THE HINTERLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1922, Page 6

THE HINTERLAND.

THROUGH THE OHURA. SOME FINE COUNTRY. WORK AT THE RAILHEAD. (By Our Special Reporter.) On Thursday evening the Ohura settlers entertained the visitors at a smoke concert in the County Chambers. There was a large attendance, over which Mr.' S. E. Meredith presided. After the usual loyal toast had been honored, “Commercial Interests” was proposed by Mr. L. B. Webster, who stressed the importance of the port of Moturoa, - which had the advantage of 90 miles over the next seaport, and was the natural outlet of the Ohura district. The trip round the country that day had brought one or two things forcibly before him. In the various favorably situated valleys passed through, crops grew and thrived luxuriously. There were even signs that maize, oats, etc., grew well in the Ohura. It was plain their interests were identical; both must work together, one producing in order to provide the wherewithal for the other to help production. In the course of his response, Mr. W. K. Williams said the visitors had come at the right time to see turnips and ■ maize; the turnips were, he .said, the - best in New Zealand. At the Waikato Show which was held in the middle of a fertile district, the Ohura had brought back the coveted prizes in this section. Ohura had been Under a financial depression, the speaker continued, but the railway was bringing hope to the district, and would reduce freights beyond expectations. When the district was connected by rail with New Plymouth that town to a certain extent would govern the trade of the locality, as it was 90 miles nearer than Auckland, and if the wharfage was also cheaper, New Plymouth would be the outlet. Mr. List (president of the Chamber of Commerce) said the New Plymouth har-

bor charges were lower than those of either Auckland or Wellington.

PROGRESS OF THE OHURA. Resuming, Mr. Williams said that Ohura was only about 19 years old. Twenty-five years ago there were only 25 miles of road, mostly unbridged; today there were 400 miles of road, every portion of which was serviceable for carriage. The land was fertile and would produce a lot in the future. They were now milking 500 cows, though he admitted the number of sheep had dim-

inished somewhat. However, they would have both when money was cheaper, as sheep were particularly good for the rough countuy. The outlook, he thought, was brighter than for the last 18 months, and the influence wrought by outside affairs—the Washington Conference, the Irish settlement, payment of reparations, and overthrow of Bolshevism—must make for prosperity. There was now a better market for butter, cheese and frozen meat in England. The speaker had heard that Argentine was not likely to produce so much for export, and this was a good omen for New Zealand. The last few months had been the lowest ebb to which the depression cduld, go; now he was convinced the tidd was flowing and prosperity was being restored. “I am sure 1 voice the opinion of every man*in Ohura when I welcome our visitors to-night and repay the compliment paid to us when we visited New Plymouth.” said Mr. G. Loveday in proposing “Our Guests.” Chief among the interests connecting the two was the Stratford-Okahukura railway, a most vital work, for without it and the building of roads the fusion of their mutual interests was impossible. They had set themselves the task of getting early completion of the line to Ohura, and had met difficulties time after time by promises unfulfilled. All should make one united effort to see that the Government did the right thing by them. (Hear, hear). He was quite sure the New Plymouth people would be with them to a man. The district had been suffering for lack of and roads for 19 years. Immediately the Ohura line was completed the first duty was to assist the New Plymouth people to get the railheads linked up. THE MAIN ROAD. Speaking upon the roading of the district. Mr. Loveday said it was felt, after the Minister of Public Works had laid down his arterial roads scheme, the road from Stratford to Te Kuiti had a good claim and should be given consideration. One of the best beauty spots in the Dominion was the Tangarakau Gorge. People seeing it for the first time went into ecstasies, and it would be an inestimable asset to New Zealand in time to come. Measures should be taken to preserve every part. A road through the gorge would also link up the ends of the railway. There was an abundance of metal in the gorge; all that was needed was a crusher. The starting point of their united efforts should be the pushing of their claims before the Minister. The Ohura would be a large feeder to the seaport town, and every scrap of land must be worked. The Ohura. concluded the speaker, was a district of wonderful possibilities, for its 4v(>.000 acres would carry two sheep to the acre. Mr. P. Goldfinch contributed a humorous suggestion for expediting the railway work, the burden of which was “give us license.” VISITORS' EYES OPENED. Responding to the toast, which had been most heartily honored. Mr. List thanked the speaker for his generous tributes and the district generally for their cordial reception. The delegation had come to Ohura to get in close touch with the district and in order that they might know one another and understand each other’s requirements. The delegates had had their eyes opened by what they had seen since their arrival in the district. They realised the wonderful possibilities of the district. They had been surprised at the extent of country which would come into profit. Referring to the railway, the speaker said the connection should be made: /he district was deserving of it and should have had the railway many vears ago. The railway, indeed, was one of first national importance, and its urgencv had been frequently stressed by"*the’Chamber. It was a crying shame io spend public money upon the East Coast and North Auckland railways when construction would not increase productivity one iota. This district had neither harbors, roads nor railways, yet was cassed third on the list of works to be done. The other districts mentioned had not nearly as much rich and practically undeveloped country. The Ohura consisted of nearly half a million aeres, half of which jwas in grass and carried tv< sheep to

the acre; some parts even more. It was a good country and deserved better treatment. He did not blame the Government for concentrating upon a few •public works as against dissipating their efforts aver many, but they had shown an error of judgment in putting • the Stratford line third instead of first of the railways to be completed. Taranaki people were desirous of helping Ohura to get the railway, but the Government had laid down a certain policy which had to be accepted for the time being. That being so, it would be better then to join forces and advocate the putting down of a good road between. Tahora and the Paparata Saddle, up to which point he understood the Ohura County had decided to metal. The estimated cost of such a road was £30,000. The road ought to be “a good * thing” from the Government’s point of view as a connecting link with the railheads. The construction of the road itself presented no difficulty; there were no, difficult grades, the road being practically level throughout. Ohura, Tahora, Stratford, and New Plymouth ought to join forces and urge upon the Government to have this work put in hand at once. The speaker suggested the Ohura district should nominate two members as honorary members of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. OTHER NECESSITIES. Regarding the telephone connection between Tatu and Tahora, the same vigilance committee should take up the work. At present communication from Ohura with the outside world had to be carried on via TaumarOnui. In helping the Ohura the Chamber of Commerce recognised that they were helping themselves. Mr. List, paid a tribute to the Harbor Board which, since the labor and finance difficulties had been overcome, had shown considerable energy and enterprise. The trade of the port was increasing, and it was not an uncommon experience to have two liners at New Plymouth at the same time. Phe 10,000 ton liner Pakeha was coming in a few days, and soon the largest ships trading with New Zealand would be able to berth in the New Plymouth harbor in perfect safety. For the vear ending December 1 last Taranaki's exports amounted to over £5,300,000, which worked out at £BB per head of popula-tion-man, woman and child, or more than twice the average for the whole of the Dominion. For the yeUr ending April 1. 1921, the amount was £B2 per head. This did not take into consideration the value of the produce -from the Ohura district. When communications were established the Ohura produce would swell these figures. There was a great bond of sympathy between what might be called old Taranaki and the Ohura, because the Ohura pioneers were for the most part sons of Taranaki settlers. Old Taranaki was anxious to help the Ohura in any way possible, and hoped the opportunity would be given. One might have thought that the district would have gone back during the war, but there’’tVas no evidence of this. Concluding, Mr. List extended an invitation to the Ohura settlers to return the visit next vear, when they would be assured of a good and interesting time. THE NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR. “Tlie New Plymouth Harbor Board,” was proposed by Mr. J. Roche, who said this was a red-letter daj’ to Ohura. The harbor only existed on paper >as far as they were concerned until the Ohura got proper connection with New Plymouth. People who came to New Plymouth just eighty years ago still had their survivors as the principal people of the town'and district. He instanced particularly Mr. Newton King, whose father had landed in the “Amelia Thompson,” in 1841. Reverting to the Ohura, Mr. Roche stated that there was a very large coal-field, perhaps the largest in New’ Zealand, situated in the Ohura County. A conservative estimate put it down at 300 million tons. New’ Plymouth must be the distributive centre for such a district to the seven seas. Tn the near future, predicted the ' speaker. New Plymouth would be a city whose peer perhaps would not exist in New Zealand. People alive to-day would see it, as things happened quickly in new countries. Further, New Ply- , mouth was the nearest port in New Zealand to Australia. With the development of international shipping circumstances pointed at and natural advantages showed that in competition New Plymouth must be premier. The Ohura therefore must contribute largely to New Plymouth, for the hinterland of the province must eventually become almost as important as the butter and cheese producing lands were now. Ho hoped the Ohura people would regard themselves as Taranaki-ites. Touching on the districts’ requirements Mr. Roche said that before the road between Ohura and Tahora concentrated upon the railway to Ohura from the Main Trunk had to be an established fact. The mutual interest between Ohura and' Taranaki were self-evident, but the Chamber of Commerce must help to get the railway to Ohura first. PROGRESS OF THE PORT. Mr. Newton King, the chairman of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, in responding, recalled that the Tokorima and Ohura had rated themselves and unanimously carried the vote for the New Plymouth Harbor loan three years ago when permission was asked for the borrowing of £300,000. At that time the price of construction w’as extremely high, and there was no doubt that labor was top dog; therefore the board adopted a go-slow policy for a time. Now work had been started again, last month a London loan of £70.000 at a reasonable rate of interest having been raised. New Plymouth was now recognised as a shipping port by London and American authorities. The shipping companies had previously imposed a condition under which goods that might be carried on to Wellington or other ports were so carried at the consignee’s risk. This condition, he was glad to announce, had now been waived. He expected that the extra charge of 5s per ton above those of the main ports would also be cancelled in the near future. was a charge that should not be made 1 . Referring to the harbor improvement scheme, Mr. King said the stone at Moturoa was quite satisfactory, but the cost of transportation put it out of court. Now the board had commenced to quarry Pari tutu. It was not very pleasant or agreeable to attack such an historic feature, but it had to be done. It was the cheapest quarry Known in the history of harbor construction. Tipping had been proceeding for the last fortnight. To those who said Paritutu rock was unsuitable he would reply that there were some 50-ton rocks there which were so big that they had to be broken'up before they could be handled. From ‘he end of the present breakwater the sea-bot-tom had been lined for 600 feet, and it was expected to have the mole finished for that distance in 2-J years. A second wharf in concrete, running parallel to the present wharf, had been found necessary, and its construction was being proceeded with. When this was constructed the shipping compan-

ies had intimated that they would send their biggest boats to New Plymouth without any more dredging being required. The new wharf would obviate any possible danger from a north westwind. Mr. King mentioned that meat exports from Waitara and Patea were now going via Moturoa, and New Plymouth was destined to be the export port for the whole of Taranaki. Reverting to Ohura needs, Mr. King said the Government should be petitioned to make the road through the Tangarakau Gorge to Ohura a national highway, as it was absurd to expect the country to pay for 13 miles of unproductive road. Pressure must be brought to bear in order to get the road put though without delay. In ;concluding, Mr. King, who was very cordially received and loudly applauded, said the sole object in speaking was to urge the connection of Ohura with the port of New Plymouth, for roads, he assured them, could in these days o-f efficient motor traction, compete successfully with railways. Other toasts were “The Army and the Navy” (Mr. G. Stevenson—Mr. S. Eurgess), Local Bodies (Mr. E. P. Webster—Mr.. W. Sanderson), Sports (Mr. T. Healy—Mr. J. McLeod), The Ladies (Mr. J. McClenagan—Mr, W. B. Besley), and the Press. The proceedings were interspersed with musical items. COAL OUTCROPS. Ohura was left at 8.30 a.m. on Friday, some of the settlers accompanying the party through the Waitewhena Valley to the coal outcrop, twelve miles from Ohura. The field is an extensive one, and judging from indications found, is approximately 24 miles by 10 miles in area, whilst the seam varies -from 4 to 15 feet, with an average of about 10 feet. The estimate of the quantity of coal is put down at 300 million tons. The coal has been tested for steaming purposes, and found very satisfactory, a constant pressure of 1601bs having been obtained. The Government geological survey party has located coal in continuous seams on both sides of the ranges, and undoubtedly the coal field is connected with that found up the Mokau River, which is only about 5 or 6 miles in a direct line -from the locality.

After the inspection the Ohura settlers were farewelled. and the cars drew away amidst cheers and answering cheers.

Waitewhena Valley road was traversed, more open country appeared, of which Aria and Pio Pio are the centre. Some magnificent views of the valleys and surrounding country were obtained on the winding uphill roads just before Aria was reached. The country hereabouts is much more open. It seems of a lighter nature, but is carrying considerable stock, and in places dairying is going on. The roads are a great improvement upon the Ohura roads, being metalled throughout. After lunch at Pio Pio the journey was continued to Awakino and Mokau. The Taumatamaire, on the northern side especially, is in a very rough condition. and, in -fact, nothing better than a series of steps. The gradients are exceptionally stiff, and the rock, where strewn, is roughly laid. How the settlers compelled to use it manage to negotiate it in winter is a mystery. The hill was negotiated without mishap, and the jiarty, very much dust-be-grimed, arrived at Awakino at 4.30, where they were met bj prominent Awakino settlers, with Mr. Thompson at the head, and Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., and escorted to the valley in which the dog trials were being held. Afterwards, the short run of four miles to Mokau was made, where accommodation for the night was obtained.