A TRIP FROM HAMILTONTHROUGH PIAKO TO THE THAMES VALLEY AND BACK AGAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 739, 13 March 1877, Page 2

A TRIP FROM HAMILTONTHROUGH PIAKO TO THE THAMES VALLEY AND BACK AGAIN.

WRTTTBN EXPRESSLY FOR THE 'WAIKATO TIMES.'

(Continued from Thursday's issue) in 7X dist ance on the swatt m met Major George and Mr Clark the surveyor. My statical friend

bailed Major George up to know how many acres ploughed, &c., and before the Major had time to think what he was doing, ho was on his knees certifying by his.signature^ to the statements (the ground forming the writing desk), thus saving ourselves a few miles ride. These gentlemen asked the state of the road across the swamp, and we told them the only difficulty was a little distance m front of them, and was but a few feet m length. They left us, intending to explore it, but we afterwards found out they were afraid to cross the bad place, so turned back.- What do you say to our bravery after this t My friend and myself thought but little of a difficulty that |affrighted both the Chairman and Surveyor of the district. I trust they have had it repaired before now.. It certainly was not, to us, so bad as the Waitoa Bridge. At Mr Mackay's place, we had a splendid view of a magniftcienb country. Around us lay an immense plain of flat country, say fifty miles m length by fifteen to twenty m breadth. A large tract of fine table land, most of which is ot firstclass quality. Of course there are patches of second-class, as well as some of inferior' quality, but the majority is really good, and must, no doubt, be Borne day a very populous district. Mr Mackay and Mr Stage's are certainly tit bits, and stand like low islands m the plain. You cannot form anything like a correct idea of the extent and beauty of the plain, unless you visit it, and it would well repay the visit. You can drive the whole way from Hamilton to Mr Strange's, m a buggy, without any danger, as now the roads are very good, and the creeks and rivers are all well bridged over, save the Waitoa. The road boards of the district have done a great deal of really good work, for what they have done appears to be well done, excepting, of course, the bridge I have mentioned. Having obtained the information my friend required at Messrs Mackay and Strange's, we hastened away. After some little hunting along the river bank, we again found the bridge m the "Waitoa river, passing over which, we found the water had subsided some eighteen inches, or about one half, the" ti-tree having been washed off the road -way, lay longitudinally against the growing timber, on the lower side of the track, forming a barracada to prevent any one being washed away, leaving this, we made haste to Mr Woodward's farm, which lay next m our way. Here, we arrived a little after one o'clock. My friend introduced himself and his business to Mr Woodward, senior, whom we found on the site of hip intended dwelling. He referred us to his son m the tent, to which place he led us, and asked if we would like a cup of tea. We thanked him, and accepted his offer. Then, whilst my friend was getting the required statistics from Mr Woodward, jnr., a snowy white tablecloth was laid on the table, clean knives and forks, m fact everything as clean and as nice as you get at most hotels. I mention this, because this was a " batchelors hall "—only himself and son — yet everything was so neat, so clean and comfortable. Yet,inacalico tent we found folding stools covered arithdruggetinsteadoftheusualheavy uncomfortable wooden benches ; everything else corresponding. I should recommend many who set up bachelor homes to call here and take pattern. My friend did enjoy his dinner here, for here was a hot leg of roast mutton, with not only sauce, but Worcestershire sauce and other condiments to assist the appetite j but had yon seen the scarf we left m that leg of mutton, I think you would have been satisfied our appetites did not require such assistance. There is another fine view from here of the Waitoa Valley. This also appears to be very good land, but the clover and grass is getting overgrqwtf for want of more stock. It struck me m going from one farm to another that there is not the quantity of cattle to the acre that we have m the Waikato ) hence the long clover and grass to be found. Mr Woodward has made a fine road of about half a mile m length across a swamp, from •what we might call the Matamata road, up to his intended dwelling. He has a good area under grass, &c, and was busy laying out fresh paddocks. Our next 'place was to Mr Glashan's, ■which we were informed was about four miles further up the valley. We were told we could not get there m consequence of the creeks, &c, being flooded. Still, perhaps, we suggested, we could cross the first ford on horseback without swimming ourselves and horses. This we were told, we could not do. My friend reluotantly decided not to go ; so we steered for the Piako. My friend was not satisfied. He had certain duties to perform and must perform them properly if possible. He certainly is very conscientious ) is not one of those (and there are many) who would have gone to see the Piako Hotel, and there obtain what information . he could from the landlord or any one else he should happen to meet, and either get them to sign the names of the various parties or do so himself. No ! my friend must find the parties themselves m charge of the various farms m his district if possible. So, some mile or so from Mr Woodward's we met some working men, who told us they thought the water was sufficiently low to allow us to ford over, and we tried it. But I must leave our further adventures till my next;