THE HOBSON COUNTY,

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 181, 20 January 1893, Page 3

THE HOBSON COUNTY,

( Continued.')

RARIKI.

To the so«tli of Kopuru. and included in the same riding, is the rapidly progressing district of Tatarariki ;—a district which contains a considerable amount of first class land along the river bank. Settlement is rapidly extending southward towards the Kaipara Heads, and the settlers are all making extensive improvements. A good deal has been dene in the way of road making and drainage in this part, but very much yet remains to be done. A few years, it is hoped, will see further great improvements for the settlers have recently formed a Drainage Board and have decided to levy upon themselves an extra tax of sixj ence per acre per annum for three years, with the object of providing ways and means of thoroughly draining the district. The road last winter was impassable even for pack horses. ¥e recently wersc over the main road through Kopuru and Tatarariki to the end of the present formation, and up through the cutting out as Ear as Mr Frank Hay’s homestead. From Kopuru the road crosses a large swamp which has been fairly well drained, insomuch that the river end is well occupied and many fine paddocks, well grassed, may be seen. Of settlement here we shall have more to say another time. The Kopuru spur divides this swamp from the next which at present is without drains. There is a fine stretch of land which when drained will be of the best quality and easily workable. The present road formation stretches across this and ends at the cutting in the further hill. Just at this point we made our first call, that is at the residence and plantation of Mr J. Perry. That gentleman was not in and the dog on duty was not hospitably inclined so we moved on. Going over the hill we came upon Mr R. Vincent’s selection of about 80 acres, nearly all flat land. Dairy farming and cattle raising seems to be Mr Vincent’s chief aim, and he has got some good grass laid down and twenty or so head of cattle grazing thereon. The dwellinghouse. garden, dairy, and cowshed are situated by the hill, and all Mr Vincent’s surroundings point to a comfortable future. Mr Vincent represents the Tatararaki people on the Kopuru 'School Committee, and he has taken an active part in the efforts which have been put forth towards securinga school for Tatarariki. Leaving Mr Vincent’s we came upon Mr J. Perry and returned with him to his habitation where we were heartily welcomed. Mr Perry’s Vinery and Plantation we found to be well worthy a visit. Mr Perry has about one hundred and fifty acres on the hill and forty or more on the slopes. The smaller portion has been fenced, and the corner near the road shows where Mr Perry’s time and labour has been spent. Conspicuous under the hill, and overlooking the flat land is a building 60ft. x2B ft., divided lengthwise through the middle. In one side are situated Mr Perry’s household apartments, workshop, and store rooms for fruit &o. The vinery, which occupies the other half of the budding, is 60ft. x 14ft. : the front wall being 6ft. 6 inches and the back wall 14 ft in height. The erection of the building, making of sash frames, fixing of glass, and the making of the thousands of holders for same

Mr Perry for bis Madness and attention -we bade him adieu and proceeded on our way tiil we came to the residence of Mr Duncan McDouual. Our friend was not at home, but we found his good lady busy amongst the strawberries, and she kindly undertook to make our presence known to her husband who was at work further afield. Mr McDougal was not long in putting in an appearance and a rig-lit hearty welcome he gave us. We had a look over the extensive strawberry beds which looked extremely well and cleanly kept, and then our host and hostess entertained us with a cup of tea and a bountiful supply of fine strawberries and rich cream, accompanied by an interesting chat. Mr McDougal has 90 acres of land and keeps two or three cows ; he seems well contented with his position and looks forward to a comfortable living on his section. We had promised to make one other call and as the sun was sinking fast we bade our hospitable friends good-bye and pushed on a bit further. Passing the sections occupied by MrSpurr, Mr A. Lyons, and Mr J. Watson as time would not permit of a call, wo soon arrived at Mr F. Hay’s Comfortable Homestead. We had been there some two years previously and we were thus able to note that considerable improvement had taken place since then. Mr Hay’s selection only contains fifty acres but he finds it quite large enough to work thoroughly, and considers it quite sufficient to provide him with all that he requires. Mr Hay is well known to many of our readers, as he was a resident of To Kopuru many years ago, and was then and is now a general favourite with all. He has a comfortable house and has gathered around him a numerous family of useful boys and gii’ls. Ten acres of the block have been well fenced in and subdivided into smaller lots. Here we saw four acres better grassed than any we had yet seen on similar sandy soil. The grass was not long, for it was kept, well ciopped, but it covered the surface of the ground like a mat and looked full of vigour ; the sward was of different grasses mixed with clover. Mr Hay keeps a large number of* fowls and ducks and these he considers have been of assistance in establishing the grass. The four acres were first used as a garden, potatoes ■ being the principal crop ; then it was sown in grass and a garden mad® in fresh soil In the latter we found potatoes, pumpkins, cabbage, maize, melons, onions, barley, and numerous other articles. Bariev grows well hero and last year Mr Hay had a most fruitful patch of this cereal. This section is in the midst of a gurufield and in preparing the ground it was first thoroughly dug and the gum taken out and then crops were sown. The success which has attended these speaks volumes against the making of any law to prevent the sale of gum lands for settlement. Mr Hay has recently opened a small store in conjunction with Mr Jordan, where he buys gum and provides diggers with the necessaries of life. The whole surroundings of stoi'e and dwelling-house are well sheltered by numerous pines. After looking round outside we retired to the house where the kindness of Mr and Mrs Hay compelled us to take a second tea. A comfortable chat beguiled the time until the moon rose o’er the hills, when feeling deeply thankful to our friends for the many kindnesses which had been shown us and wishing them every prosperity we started for home which we reached about, an hour before midnight.