OPANAKE.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 174, 2 December 1892, Page 3

OPANAKE.

A TRIP TO TIIE LAKES. It has often been asserted in my hep.ring that all the nows in the ‘ Buster ’ is about Dargaville, hut I am sure that we up North cannot complain of being neglected by the Bell. Maropiu is well represented. I have dropped you a few notes from Opanake occasionally, while one of your travelling correspondents has kept you well posted as to our requirements re roads, station, goods shed and many other wants, and there is no doubt but that we have much to thank the Bell for. Now, Mr Editor, with your permission I will try and give your readers an idea of what our settlers back of Opanake, those in the lakes district, are doing. A few days ago having a wish to see how some of my friends at the Lakes were getting on I decided to take a run over to Waikeri. I chose the road leading to the bush (gumdiggers’) camp, and found that ■with the exception of a small portion leading through the bush it was in fairly good order. On arriving at the camp I found some _ of the men at home and in snswer to my enquiries they stated that thej- could not complain, they were pulling along, paying their way with a trifle to spare, but hoped to do better when the dry weather sets in, and when they will he able to get into the deep ground. Leaving the hush camp I struck across country to the head of the Waikeri. Here I found a few Austrians who stated they were not doing much at the gum and thought of shifting. I thought to myself it would be a precious good thing if the whole of these aliens would shift out of the country for it seems an iniquitous shame that these people should he allowed to take the wealth out of the land, live on the smell of an oil rag, and send nearly all the money they make to their own country. I suppose the Government will see this when the gum is done. As they are not British subjects, why cannot the Government make them pay a heavy license for the right to dig. Its all nonsense to talk about treaties. If a poll tax can he placed upon Chinamen why not upon Austrians ? What the d do we in New Zealand care for Austria? There’s no getting away from the fact that these aliens are sending away thousands of pounds from the Colony yearly, and New Zealand is getting little or no benefit from them. It is quite time a stop was put to this sort of thing. I did not stay long at the Austiran camp but wheeled to the right and struck off for the Native settlement where I found that the Natives had done a lot of planting ; the crops being chiefly kumeras and potatoes, but they also have many other 3orts of vegetables in the ground. The whole of the plantations are securely fenced and the whares are all well built. The Chief, Tanicra, is building, aud has nearly completod, a substantial four roomed cottage : in fact, all the natives up this way who can afford it are now going in for comfortable residences. Leaving the Native settlement I headed for Mr Jas. Vaughan’s homestead. I found that gentleman at home, and was at once asked to partake of an excellent dinner, which, after my sharp ride and with the hearty welcome I received, I thoroughly enjoyed. Dinner over Mr Vaughan invited me to stroll over the section, and I must admit I was surprised at the great improvement made in the short time the owner has had possession. The holding consists of fifty acres. It is now all securely fenced with barbed wire and a large quantity of the bush has been fenced and the land laid down in rye, cocksfoot and perennial grasses. At the lower end of the section is tho garden in which are growing potatoes, cabbages, kumeras, strawberries, lemons etc,, all of them apparently doing well. Mr Vaughan has

his own cows and consequently has a plentiful supply of milk and butter. He has not yet started to build his house, but up to the present has contented himself with a large and comfortably fitted up whare. Approaching Mr Vaughan’s property a substantial bridge has been built by the settlers, and with the fifty pounds voted by Government they hope to make a good road from Maropiu to the settlement. After a long chat with my friend on general topics I hade him good bye and pushed on, as I wanted to have a look at some of the other sections. After riding a short distance I came to Messrs Carr’s and Murphy’s holdings, and found that each of these settlers had done a large amount of work, fencing, planting, cleering etc., and their properties presented a greatly improved appearance. A little further on are the sections of Messrs Muir and Jones who have also been hard at work planting and otherwise improving their lands. Each of the sections look well and judging from present appearances they will have fine crops of vegetables of different sorts. Lower down the settlement one settler, a receut arrival, has erected a comfortable cottage on his land. In the front of the house I noticed several large mounds about three or four feet high and banked around with large stones, on the top of the mounds wera many kinds of flowering plants and shrubs and many of them were in full bloom. The sight was an exceedingly pretty one. This settler was also busily engaged fencing and planting and will soon have a valuable property. Our old Kaihu friends, Mr and Mrs W. T. Brown, are now seti led up this way and their many friends will be glad to bear that they are doing well ; they have erected a fine comfortable residence, the land is well and securely fenced, and altogether they are effecting such improvements as will make their property one of the most valuable in the district. It was with regret that I had to ride homeward without calling upon my friend Mr Doroney, but time would not permit, still I was glad to hear that he was doing well and had done great things in the way of improving his lands. I heartily wish him success for he richly deserves it. The road leading from the lower part of the settlement to Opanake is not by any means a good one hut I managed to reach home before dark, after having spent a thoroughly enjoyable day among the Lakes settlers who expressed their gratitude to the Bell for sending a representative to look after them. In conclusion I hope the Government will not delay over spending the fifty pounds voted for the road to Maropiu. The Lakes settlers have shown themselves to be men of the right stamp ; they went on to land in a wild district and have wonderfully improved that land, their wants are small and it is the duty of the Government to see that those wants are promptly attended to and thereby induce others to settle and follow the example set by the Waikeri settlers.