DISTRICTS OPENED BY THE RAIL WAY—APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1639, 20 May 1875, Page 2

DISTRICTS OPENED BY THE RAIL WAY—APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.

From Penrose Junction, which the Qnahtinga railway has made pretty familiar to everybody, the railway passes on the West S$ side of the Great South Road, the track 'Ij being formed in one place by an embankment >n across an arm of Manukau harbour. From t, ■■( here a very pretty view is obtained of f Onehunga in the distance, its wharf and bay. I Near St. Ann's bridge here we noticedthenew slaughter-house erected by Mr Fisher, which '■' \ occupies a most suitable position. The first place to which the raiiway will afford speedy communication is Ofcahuhu, possessing, according to the last census, a population numbering 740. The station at Obahuhu is about a quarter of a mile from the village, on the Mangare side, on land given by Mr Fairburn. A road is being formed to connect : i it with the township. The section of the line beyond Otahuhu, extending through the fine farming district of Papatoitoi is the only one which is bounded by regular ex-' re tensive cultivation. The fields at this part, fresh and green after the late rains, shew -, <. in a pleasant form the result of systematic cultivation for years. The population of the district is 16$.

PAPATOITOI TO DRURY.

The Papatoitoi station is Hear the farms of Messrs. Bassett, Buttle, and Wallace, and about half-a-mile from the South Road. It is a well-built station with goods shed, station-master's house, &c, similar to those at Otahuhu, Papakui-a, Drury, Pukekohe, and Tuakau. Beyond Papatoitoi cultivation is very irregular, much of the soil of very indifferent quality, tub also a good deal capable of being turn©! to account.. The features of the country from Papatoitoi to , Papakura as* seen from the line are uninteresting, the land generally covered with low scrub or fern, with here and there small cultivated sections. In fact it . ' may be said that a feeling of disappointment • will be felt by anyone who expects in travelling along the line to find it pass through a rich well-cultivated stretch :of country. Indeed it is surprising that the prospect of an early opening of the rail- .., way has not led to mttch more extensive cultivation along its track than is at present observable. We do not doubt, however, that the railway will give a very great impetus to farming in the districts through which it passes, and which have hitherto been strangled by the heavy cost of freight to market. Beyond Papatoitoi there is a small station—a mere place of shelter—for the Maimrewa district. At the Papakura river the engine takes in coal and water. The ~ line, which crosses the South road four times ' between Auckland and Mercer, goes right through the village of Papukura, within a i stones throw of the well-known hostelry of;' the township. There is a neat and com- V modious station in the village. The rail here pa=ses over the South road, and opens up the Hunua district, running through Mr Hay's property. A small way-side station has been provided for Hunua similar to that at Manurewa. The Papukura district possesses a population of 364, and has some 4000 acres under cultivation, also 2000 acres of mixed - bush, chiefly puriri, which is the first near view of forest obtained from the line. The \, Hunua ranges also come in sight, and continue, more or less, in view nearly the whole way to Mercer. The Hunua district has a population of 561, and the township of Drury, which is the next station, 116 persons. Coming through the Hunua district, the railroad passes at the back of Godkin's "Farmers' Hotel," and the station is a short distance from the village. DRORY TO MERCER. Beyond Drury, the line crosses the South Road and traverses the barren Karaka flats, which lie between the South Road and the Mauku. The prospect here for. some miles is tbe least pre-possessing on the line. As Pakekohe is neared the country wears a better aspect; clumps of bush are passed through from time to time with signs of settlement visible at various points. From the iiats the line rises gradually, the steepest1 gradient being not more than one in forty, and the highest part of the line is some 45 feet lower than the Remuera station. There are series of sharp curves between Pukekobe and Mercer. The scenery of Pukekohe is cheering; the land is evidently capable of sustaining a large population, and the homesteads and church visible from the line with the various clearings show that the work of settlement is not being neglected. The population of East Pukekohe is 419, and of West Pukekohe is 578, and is steadily increasing. The station in this district will be the one most convenient to the Mauku and Waiuku, but a good road ie required to connect those districts with the line. We understand that Mr James Stewart, C.E., laid off a good line of road—less than six miles to the Mauku, and eleven and a-half miles to Waiuku—estimated to cost £20,000. He urged this upon the Government, and Dr. Pollen seemed favorable to having it undertaken. The settlers then, however, hoped to secure a branch line. As the prospect of this is a very distant one, we would urge the importance of having the connection pointed out made without loss of time. We notice that Mr Hamlin is moving in the matter in the Provincial Council. At ' the Pukekohe station Mr Godkin has erected a very commodious hotel which will be a great convenience to the settlers. Mauku has a population of 325, and Waiuku : 276. Passing from the Pukekohe station, the line traverses a forest of totara, puriri, matai, rata, and some kahikatea, and for a long distance passes through Mr Buckland's r extensive farm, where there is a small way-side station. Before reaching Tuakau the railway is about seven miles west of the Great South road, but it now bends round skiiting the Tuakan district at a point some distance from the " centre of the settlement. Here there is a.j good station with station-master's cottage. The population of Tuakau is 182. Continuing, a course round the hill-aide, the railway intersects the South road at Pokeno, a place famous in the war. From the carriages here; a full view of the village can be obtained, and the clearings are a type of the early inroads of cultivation upon virgin soil. Porter's Hotel is one of the best-appointed on the whole line. After crossing the road at A. Pokeno, the line enters upon the extensive chain of swamp which border the Maungatawhiri river. The earthworks here are, very heavy, in some places the embankments being deeper, we are informed, below the level of the swamp than above, owing to the difficulty of finding bottom. The Mangatawhiri river is spanned by a fine bridge. In the Maung'atawhiri district there are 189 settlers, and about 7,150 acres of land, much of good quality and the greater portion of; arable land under cultivation. After crossing the rirer the railway again joins the South road, and runs alongside it into Mercer. Between Tuakau and Mercer there are some: very heavy sidings, one of solid rock, which occupied several months in cutting. The lino throughout,shows that a large amount of. work has had to be done in its formation.

THE TERMINUS. . Mercer, the terminus, is not a very attrac* tive looking village, or a very extensive one. Its population is 83 Europeans, who are' occupied in connection with the Telegraph office, Resident Magistrate's Court, Waikato Steam Navigation Company's wharf and store, two hotels,! two stores, Quick's stables, and blacksmith's shops, which constitute the township. Mr Hoskins is in charge of the Waikato Steam Navigation Company's depot. A large number of men are employed on railway works, some cutting the flannel which is to connect the Mercer line witt the extension to Ngaruawahia. This is affiery heavy |work; the tunnel will be abrfut » chain and a-half in length, and thejg* bring has to be carried through blue roljaM »' treacherous character, as some of .Cos# «X" curaionista yesterday found to tlieirVoortHeavy timbers have been put in an« the

frork is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible. It is expected to occupy twelve months in construction, when the tipper portion of the line will be ready for traffic. The Tillage is built on the banks of the Waikato pver, and a short line will run down to the wntzr-'ft G&Se f°r *ke convenience of goods ramc, brought down the river by the ComvyfVs steamers. Mr Quick intends to run I Vcoach to connect with the railway at Melfcer, going right through to Cambridge in a d ay. The value of the railway to the country through which it passes, and the districts o f Waikato beyond, cannot be over-estimated, and we hope to see a complete change in the landscape, wrought by the hand of the settler during the next few years. A trip along the line affords a very pleasant and novel mode of spending a day, and if Mr Passmore were only accessible to a suggestion we would urge him to run a few excursion trains through to Mercer for about five shillings return fare, to give the people an opportunity of seeing what they have paid for, and what we have attempted to describe. The fares, as given above, are too high for the majority of people to take the trip.