KING COUNTRY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 291, 21 May 1898, Page 4

KING COUNTRY.

Settlement.—At last the Government seem to have made a start to prepare part of this district for settlement, and there are now four or five parties of staff surveyors at work in this country. Mr Spencer's party are at work between Kihikihi and Otorohanga, defining roads and the Crown sections. Mr Seeley's is between Otorohanga and the Kawhia road, working towards that road, while Mr Vickerman is working towards Otorohanga from the Kawhia end ; these two parties are also laying off roids and surveying the Crown blocks adjacent. Mr C*. W. Hursthouse, who is in charge of all the road works in the district, is engaged with Mr L. Cussen in prospecting for a good main line of road to open up the Government purchases between the railway and the coast; and they, with a good party of men, are now in the bush on a road prospecting expedition. It is thought that there is a more or less level plateau starting from about the Ruu-a-moa Special Settlement on the Kawhia road, and running in a southerly direction for some 20 mile 3 or more nearly to Mokau, and that there would not be much ttouble in getting a road that will avoid the rivers that flow into the Kawhia Harbour and on to the coast, as well as the tributaries of the Waipa, and it is to decide this question that takes this party into the bush. If they are successful, it will give a good main road about the centre of that district, and will run for over 20 miles through Crown lands, and it will be easy to make branch roads from it on the west to Kawhia and the coast and on the east to the railway line. The northern end of this main road, if made, will most likely strike the railway line at the Kawa Station, and if it does it will make this station a most importaut one. The country this road will pass through is almost an ideal pastoral country, consisting of both limestone and papa coun try. It is all bush, and like such country pretty broken, too broken I am afraid to meet the fancy of the Waikato settlers ; but I sincerely hope when it is thrown open that they will not allow the Southerners to have the whole of it The time will come when the Kawhia country will cany more sheep than any other country in the Auckland province, and the date should not be very distant, if the country is thrown open in fairsized blocks and encouragemeut given in the shape of roads and tracks. Stock Inspector's Visit—Mr Clifton visited for the first time a few days ago the southern end of the country this proposed road would open up, and ex pressed himself as highly pleased with what he saw ; in fact, I am told he went so far as to say it appeared to be the be3t district in the Auckland province. He was much pleased at the appearance of the grass on Messrs Ellis and McNicol's runs at Puketiti, and especially pleased with the show the Chewing's fescue is making. Roads.—Work is at a standstill on the Ohura-Stratford Road, at least at this end, except that the timber for the large bridge over the Oh lira River is being delivered on the site. On the Te KuitiAwakino Road a certain amount of work is being done, as the special settlers at Paemako are now all at work, while a gang, under Inspector Julian, are making a bridle track through the newly-fallen bush on the west of the Maugaotaki River. When this is finished it will enable those travelling between Taranaki and Waikato to keep

to the road all the way, instead of as at present going a long round, through Messrs Ellis and McNieol Bros. runs. The greatest want at present on this road ie a bridge over the Maugaotaki, there have been some very narrow escapes from serious accident already at the upper fords, and the ford lower down, where the road crosses, is naturally deeper and more dangerous. Impbovkmekts. —Mr A. McNieol is building a nice cottage on his Puketiti property, close to the new road, which runs some miles from his present clearing ; but he purposes to fall a goodsized clearing near the new house this seison. Messrs Irvine and Kin? have let 500 acres of bush to Messrs Harsant and Co., and I believe they have another 500 acre block to let. Mr Irvine is getting timber sawn for a small cottage and is having a lot of fencing done, and I hear proposes to stock his 1000 acrc3 of new bush grass this month, principally with sheep ; the turnips that he put in with his grass have done wonderfully, and will tike a lot of beating. His neighbour, Mr J. \V. Ellis, has already put some 200 bullocks on his new bush gras-s and turnips, and expects to make beef of them later on, on the part sown with swedes. Railway Works. These are in hand ; but very slow progress is being made. Inspector Morse is leaving for the railways works on the north Auckland line, and another inspector, whose name 1 have not heard, has arrived to take his place. Telegraph Line. —Mr Bold and party, are still out in the wilds prospecting for the best location for the new line to Waitara, and are finding it rather difficult to decide which is the best route. Teuders for the cartage of the material have been sent in ; but it is not known who the successfully tenderer is, as one or two who have not seen the road are in. It i 9 almost a certainty that they will get the work.—(Own Correspondent).