Matakanui District.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 505, 24 January 1906, Page 5

Matakanui District.

[Special Reporter ]

This locality is at present the scene of busy operations, shearing being on with considerab'c vigor at the different runs, farms and station. The Matakanui Station is well forward with the shearing, and moat of the fanners are finished and the woo! dis patched to the sa es Everywhere the crops are looking well, and in some places the golden crust of ripening is visible. The recent rain has been a blessk-g, and has been the means of saving the late crops, although the early ones are not up to expectations; but, taken on a whole, there will be no need for croaking by the end of the season. Mail Service. Matakanui is badly in need of a daily mail service, and the member for the district is, I understand, loing approached on the matter. The railway is only six miles distant, &nd it saems an injustice to the people of this productive and nourishing district that a daily service has not been instituted long ago. The residents must not forget that agitation bears good fruit, and if kept up persistently the reward will be gained in the near future. Mixing. The supply of water for mining purposes has been considerably increased by the recent rains, and all the sluicing claims are now working from daylight till dark. A most important matter, and one that commends itself to our present Liberal Government, is the question of constructing a reservoir for the conservation of water for both mining and irrigation purposes. The establishment of these reservoirs is being favorably discussed in other parts of Central Otago, and as a considerable area of auriferous land is known to exist in this neighborhood it is to be hoped that this locality will not be left out when the work of construction is taken in hand. The mines in the Matakanui district are all alluvial, and the system of working hydraulic sluicmg. The yield, though not extensive, has proved very rich, and the ground is worked with considerable facility, there being a fairly good supply of water for most of the claims. The übiquitous dredge once invaded the territory, but met with little success- though some of the ground adjacent to where dredging operations were carried on is now beinn successfully worked by hydraulic sluicing, and from what I could gle*n payable returns aje being obtained.

Gold was first discovered in the Mat*

kanui goldfiald about the beginning of * IS6I, and some idea of tbe richness of the field can be gathered when it is known that as mnch as 25250z30f gold were obtained in the short period of seven months in the early days. I also learned that from the time of the opening of this field to the end of 1863 the total amount: of escorts from the surrounding district was estimated at about 15,0000z5. Tinkers, as it was formerly called, has had a vigorous and prosperous existence as a mining locality, and it may be said without exaggeration that fair prospects may be found almost anywhere in the district. Thomson's Gorge Road. The necessity for the construction of a road through Thomson's Gorge was discussed with several residents, and it was suggested that a continuation of the road from the Matakanui side should be gone on with, even if only a mile and a-half (which is the worst part) were completed. This would greatly facilitate travelling, and would ;be the means of avoiding the present dangerous and precipitous rocks which are known to exist near the five-mile gate, and where several valuable horses have been lost at different times. Recently a traveller en route for Tarras had a somewhat discouraging passage in going via this route. He' took the road instead of the bridle track, with the result that when he came to where operations were ceased he was unable to proceed any further. After wandering about in the mountains, and being unable to find the right track, he was compelled to retrace his steps. Giving up all hope of reaching his destination, he returned to Matakanui completely exhausted after his arduous and trying experience. In view of this it behoves the Vincent County Council to at once take steps to have notices posted up warning travellers to proceed by way of the bridle track instead of taking the road.

Land for Settlement. | It is to be hoped the Government will not ignore the pressing necessity of opening up some of the large areas that exist in this district, and in particular the country lying along thtfoot of the Dunstan range. The country known as the Black Bush is Buitably adapted for settlement, aud is capable of far more profitable cultivation under proper conditions. The description of this land 13 typical of the unsatisfactory conditions which (to use an eft-repeated phrase) are enough \£ make the angels weep. If this land <tau thrown open the production from it would be increased twenty-fold, and wculd, at the same time, maintain a large agricultural population comprising several contented and prosperous families. Taken aa a whole, the Matakanni district i 3 one to which we may look with confidence for large supplies of produce, but as yet the manifold resources of the district have only bjen but very, very partially developed. Deep Lead Miking.

S f ill another most important factor in the wi Ifare of thi3 district is the necessity for assistance being given by the Government to deep lead pros-

pecting. It is well-known that good ground exists all along the face of the range from Matakanui to St. Bathans, and the Matakanui Deep Lead at Sagar Pot i= an instance of what could hj done if capital was avai'able. This le >d, which is 280 feet deep, is practical!}' lying idle, and th-3 Government woula be spending money wisely wjre a sum voted for opening up and developing this highly auriferous lead.

Fruit Culture. vVith such a wonderful stretch of coun'ry of ouch excellent agricultural quality available, the Matakanui district (comprising Drybread on the north and Black Bush on the south) has an extenaive future before it, and ic might easily be one of the richest produce-growing districts in Otago. Much of the laud has value and environment for fruit-growing, and I am confident that stone fruit and applts of the finest quality could be grown in this locali-.y. There are hundreds upon hundreds of acres of rich, deep soil on sunny sheltered slopes where excellent truit could be grown aud practically no irrigation would be required. The bearing which the proper development of the fruit-grow-ing industry in Central Otago will have upon the prosperity of the interior and the colony in general is a matter deserving of the deepest consideration on the part of the people of Otago. It must be recognised that fruit culture carried out on proper and systematic lines will yet prove one of the staple industries of Central Otago, and I would gladly hope to see the establishment of orchards in the Matakanui district. The day is yet coming when the people will realise that this district has a power within itself which is capable of enormous development, and when closer settlement has been established no question will ever be raised as to the justification for the Otago Central Railway, for from this district alone it will be justified a hundredfold.