THE COUNTRY BETWEEN THE WAIPA AND PUNIU RIVERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2423, 21 January 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE COUNTRY BETWEEN THE WAIPA AND PUNIU RIVERS.

(by our special cokkespoxdkst.) PART I. A short time ago a friend suggested to me a ride through this part of the country, offering at the same time to take mo round that way to Otorohanga. -,■ I have been there by rail, thn short track from Kihikihi and by the cart road,so was glad to have a chance of seeing more of the; country. We forded the Puniu from Mr' Westney's farm, and rode over the undulating land by the Kopua track. All the laud we went over between Kakipuku and the Puniu could be classed as good; in many instances some was equal to the best on this side of tho river, excepting such choice spots as tho l-ei-t of Uiingiiiohia and To Euhu. The laud is gently undulating and well-watered; the swamps we paw were of no great extent, and would be very easily drained, as there is a good fall to the Puniu everywhere, butleould see no more swamps than are required for water supply for stock. There was one, howe.-er, which was rather extensive to have in a small holding, and which would be larger than would "be required for supplying water. Splendid sites for homesteads are plentiful on the more elevated plateaux ; one in particular, near a native settlement, a few miles lower down than where we forded, struck me as being particularly good, both as regards position and quality of soil. From the top of one of the ridges a very good view of the European country was obtained. In the near foreground lay the lovely district of To Awamutii, the fields of corn, grafs and potatoes looking green and pleasant to the eye, grDcner aud plfasanter by contrast with the brown f..-rn-oovered hills surrounding the spectator. In the distance the fertile llangiaohia district made a splendid back ground, behind all rose the Maungatautari rang 3 , whiuh, from our standpoint, appeared closer to Kaugiaohia than it really is, to the right lay Kihikihi and Orakau, the cultivated farms showing bright and green, with clumps of pines aud other trees dotted over the landscape. On the left lay the Ngnroto and Obaupo districts, the latter however, could not be as well seen as the others, as the ground there is more elevated, the whole picture was bordered by fie blue ranges which made an effective'setting to the green centre. I have never boon on the top of Kakipuku, but if such a good view could be obtained from the position in whisli we stood, what must it be from the much higher elevation of the summit, (nearly 1500 feet). Just by the native cultivations referred to above, there is a swamp about half a chain wida.. to be crossed, tho ford looks worse than, it really is, the bottom being hard and: good, tlie water came up to the saddle; Haps, and the banks on each side arc much better landing places than they appear. The water has been backed up by a dam, which the natives built here to make an ecl weir. A short distance farther on we went over a low ridge, and in front and below us lay Kopua. Looked at from this dirc-ction.it appeared to me to be less cultivated than it was when I was last there twelve or thirteen years ago. There was however a considerable increase in the growth of one plant, viz., sweet briar. Large tracts of the best land on the Waipa flats were covered with it, anil it has taken a firm hold here, growing most luxuriantly. Some of the bushes were higher than a horseman, but most are about live or six feet high- To the aesthetic eye of a disciple of Oscar Wilde they would doubtless look very beautiful when they were covered with their delicate pink blossoms, but to the practical person who looks at things from a utilitarian standpoint they are an eye sore. They are the curse of some of the finest land in the country, as the native owners will find to their cost when they come to sell or lease their lands. That they will never be eradicated before the title to the laud is proved is quite certain, and it is very doubtful if ic wili be clone then by the lazy, shiftless owners except perhaps in a small way when they want to make a paddock for cropping, but us there is plenty of land besides this suitable for that purpo.so the briars are likely to bo left in undisputed possession to propogate themselves and spread over greater areas. I root an intelligent and educated half-caste from tho other i-land a few clays ago and he said ho had heard of the liizy and shiftless character of ihe present ;ml past generations of Maoris in Waikafo. He had no idea they were so much so till he cuineup here when he saw for hiuw-lf how true the charge was. Some idea of the cost that will be entailed in removing briars may be gathered from the following. Tenders were c:illed for clearing two acres at Kopua, one of which was to be ploughed and harrowed three times, then ploughed aud harrowed thrco times again. On part of the piece (about half) wore some acacia trees, so that it is fair to assume thi> liri.'irs were not ho bad under the trees; ibe contract price was £5 10s, and the man did not make wages at) it. b wa-> worth tho contract price to cle-ir alone. W'io; , :.:' , oorner. into p.■S-β.-.ion r>!' this land will be heavily handicapped !>y having to clear it of this pest, for the cost of doing so is as much almost as the laud in its present uncultivated state is worth, for granting that the land on the upper Waipa flats is exceptionally good, compared with tho low value of land that is fenced and cultivated, it will uofc bring more thau what it would cost for clearing. After leaving this flat the track leads over the roliiiijr 1 :ud at the back of Kakipuku. Here and there are to be seen signs of former cultivations. On the river flat is a weatherboarded house, which is deserted and falling into decay. On going up the first slope from the flat is another house in a similar condition, besides uome whares also going to pieces. All this goes to show that the population is fast decreasing, or the natives have gone elsewhere. The whole of the v-illey b"t«-e-" mountain and tli• • Waipa River in trl> good, but, limited in i-xteu'. H".i d tho base of the mountain wiuda tho

Mangawero Creek, whieh is the ontlfit of the Kawa swamp. This creek has to be forded just before getting to the flat deacrile.l above. The crossing wo took is not by any means a good one, but I heard sinci.; there is a good one near the mouth, little lower down. From the roid we wont, f.ho course of the oicek could be distinctly traced b} r the fringe of raupo growing on its banks witii willows growing hero and there. On the opposite side on one of the spurs slopinir down from the hill was once a cultivation where Mr Km cry lived, on one of these spurs he planted a number of wattle trees which appear to be growing well, the bright green of their foliage contrasting well with brown fern. The whole of Ihe spurs loading to the top of the mountain are covered with a strong growth of fern while in the gullies between are patches of bush, whiuh, judging from their appearance at thodislnnr.e I was from them, me composed principally of tawa. This is the only timber to bo found here with the exception of a Kahikatoa bush of not very great extent at the south side of the mountain. Tawa, of course, is useless for any purpose save for fuel, and the. trouble of getting it dowa from the mountain would make it rather expensive for that purpose ; consequently the future settlers will have to burn coal. If these spurs were burnt off, and surfacesown grass would take, the mountain would look very picturesque with ita green slopes and dark clump of bush in the ravines. I cannot imagine a prettier place than this valley will be when ic is opened to European enterprise, and the brown feruoiad ridges are turned into green fields dotted over with homesteads and plantations.