A TRIP THROUGH THE PATETERE COUNTRY. (Continued.) [BY OUR OWN REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1567, 20 July 1882, Page 2

A TRIP THROUGH THE PATETERE COUNTRY. (Continued.) [BY OUR OWN REPORTER.]

The Te Kau hill is situated about three miles to the west of Oxford and is convenient to the Maori settlement bearing i that name. The view- of the Patetere country from this stand-point is very imposing, indeed, the entire area can be taken in at one glimpse. Here the lover of landscape scenery can dwell in contemplation on the perfection of nature] aud the artist find employment for his magic pencil without calling to his 1 aid exaggerations of background, self-conceived shades and tints, skies of improbable diversity of composition, and the other necessary features of studio-conceived scenery. With a few thriving homesteads interspersed here and there, surrounded by the usual features of civilization, with herds of cattle and she&p grazing on the green plaius, and thriving plantations of iruitand timber trees, variegating the landscape, no more promising piece of country could well be imagined, and fpr .compactness and situation none mote suitable for settlement. The noble Waikato river, wending its tortuous . course northwards, constitutes.' the' west and south west boundaries, the Thermal Springs Block bounds it on the south east, and on the east and' north east, the main Thames range,;: a- beautifully wooded mountain, constitutes^ the line of demarcation ; and the property of the • Auckland Agricultural ' Association, and the Karaka and Rangitanuku country, • the property of Messrs Rich, 'Williams and Wilson, fills up, the northern gap. The entire Patetere country consists -of r about 250,000 acres and has within the last twelve months passed into the hands of Europeans, known as the Patetere and Kurunui-Whaiti Companies. The, view from Te Rau is sufficient to give the traveller an idea of the adaptability of the country for practical settlement purposes, though to judge more accurately of the nature and capabilities of ,the soil, from a pecuniary standpoint, it is necessary to descend into the plain and, examine more minutely the inherent' qualities of the land. Generally ' speaking, the nature of the conn-- ' t try is flat, and somewhat undulating, there being neither impracticable , gullies, nor swamps of auy kind to impede husbandry. The country is in-" variably well watered, pumerous small rivers, of never-failing supply, intersecting the country at convenient intervals. Of these the Waipa, Waioraka, and Pokaiwhenua, principally deriving their supply from the chain of hills in the background, flow in a northwesterly direction into the Waikato River, draining in their course the many minor creeks ' rising in the plain. To the left, looking southward from Te Rau, the Orakau, Waihou, Waimakariri, Waihomou, and the Raparapa, flowing north-westerly, discharge their waters iuto the Waihou or Thames river. Having viewed the country from this standpoint we descend into the plain by the old native track, which leads direct through the country to Taupo and Rotorua, and which, apparently, judging from its present condition, seems to be the more preferable route for equestrians. Of course either & guide or a thorough knowledge of the road would be indispensable to making the journey along this highway (!) for Maori tracks are, not unfrequently, like those that lead us to the haven of eternal blissfulness— narrow, easily diverged from, and frequently missed. A ride of about fifteen miles brings us to the 1000 acres of land recently ploughed and laid down in 'grass by the company, partly by way of experiment, 'and partly by way of providing convenience for the pioneeer settlers of the country. After leaving Te Rau the land becomes less ferny, but is covered with a thick growth of tviici or tussock grass, > upon which herds of wild horses luxuriate. To whom these animals originally belonged I do do not know, but I am much surprised that some enterprising' pakehas or natives do not go to the trouble of driving a squad of them into some of the weekly horse sales, and realize a good return for their pains. Perhaps the game has been tried and found not worth the candle, considering that those equine pets of the wilderness made off at a frying gallop on seeing us approach about a mile off ; or perhaps they are the rightful perquisites of the equerries of Maoridom, who in the usual dog-in-the-manger spirit characteristic of _ the race, not being able to convert them to any purpose themselves, have every, objection to any other person deriving an advantage. The tussock grass seems to thrive on the flat country, and in the exposed, sides of gulliea, the fern, thriving with ita usual luxuriance on the more elevated and sheltered ground; I have often heard it said that the soil of' Patetere was of a pumiceous composition, and, consequently, useless I for ' all purposes of practical husbandry. This opinion has been allied to find its way into circulation without any attempt whatever being made by those who ..are. interested _in the to refute it. To examine tne^nature of the soil, I may say, was one M t ~- the principal objects of my, visit, and I **' am glad to tie able 'to say that what I saw regarding this, matter gave rde /a « opinion 6s; the '„ country .than', T jfiitve hitherto held, In'pasßing overjth'e ground, pumice 'in small quantities Urdis'ceniible on the surface,"' and ;/ the .traveller <^ho casually jogs along on'horsebackyyiewpg „ th'^ ground from his saddle, -\witii6ut making ~a r more mmute %specti|Jfi^sthe .soil,' •naturally becomes* ite inferiority, a^ an a^cnltural wunfay; this,, however,, is a Aerjes^super^Scial - Htye*6ij^4Jfapsjpjfetf. |ttift;; J l*nid} ? it'risjmbtititiffici^aijf titotiwe < should ? merelyi«pKinune^he^surface,||bTit «