LAND COMMISSIONER'S TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 146, 20 June 1906, Page 8

LAND COMMISSIONER'S TOUR.

INSPECTION OF LANDS FOR

SETTLEMENT.

THE MATATA SWAMP.

(Special to the "Star/)

WHAItATANE, June 12

For the primary object of opening up large areas of land in the vicinity of Opotiki, and with the secondary but little less important intention of inspecting the progress of various Crown settlements en route, Mr. Jas. MacKenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Messrs. A. E. Harris and M. W. Armstrong, members of the Laud Board, and Mr. R. Leclde, secretary of that body, left Auckland on Monday morning for ftotorua. Early on the following morning the party were astir, and a start was made for Te Teko before the rising sun had dispelled the night mists which still hung in wreaths over the surface of the Lake and in the fern-clad gullies and hollows outside the town. The ..uninteresting and monotonous country, leading to the famous Tikitere valley, was soon traversed, and the change was welcome when the winding road along the shores of Rotoiti was reached. Here the success of the Native school was made manifest by the crowds of lively little Maori children whogreeted the visitors with shrill and repeated "Kia ora," "Kia ora," as they made their way to the school-house without any signs of discontent or anxiety over lessobs, but, quoting one member of the party, "just the same as the white kiddies and a good deal better than some." The drive past some of the picturesque native villages, with the clear waters of the lake lapping gently on to the white punriee beaches, the reflection of the wooded bluffs and the canoe of an occasional roura fisher in the unruffled, shadowy surface, was indeed something to be remembered amongst one's pleaaantest recollections of the beauty spots of New Zealand. After passing, through the settlement of Kotoiti, the famous drive through Hongi's Track, often spoken of as one of the finest pieces of bush scenery in the commenced. Although this seems a somewhat ambitious statement, still the visitor cannot fail to be delighted and charmed, if not convinced of the fact, by the magnificent forest with its stately tawa kahikatea. rimu and rewa-rewa trees, and its almost tropical profusion of exquisite ferns and delicate undergrowth, through which passes the winding path over which the great Maori chief dragged his war cuiioes for the extermination of the refugees on Mokoia.

The way loses little, if any, of its beauty a=. it winds along the wooded shores of Kotoehu, -where one sees the same tiny bays, their rocky bush-clad slopes reflected in the clear waters below, and each one having some fresh charm from its forerunner, the same trees and ferns with the white gleam of the road as it rounds the next bluff, apparently pro-, misinpr fresh beauties beyond. After passing the sister lake Rotorun, ringed round with its barrier of bush-covered hills, roueh of ■which is fortunately set aside as forest and scenic reserves, the descent to the lower country is commenced. Down through a long gorge the road goes, twisting and turning in a fearful and ■wonderful manner, , making one - breathe fervent thanks for a, good driver' and a reliable team. As before, on both sides of the road as far as one can see < from the narrow ravines down which the coach passes, heavy virgin forest, as yft untouched by axe or fire, clothes the hills on every side. Towards the end of the bush road, several beautiful glimpses of the Bay of Plenty with Whale Island in the foreground., are seen, but, the forest gradually dwindles away to isolated trees, then to more or less stunted shrubs and finally one comes to a land of titree. taupaki and bracken, rendered desolate by the great Tarawera eruption. The thick layer of ash is still plainly visible, and though time may effect changes and increase its fertility, still its present aspect is broken., hungry and uninviting in the extreme. Straight ahead the solitary peak of Mount Edgecumbe is sharply outlined against the sky, while farther off the river summit of Tarawera, bears eloquent testimony to the huge volcanic forces which have been at work in the district, and a« one of the party remarked after gasing for some time at its rough and torn surface, "it wants another earthquake to level it." Much of this country belongs to the Crown, and has been opened for selection, and what seems somewhat peculiar to the visitor, the majority of these unattractive-looking sections have been taken up, though as yet signs of habitation, cultivation or improvement are few and scanty, a result scarcely to be wondered at.

Passing farom this to the Whakatane County the immense. Matata Swamp is entered. This great area of between thirty and forty thousand acres will, when drained, bs one of the most valuable blocks in the district, both for growing flax and maize, and for raising stock! Some years ago, the swamp after many cross transactions, passed into the hands of the Government, who opened it for selection. All the sections have been taken, but of course the great problem which confronts the selector, is the banishing of the waters which cover such a large portion of the ground. As might have been expected, much delay lias occurred, and much difficulty been experienced by the tenants and the Board because of the almost impossibility in very many cases of complying with the residential regulations, and with the possibility of land being acquired under these conditions for speculative purposes a contingency to which the Beard are fully alive. Hewever, a huge drainage scheme is now being carried out under the newly formed Drainage Board, which already shows promise of effectually solving the problem, and opening the way for" the transformation of this imraenee marshy tract into fertile and productive farms Srhich should amply repay the pioneers who have had eeurage enough to face the task.

The comparatively small portions drained in the neighbourhood of Te Teko and the success of the Cultivation of these areas, jpves warrant for the assertion that the Matata Swamp should ultimately be one of the most valuable end productive blocks in the district. The road between Rotorua and Te Teko is wonderfully good, in fact it is usually at its best, in the winter, and this was further illustrated by the fact that only five hours were occupied in the forty*three mile drive from Rotorua. Its quality was the subject of much eenunendaflon from several of the members of the party. •who were fresh from the horrors of some of the northern bush roads. In the afternoon several sections on the banks of Ihe |ian<ritaki river, which flows Tight •through the swamp, were visited, amongst them being that of Mr. McGarvey. where the drainage works are in a very advanced stage, and another about seven niilea down the river where* Mr. Chas. Reid of Auckland is building a large and thoroughly modern house at a cost of about

£2000, on his 2000-acre section. Tomorrow the party mote on to Matata, and Whakatane, inspecting other sections and drainage works on their -way.

OPOTIKI, June 16.

Mr. Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and party went over the land from Matata through the Whakatane to Opotiki yesterday. This niorninc -they left on horseback for the ba«kbloeks/in order to inspect new land which will be balloted for next week.