THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENT ON FIREWOOD GREEK.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2283, 26 February 1887, Page 2

THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENT ON FIREWOOD GREEK.

[BY OUU SPfcdAL .REPORTER.] Firewood Creek runs into the beautiful Waipa river just above the town of Ngaruawahia. It owes its rather uneuphoneous name to the fact that in the war time the firewood was floated down its waters for the use of the military garrison. The old tracks .of the bullock waggons which brought the timber down from the bush to the creek bank are still to be seen, though the rains of many winters have somewhat impaired their utility. Despite its queersounding name, Firewood Creek is one of the most picturesque mountain streams in New Zealand. If the quality of the land along its banks is in proportion to the loveliness of the stream the latest of Mr Ballance's special settlement will be an earthly paradise indeed. But of this more hereafter. A few days ago, in company with two old and respected residents of Nguruawahia, Messrs E. Fitzpatrick and Peter Kay, than whom it would be hard to find better travelling companions, I traversed the valley with the object of determining, to the best, of my ability, its adaptability for the purposes of settlement. Leaving Ngaruawahia at about noon, we crossed the Waipa and ascended the creek for some few hundred yards in a dingy, landing upon Mr Rathborne's property a short distance from the eastern boundary of the soecial settlement. Our path led us alongside the creek the whole distance—wo walked nearly four miles—and a pleasanter walk it would be difficult to find. There is no road at present lit for wheeled traffic, but Mr F. Edgecumbe, Government surveyor, under whose superintendance everything in connection with the settlement has been carried out, is expending a errant of £000 in the construction of a bridge track four feet wide. The work has been let in small contracts to the settlers. Tho track is practically a small sidling cutting the whole distance, and as the survey hands have cut out a bench mark, this, in places where the contractors had not entered upon or completed their work,.served as a capital footpath for us. The track winds a good deal, owing to the circumstance of the bottom of the glen being so narrow, and the consequent necessity for keeping close to the creek. About 2| miles <>ut we came upon Mr Edgeeumbe's camp, but to our disappointment we found 110 one at home. We therefore pushed on along the bench mark past the pretty little waterfall over a tract of undulating fern land (for the valley opens out somewhat here), and then into the bush again until we came fairly in sight of the watershed, beyond which are the now famous hot springs. On our return to the camp we learned from one of the party that Mr Edgecumbe had gone off in a different direction, and was not expected back until (5 o'clock. We therefore did not see hi.ni. The settlement consists at present of eight sections of 50 acres each. These allotments lie at right angles to the creek, to which they all have a frontage at their northern end. It will be gathered from what I have said above that the land is hilly and broken. These I take to be its faults, for the quality of the soil, as well as may bo judged by a hasty inspection, is really good, and capable of growing anything. In places where the fern had been burnt off less than a month ago there is now a luxuriant crop of young fern, two and even three feet high. Soil that will do this cannot be bad. There is

plenty of timber 011 niost of the sections. Though none of it jis exceptionally valuable, it will provide the materials for fencing and keep the occupiers in firewood for many a long year to come. As far aa we could see a very small proportion of the block is ploughable, but we were told that the table land above the glen is level, and can be easily worked. 1 hope this is the case. Nothing would so surely tend to vitiate the settlement scheme as the placing people on poor land, or land, however good, which is difficult and therefore expensive to work. The men I saw appear to be energetic and industrious, and it is to be hoped they will give the land allotted them a fair trial. With industry and care there is nothing to prevent them making quite sufficient to live upon in comfort; there cau be no mistake about that. Outside the area of the sections, there is a pretty extensive bush run, well suited for cattle, and ' this will doubtless be availed of, Should the settlement turn out to be a success, as it ought to. it cau easily be extended, as, in addition to a large area of Crown land, there is a block of 1000 acres adjoining bolonging to the natives, tor the purchase of which the Government are now iu treaty with the owners.