PROPOSED TEMPERANCE SETTLEMENT IN RAGLAN COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2240, 16 November 1886, Page 3

PROPOSED TEMPERANCE SETTLEMENT IN RAGLAN COUNTY.

[by our own correspondent.] Ever since Mr Ballance began his village settlement scheme and Mr Lnndon undertook the introduction of settlers on the Hokianga blocks the attention of Mr T. B. Hill and others has been directed to the importance and advantage of settlement in various parts of Raglan County, knowing full well by personal observation that the unoccupied Government lands of this county are admirably adapted for the location of men of small means. Mr Ballaace having placed the whole of the land owned by Government in this county, for selection under his favourite scheme, and as a very great deal of ignorance has been shown in reference to Raglan lands and their adaptability for settlement, it would be well to show what roads it would be necessary to make to carry out the scheme:— l. A line of road from Churchill to Awaroa Valley, about 15 miles. Limestone valley, very fertile, and well-watered. Intending settlers should visit for themselves. 2. A road passing through the rich land-* of Messrs Sutherland and McKinn.m, joining Huntly an'i Raglan road. 3. A mad from Huntly station via the Hut Spring-, to Rigl.mH.ir- I bour, which ro.id is now being completed, being 15 miles from Hiiutlv to HotSpringand six miles from the f-jriiigx to H-igi i. Harbour, thence in two h«>u»s b\ bout f Raglan. 4. From the Hamilton and ti<-' lan road a line «if ro.id should once •«» made, the di-tano** fiom said n.ad to H<»Springs being 15 mile-. From Huntly and Hot Springs ro id tlnowgh another line, it i 1-1 miles t<i the West C<>.v>t <>f Ragla; county. The last ro.ul that ne"d be men tioned is oin the Nga.ruaw.thi i peoplo am tryingtogetm ide, vi/.., fr.mitliencetwo miles to Firewood Creek, and eL'ht miles further to the Whauigaroa Hot Spi ing*. It can thus be readily .seen th.it s.nne considerable importance is attached to the opening up of this district. The Wluingaroa Hot Springs have lately been placed in the hands of the domain board of that name, more than 200 acres having been set apart by Government for that purpose. Around this endowment are 1000 acres, on which if is proposed to start the temperance settlement and a village settlement scheme. The springs are of great medicinal value. Until very recently they were thought to consist of but two or three springs, but are found now to be nearly twenty different springs, all varying in temperature and in their component parts, the range of temperature being from 90' up to 150. Their efficacy has been proved again and again, and it is well kuown the natives— not only now, but in pist years— received great benefit by drinking and bathing in the waters. So strong are they that to a new comer they are smelt some miles away. What the domain should do, according to everyone I have heard speak, .is to erect a good accommodation house at once, and lease to some enterprising person. The character of the land is generally good, and its surroundings most picturesque. Very large quantities of valuable timber are growing upon it, totara been found in great quantities. A contractor who holds large contracts for wharf purposes, and other works, lately visited the district, and had some of the roads before-mentioned been completed, might have at once got the timber from here, which would have given employment to a large number of men in the district. Fruit trees of all sorts, fion the sub-tropi-cal orange and lemon to the hardier small fruits, such as the goosebsrry, thrive in this aUtrict, and no doubt the ground and situation are in every way just as able to produce abundance of fruit as the often mentioned Hokianga lands. Very many fertile valleys are admirably adapted for this purpose. Splendid creeks abound, and run in every direction, and if now stocked with trout would soon produce a good supply of food for the settlers' table, besides providing sport fur the "gentle angler." The grayling, too, should be introduced, for it is in season at times when the trout is not. What the possibilities of the district are do not appear evident to many, but coal and limestone abound on every hand. The bush is full of wild porkers, and as a surveyor remarked "I have only to send my dog for a pig, and soon I have one." Pigeons, too, in season are plentiful. Mr Hill, who first started the idea of a temperance settlement, has had placed in his hands for this purpose by owners of the lands, 10,000 acres in Kaipara, 12,000 acreß at Mercer, several thousand near Gisborne, besides several thousand on the Raglan banks of the Waipa. Messrs Brooks and McKinnon, too, have valuable lands for disposal, consisting of many thousand acres. Mr Brooks is quite right in saying, " The days of large holdings are numbered.' As the depression in Auckland and other eitit> and towns of New Zealand is so great, those who have the courage to step into the courtry are in numerous cases now trying to do so. The country and town, as regards good or bad times, are now on a level, with this difference, that existence can bo prolong?.jn the country on far less than in the town. Now is' the onuntry's time to arouse itself. Never since the seat of Government \v«iremoved and the troops left us has men • desire to go out and make homes in the country as now been manifest.

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