Masterton Bushe Settlements.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2251, 23 March 1886, Page 2

Masterton Bushe Settlements.

(By Our Special Reporter'. (Continued,)- 1 >■ Ekefaitona; ■■.•■■» What is most surprising in. this old established settlement is the slow pro- ' gress made, The settlers do not appear to be of such a pushing class as the less favored Maurieovillo ones.: The main coach road traverses the ontire block tho land being fairly level and'easy of *'. aceess to ail parts, and yet, from appearances, settlers are content to lay on ' their oars till the place is forced ahead by an influx of inhabitants, and then come j-in for tho benefit of it in tho shapo of uneamed'increment. It must not bo supposed that the settlers here havo been all indolent, for it has required years of labor to create the present: home-like farms out of the standing bush, and . having done this much they are the only ones entitled to reap the'bonefit of' it; but what is desired to be shown is, that having worked up to a certaiu point they are content to lay in wait for more vigorous settlers to complete the success which I they appear unable to bring- about. As an instance of thy manner ili which, tho place is being pushed on, a fewrffflnths ago I acre sections of land on thTmain road could be purchased for about £3O, and would have been 1 parted with readily' at the price; but now, since the Parkvillo and Wellington Associations havo obtained land for settlement in tho immediate vicinity, the price for tho said J sections are quoted at £75 and upwards,'^ l and before long we may expect to hear of roads being laid off and land cut up In'small'-sections to encourage the formation of a : town, that is, if the settlers have an eye to future' prosperity. Business is steadily on the' increase, the recent additions of a store, blacksmith and butcher's,' and a saw mill now in course of erection, has given quito an impetus tu the trade of the place, which now consists of two stores, two . blacksmiths, a butcher, a hotel and Temperance Hotel, the Post Office being at the latter place, to which i 3 connected one of tho stores, not forgetting the fact that a Constable has also been located In their midst, which in itself betokens theeve of progress. The new Eketahuna. Road Board when they commence operations will havo plenty to exercise their talents upon, for independant of the back' roads, the formation of the roadsjii tho future town must occupy their Hffntion. at no very remote period, for unless united action is taken by the settlers to preserve the increasing trade of the surroundingsettled districts, they will find that the ' success thoy have waited for will bo drawn from them, and a town-, Bhip will bo formed adjacent to thefe own that will leave them entirely oufc\in the cold. To the eastward the settlement of tho country is being rapidly proceeded with. The Alfredton road branching off from the township has opened up a large area of land, the trade of which must come to Eketahuna, more especially ithe northern portion of the block of 200,000 acres, previously re- : ferred to, as situated botween Alfredton and Kopuarangi. The central Mangaone road striking in from the main road about two miles north of Eketahuna, and the Hawera road about four miles north, tap.some land that is studded with settlers' houses, tho latter road utter leading iu eastward a few miles, diverges south, when it ip-joined to the former road and leads to the Alfredton road, thus forming a lino of fianmunication through an immensejfhick of country. Wo will not leave Eketahuna. without glancing at their school, which can _ be classed as the only successful institution in the Settlement. Originally* built to accommodate 40 children, It hasi now 65 on the roll, the porchway having to be utilised as a classroom. The children are veiy well dressed and heah». looking, well behaved, and apt schol" s the last examination resulting very satisfactorily to the schoolmaster. TJioro tog* several necessary improvements observable, which no doubt are included m the-. contract for additions to the school, ' tenders of which are uow being invited.' Without leaving this district we will turn our attention to what tho settlers about here term " The Garden of Eketahuna," viz., the special settlement of Parkville, (6000 acres.) This is tho most favored of the special settlements as regards situation, and among the best as regards quality and nature of land, is situated on tho western side of the Makakahi river. To anyone acquainted with Eketahuna, tho position of Parkville is easily explained. .Commencing at the rear of tho hotel, it follows the main road to Mastorton for abut 2| miles, bounded on this side by Tp/.river Makakahi, being at no point more than 15 chains frorn the road, in some places being quite adjacent to it, tho river also being very easily fordabie."lt'will be seen that the whole of tho block libb the advantage of being served by tho.-main trunk road, which in itsolf places W: ville head and shoulders abovo the other special settlements in this respect, as will be shewn in our travels onward, It is expected that the main road to Parkvillo will be opposite Jones' Temperance Hotel, whero the natural position of the land is such that the bridging of (he river can be easily accomplished.: The terraces on either side aro distant only.about sixty feet, the river banks, beimt about fifty feet in height. This reduces the engineering difficulties to a minimum, besides giving the proposed township of Parkville the advantage of being in close proximity to_ the Eketahuna ..Railway Station, the site of which is a fow' ! ohains from the junction of the Alfredton road. The Ngato-haka, a small river or creek runs through a portion of the back of tho Block, the banks of. which form the boundaries for some of tho largeiactions. The timber to be'found on tJJHand is ohiefly ritnu, rata and birch. IvJo aurvoy of the Block is being rapidly pushed on, the surveyor, Mr W. S. Hayward having the northern boundary line cut and the rivers traversed, and will proceed with tho laying off of the township as soon, as, tho main road has been located byDepartmont. To show the fr*<eai, taken in this settlement by ths. of tho Association, thero is, not a weok passes, but whafcjspme of, them make a pilgrimage from Masterton to view tho - locality of their future homes.

Welunotoh association (10,000 acres,) The land selected by this' Association is adjoining Parkville, extendiiijj northward and crossing the main road beyond Eke-, tahuna.' One portion of the block is' directly behind Parkvillo, and will be accessible by a road through that settle ment. The. nature of tho Muntri m similar to the adjoining, blopk,' ajthonsb! rougher in places. The. survey is not' yet commenced', the committee apposed for inspecting the land having hutJftentjy given in th.e>. report. As ations. are. being formed in the, Wairarapa and Wellington districts, and -.thei;& i» plenty of land in this district sizable, for. settlement we may expect to l\ear,B^rtrv. of other blocks being taken up! tho two just described, We: will now.baw to leavo tho Eketahuna district anoVEfc.' ceed to what may be justly tormeoS wonder of bushßottlemorits, ; viz. Pahiatua. (To k continued,) ■ '