TAPU.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3516, 2 April 1880, Page 2

TAPU.

As the following letter contains a good deal of information about Tapu and the land in the neighbourhoodl it may be of interest to our readers. r

(Per : favor of the Evening Star.) , To Wm. McCullough,Esq. Deae Sib,—As President of the Thames Land Association, I have no doubt you will congratulate us on the success of our attempt to form the Waikawau Block into a farming district, the more especially when, up to the time of- our agitating the matter, it was usually recognised as a terra incognita, and fit for nothing but grazing goats. However, the conditions offered by the Auckland Waste Lands Board under the Homestead Act have put a different feature upon the matter, and before many weeks are ended I think I am safe in saying that out of the 3000 acres granted it will be difficult to. find any vacant. I will now proceed to inform you how we have got on up to the present. In the first place, at the solici* tation of a number of the residents here, I was requested to communicate with the Wasie Lands Board, Auckland," and enquire if they" would be disposed to throw open a portion of the Waikawau block for selection under the Homestead Act. In the course of a mail I received a favorable reply, stating that the Board had not yet acquired the land, but when the native title was extinct and they had the power; they would try to meet the wishes of the petitioners. A considerable time elapsed, also a considerable amount of correspondence, when at the time we almost despaired of Laving -anything done, we were agreeably Kiirprised at receiving a visit from Mr Hill, Urown Lands Hanger, wbo went to the block, arid submitted a favorable report to the Board. This even uated in. the Board granting fb»* selection under tbe Act 1509 acres on Tapu t'reek, 700 acres at M'ata crrek, SCO acres at WaikawW creek, and 300 acres at Kirita. We were informed early ii January that the land would be thrown open on March 2nd- and the. Hunger would proceed to Tapu a few days before that date to receive applications, &c. It so happened that, he only arrived late on the preceding day, and informed us that his instructions were to receive no applications, unless atthe same time the ■ survey money was deposited. This came rather unexpectedly on a number of those who had resolved to take up farms, as nothing in the regulations specified they would have to do so, the consequence was they were unable to comply, and strangers had the benefit of the inability ; however, as the strangers are strangers no more, .we have given them the hand of friendship, and heartily wish them success. I will now give you a resume of the blocks and selectors up to the prcseut; also those to whom I have given additional forms for the pur* pose of applying for more land :— . ■ NOW SETTLED. Name. No. acres. R. M. Hawkes, Tapu creek 130 Stewart Walker, „ ... ... 150 M. McMahon, „ 120 Cliarlei Lad wig, „ 120 M. Manuel, „ „, ... 300 James WiUon, Kirita ... ... 150 IN CONTEMPLATION OB TBEATY. M. Clarke, Tapu creek 3CO Robert Trotter, „ 200 1 Wm. Johnson, „ 75 Wm. Tetley, Mata creek (new in the colony), ... ... ... ... 300 Edward Sutcliffe and another, Kirita 150 There are many others who have visited the place, .and. seem pleased,' but as they are doubtful, I only give 4$ you the bona fides. You would be astonished to see the amount of, work done in the short time by the few who have started, in fact, the place is putting on a new face, and in a very short time what was a howling wilderness will soon be filled with smiling farms and verdant pastures, happy hones and lovely children.—Shakespeare; or Homer, I'm not sure which, as I almost forget my classics. The man amongst us who has shown the greatest energy is Mr Ludwig, late of Tararti, as within a fortnight he has bleared and burnt about 20 acres, erected a neat little fourroomed house, fowl* house* piggery, Ac, and planted his wife and six children on his block. :

The greatest drawback that is felt now is the roads. I must certainly give the County Council much credit for what they have done so far in that way, and it must be very satisfactory to them to know that such has been principally the means of encouraging people to settle on Tapu Creek, but there still remains a great deal to be done before the road is complete. For the first mile the creek is crossed eight times, and the approaches being so steep, added to the roughneie of the creek

bed which is torn up after every fresh, that a stranger would think it impossible to work a dray on it. The Council have ' lately laid an additional mile which has answered well during the summer months, and has been a boon to those engaged in the timber trade. Another mile at least ig now required to continue the road to the farthest farm at present occupied. This would noi be a heavy undertaking as the ground is comparatively level, and the principal item would be fascining and metalling I would suggest that, to avoid creek crossings the road on the first mile from the township be formed on tbe south side | of the creek, costing about £200; fascining . the swamps on the new road, about &20; mile of extension, say £100; total, £320. This should be done before the weathec breaks, otherwise our new farmers wiU have to pack their seed and tucke." during the winter months, and God help the poor busbmen, as they will have to act Eobinson Crusoe in the bad weather. We intend to hold a meeting here on Saturday next, and petition the Council on the subject, and from the previous statement I have given you, I think they should see their way clear to complete the good work they commenced, as the rates should pay goodinterest ont he outlay.—l am, &c, B. M. Ha^kes. 2nd April.