north'' only the surface has been scratched as yet, and that a bright future awaits it. IN TiUMLAND." Albany was the first place reached. Jt is the centre of a district that was previously poor gum land, but ploughing, liming and fertilising have converted it into promising country, whilst for fruit growing the land is considered eminently suitable. There are a good many orchards hereabouts; some young,others in profit. The party were given an opportunity of sampling the peaches, plums and apples, which were voted first-class. The Agricultural Department has here an experimental farm, and it is really surprising what the officers are able to produce in the way of grasses, etc. The' fern-eovered, pipeclay land could scarcely be less inviting or less yet here you see the grasses growing to perfection. To bring this class of land into prolit, practical men state, costs about £5 per acre. It has to be turned up by the plough, to lie fallow for a period, to be sweetened by lime and fortified by slag and other fertilisers. In most instances, the settlers recoup themselves of the cost by the kauri gum they secure. The future of this of land depends very largely upon the cost of artificial manures. If the cost is reasonable, the land will come in. For fruit-growing, of course, the same working is not required. Rich land is not suitable for fruit growing, as the Hawke's Bay growers are finding out to their cost, and for fruit-growing the gum lands undoubtedly have a great future. The country through to Warkworth is for the most part uncultivated. There are some line grass paddocks—redeemed from the wilderness —but carrying little or no stock. Right along one noticed the scarcity of stock and thw plentitude of feed. Evidently the farmers had been tempted to sell their stock last year, and have been waiting—vain hope!—for prices to drop before re-stocking. Meantime their places are going back. A BOHEMIAN SETTLEMENT. At 'Puhoi the party were welcomed by the local people, who were assembled in full force, with the band out and flags flying. Puhoi is an old Bohemian settlement, and many of the second generation —the first are nearly all gone—do not speak English very fluently. Puhoi is a beautiful s-pot, with a prcttj river winding through an undulating valley, and the inhabitants, out of the whirl of life, evidently live contentedly and happily. At any rate, they give this impression. WARKWORTH. \ Warkworth is a glorified Puhoi. It is a beautiful spot. ' Once a resident, always a resident, so report stated. Situated at the head of a tidal river, it is the centre of Rodney county. A goo:l deal of dairying is gone in for hereabouts, as well as sheep farming and fruit growing. The settlers claim it to be two-sheep country. The largest orchard north of Auckland is to be found here, that of Morrison and Sons. The orchard has an area of 120 acres, an 1 is considered to be up-to-date in every respect. Many of the party visited the place and were -much interested. MANGAWAI. Next morning the party made for ' YVhaugiiroi, via Mangawai, Manga turoto , and YVaipu. The country en route to Mangaw.ii is very poor, except for the swampy lands that are being drained, and which seem to be doing well. The road is very bad, no attempt being made to keep it in repair; The neglect is inexcusable. A few hours' work would bring about a big improvement in the worst portions of the road. On either ' side, of a bridge near Mangawai big holes were left and plunks of the bridge were loose, no. effort being made to put 1 them in order. The glory of Manga•wai has departed. Once it was the centre of a large gum-digging field. As much as £3OO per acre was taken in gum oil some of the land, local residents ■ averred. A GOOD BLOCK. There is a good block of land a few miles past Mangawai. It is a veritable oasis in the desert. It is> called the Tara, and consists of a volcanic tableland, being noted for its fattening qualities. All around is poverty-stricken gum land. MORE INTERESTING COUNTRY. At Maungaturoto, the next place visited, the land improves, and the comfortable houses and surroundings show that the people are prospering. It is a dairying centre of growing importance, whilst sheep are also gone in for largely. The country is undulating, and very pretty views are to be obtained. A few miles further and the Waipu gorge is entered. It is very pretty, but would liavo 'been much more so had the bush not been hacked down in certain places. The road is good through the gorge, indeed right from Maungaturolo, for which the motorists wero duly thankful. A NOVA SCOTIAN SETTLEMENT; Waipu v is one of the oldest settle-

ments in New Zealand. The settlers were Highlanders who emigrated to Cape Breton, and landed in Waipu in 1855, taking up one of the special settlements secured by the late Mir Georsre Grey. It was many years before tile land was cleared, but by perseverance and industry the land was made to produce grain and to support live stock. Even in the early days wheat was grown, and from it, by hand power and water power, the settlers ground their own flour; and by means of looms they spun their own wool. In these early days prices for stock were very low, and revenue derived from farming was very small, consequently many of the young men had to go outside for employment. The advent of the refrigerator made the export of beef and butter possible, and from then onwards this settlement • began to steadily advance. In 1!)01 a butter factory was started in the district and now turns out about 1-tlO tons, A fine monument has been erected in commemoration of the arrival of the old settlers, some of whom ar«> still left, and gave the party a real Highland welcome. Waipu is the home of the \Yaipu grass, brown lop and red top, which does well in certain localities, especially in the north. It is grown here for the seed, and the district does well out of it. Towards AVhangarei tiie country improves appreciably, and much dairying and fattening are gone in for. The roads are fairly good and tlio iiomesteads reflect the prosperity of the owners. (To be continued).