PAEROA AND OWHAROA.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3765, 21 January 1881, Page 2

PAEROA AND OWHAROA.

(by our special reporter.)

No. 1

Having received special instructions from the Editor's sanctum, your special reporter proceeded t; Paeroa end Owharoa in order ty report on the progress made in those two places, and to especially observe the proceedings and outlook at the new workings at the latter place. In consequence, I arose early on Wednesday morning, and, having girded up my loins, proceeded to the wharf, there to catch the smart little steamer Vivid. What was my surprise when on my arrival at the wharf I found, the Couu'y Chairman.CrJ. Brown, and the Engineer, who were proceeding to Paeroa on County business. After our swearing for three quarters of an hour, the Vivid pul in an appearance at 7.15 (she had been advertised to start at 6.30 a.m), and we were in a short time comfortably settled on board. Passing the Thames Towers, we had soon passed tne picturesque little Maori village of Kirikiri, and the sawmills at the same place belonging ,to the enterprising timber merchant of Grahams town, Mr J. Bead. The_ next place which claimed my attention was Turua, where the sawmills of Messrs Bugnall Bros. are. Farther up the river we stayed for a few moments at Omahu in order to land passengers, At this place Mr Elliot has an estate, which he is rapidly cultivating, and which is being rapidly converted from swamp to terra firma. Au amusing circumstance occurred on the way to Omahu. Mr Henry Alley, of Hikutaia, who is well known as an irrepressible speaker, met a match in the person of Mr Curtain, a southerner. This geutleman was praising up the South Island to^the detriment of • the North. This was too much for Mr Alley, who endeavoured to say something in defence of the North. It was no use, however, for he could not even get a word in sideways, Mr Curtain's stream of eloquence rendering such an attempt utterly futile. I cannot remember all the gentleman's rhapsodical utterances in praise of the South, but one or two of his statements will suffice to show that Mr Alley had for once to give it best. The talk turned on cattle, and was highly amusing. Mr Curtain remarked, " Why, look at Fantham, who has come from the South ! He paid £LlO for a heifer, but you have to sell 110 heifers to fetch £110." To this'Mr Alley was about to reply, but only got as far as " I'll bet you £50," —when Mr Curtain interrupted, •'Oh, that's the way you argue, is it? How many thousand acres would you have to sell to get £50 P" He further informed Mr Alley (much to that gentleman's vexation) " that he couldn't live if it were I not for the south." I never saw a man so completely " flabberghasted." It was not logical or veracious statements that carried the day, but the incessant flow of language employed by Mr Alley's assailant proved too much for the genial farmer of Hikutaia. About noon, after steaming through .the most picturesque scenery and past beautiful knolls of bush, we arrived at the Junction, where the river divides, one stream, the Ohinemuri, running to Owharoa and Waihe, and the other, the Waihou, meandering through lovely country to Te Aroha, Arrived, the first business of the day was to attend to the wants of the inner man, which were amply supplied by the hospitable bonifaces, Casrell and Bennett of the Criterion Hotel, Paeroa. After dinner the County magnates and myself proceeded over the Normanby bridge (built at a cost of £970, a most substantial structure) along what will soon be the main road to Waikato, to the swamp being

drained by the County. Before we arrived at it we passed a fine field of oats, cut and stooked, belonging to Mr Phillips, lying on the left hand side of the river, and which had a large field of docks and thistles, as a vis dvis, and which belongs to Eehatotbf The operations at the swamp (which is upwards of two miles in length) are being rapidly proceeded with, and already a great change i» mauit'ested. The fall for the" water is not great, being only four feet in 80 chains, and consequently a great difficulty lias to be contended with, which retards the progress made in draining the swamp. After spending some time in observing the progress made, we returned to the hotel, and, after wetting our whistles, proceeded in search of a suitable spot for a burial ground for Paeroa. Several spots were proposed, but the one which was considered the most favorable was a tongue of land at Aorangi, just a few chains beyond the boundary of the Paeroa township. The next business of the County authorities was to negotiate with the owner, Eopate, and in the evening a grand korero was held. It was amusing to notice the 'cutoness displayed by the Maori, who, following the usual custom, carefully abstained from giving straightforward replies to the questions asked. The result of the conference was tbat no decided reply was received, as old Eopata was disinclined either to give or sell. His argument was this —"The Europeans have the land all round. Why don't you go to them?" However, he said something which showed that he was not thoroughly opposed to the proposal, and which was, "That anything-he did would be done through the County Chair

man."

We also wenfcflo the top of Primrose Hill, where the inhabitants of Paeroa, not entirely dead to the additional embellishments afforded by trees, have, with commendable thoughtfulness, planted four willows, which will no doubt be added to in a short time. From the summit of the hill we obiaincd a magnificent view. Beneath us, reposing in peaceful slumber, is the picturesque township of Paeroa, with Us schoolroom and public hall (in which, by the bye, is a piano wretchedly out of tane). To the" left the Aroha raises its head majestically above the rauges which surround the township to the eastward, and the sight of which causes us to speculate on the prospects of the fortune hunters encamped at the foot of the hill. The Ohinemuri river winding through the plan*, and becoming lo^t among the hills, flashes in the sunlight like a silver streak, while the Waihou and Thames rivers can be just discovered through the undergrowth enveloping their banks in luxuriant verdure. Par away across the Piako way stre'.ches an immense plaiu, as level as a billiard table and toatairing hundreds of thousands of acres of good land which oaly awaits the hand of the practical farmer to be made reproductive. As we look we caarot help thinking " What a gvand country; what a glorious future the place has before it!" Looking towards the Thames we saw the valley leading to it, and the road which that infernal old vagabond, Tukukino, persists in keeping locked up .rom us. There is only about half a mile of road to be finished, and it is unfortunate thai we should be baulked in our endeavour to open up the country by, a Maori obstructor who, in refusing to grant the boon- asked, actually inflicts as much injury on himself as on us, inasmuch as the rord would materially enhance the value of the land. Hundreds of times has he been talked at, but he always gives the same rnswer, and it is clear tbafc if the people of the Thames wish to be able !o drive io Tauranga or Waikato they will have to make the road by force, as the obsiiuacy of Tukukino will never be overcome, so thoroughly is he determined not to concede to the wishes of the much bated Pakeha.

On Thursday we went to the Owharoa Goldfield, but of that I will speak in nort issue.