THE FAR NORTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1917, Page 7

THE FAR NORTH.

ITS. [WANTS and disabilities. THE NEED FOR ROADS. No. IX. The North cries loudly for settlement. The absence of population everywhere is almost pathetic. New Zealand is a very highly favored country to possess a peninsula so rich in possibilities and allow it to lie practically dormant for so many years. The population figures tell the tragic story—Europeans I 44,000, Maoris 11,500, or a total of 50,000 persons. They "occupy" the 3,800,000 acres comprising the North Auckland province. Colonel Allen Hell, chairman of the Development Board, and largely responsible for the Parliamentary trip, estimates mat there is at least one and a quarter million acres of first-class land that should he available for settlement, and probably an. other million acres that could ie made highly profitable with scientific farming such as that adopted in the Waikato The poorest clay; gum lands can also

in his opinion, tie made available for fruit growing on profitable lines. One is disposed to agree with Colonel Bell, after seeing what can be done with apparently valueless gum lands. But the poor lands, requiring the expenditure of much capital belore "coming in," could well be left in the meantime, except that required iby the orchardists. There is such a large extent of good country available that would give an immediate return. Big tracts of -this land, however, are locked up against settlement, both by the Crown and tho Maori. In the Ho-' kianga district, some 500, I COO acre's of the pick of the Northern lands is in the hands of the natives, lying useless. Worse than that, some of the rich flats are simply nursery 'beds for the dreaded blackberry, which may spread to adjoining land. In the hands of industrious settlers the lana would soon be carrying at least two sheep to the acre. It is not too much to say that the country is losing at least a million sterling per annum by the Maori ownership of these blocks. In the Herckino and Kaikohe the same story is told. Everywhere file native lands are retarding settlement. But the Government is also similarly offending. It has reserved for National endowments some '!)00,000 acres. The tenure is olio that doesn't appeal to the average settler. This tying up of land is one of the main causes ol the unprogressiveness of the north. To a resolute Government the problem would be solved in a very short time. But the Government is deficient both in capacity and courage'. It never seeks to find a practical solution to a pressing problem. . It simply marks time, seeking to placate first one party and then another, but never for a moment taking the bit between its teeth and completely and finally disposing of a difficulty. The roads of the north are notoriously bad. True the motor cars succeeded in going up one side of the peninsula and returning by the other, but they could never have come through the Ilerekino Gorge under their own power. When there is any rainfall the roads soon become morasses, and practically impassable for wheeled or motor traffic. Generally speaking, metal is available, but the settlers .will not go to the expense of metalling the roads or even Keeping them in decent order. The raising of special loans for the purpose is unthinkable. The making of the roads in the fifst place was faulty, the engineers generully following the old Maori tracks, and the grades on the hills are deplorable. Ko provision is made for channelling, especially on hill sides, and to make a job of it would entail, as stated by the Member for Patea at Peria, remaking practically the whole of the roads. There are, of course, stretches of tolerably good roads, as, for instance, from Mangonui to Kataia, and in the llobson County area, as well as in and about Whangarei. It must be admitted, however, that the settlers in many districts are placed at s disadvantage in respect' to road maintenance by so much Crown and Maori land not bearing rates, but this is scarcely a justification for the disinclination "vuieed for not rating themselves and doing their share towards keeping the roads open. A'cry little of the first.class land pays even 8d an acre in rates. It fe ridiculous to expect roads to be maintained without rates. One settler with a farm of 300 acres, considered he was hardly done by in having to pay £(> per yeai in rates. In Taranaki he would have bad to pay something like £OO or £7O on property of similar carrying capa city'. With good roads, the north would make great headway, but the settlers point of view in respect of rates wil lirst have to be changed. To expect the Government to do the work is quite unreasonable. It is time for the Govern ment to help when the,settlers hav< rated themselves equally with the set tiers in other parts. And it doesn't look as if that will ever be.

In waterways the North lias a tremendous advantage over any other part of the Dominibn. Nature lias been exceedingly kind in thfs respect. The party were told that no holding is beyond 20 miles of a good harbor or -waterway. Freights on the whole are cheap compared with what tliey are elsewhere, and if the settler liad good roads he would be in an enviable position. Nature has Bone her best for the North; it is "up to" the settlers to do their share. In the Kataia district, one of the best in the North, a settler was complaining of the isolation of the place and the need for railway communication. A visitor enquired how often boats called at Awanui, seven miles, and Mangonui, 15 miles distant. "Twice a week at both places," came the answer, In the Taranaki bnekbloeks, it is not unusual for settlers to be isolated for four or five months of the year. As a matter of fact, the ''baekblockera" of this particular locality are singularly well oil'. But Auckland is continually drumming it into their heads that they in the North are terribly isolated without railway connection with the city. With good roads to the harbors or rivers, the north need not worry about the railway, nor about Auckland. A

wrong policy lias been followed in con. nection with the railways. The North has never pulled together but always worked for its own hand, and the result is seen in the tin-pot lines tJat abut from various points. The Government is now trying to link up the liits and make a workable system of it. It ia comparatively easy country to rail and it should not be long before the Kaikohe end . is carried on as far as Mantramuku. at the head ov nit arm of the Hokianga. ii hoped to ultimately

extend ifc to Kataia. or Mangatmi. But the railways will not bring relief to the northerner; as lie fondly believes. That can only come by his helping himself and constructing decent roads to his property. The visitors learned a good deal regarding the north as a result of the trip, hut the northerners would also profit considerably <by visiting other parts of the Dominion and seeing how they manage things. They would be very unobservant did' they not return determined to rely in future upon themselves to a greater extent and make a greater effort to exploit the rich resources nature lias given them. At present they are somewhat parochial in their outlook, and nllow Auckland city to do all the thinking for them. Before concluding these necessarily incomplete and superficial articles oil the nort'h, the writer would like to add his tribute to the splendid services rendered by the owners of the cars, and particularly to Mr. "Ossy" Alelsopp, of Waiuku, one of the most cheerful and unselfish motorists, to whose tender care lie was committed during the trip, and to Colonel Bell, Mr. Samuel (secretary), Mr. 'Harris, M.P., and Mr. S. Dickson, M.P., and Mr Vernon Reid, the executive of the Development Board, who spajed 110 trouble to make the trip both enjoyable and instructive to the visitors and the northern folic for their unstinted hospitality, throughout.

STREETS UNDER WATER. SHOPS AND HOUSES INVADED. By Telegraph.—Prjss Association. Thames, Last Night. The most disastrous flood ever experienced here occurred early this morning. There was a heav* storm, with, wind and rain, during the night. At an early hour a small bridge over a creek above the town was washed away and carried down the stream and blocked the creek where the cemented portion begins, iwith the result that it overflowed and deluged the town, depositing logs, debris, and silt everywhere, ruining gardens, and invading houses. Many people escaped, leaving all their belongings behind. Much damage was done to the shops invaded. Every | street was a lake. Business was suspended, and the town isolated. Telegraphic communication ia suspendede at present (i p.m.). railway washouts s'topped all traffic. When tho obstruction was removed the creek water l.fcft the streets.