NORTH AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 281, 27 November 1925, Page 9

NORTH AUCKLAND.

FROM 1865 TO 1925.

SIXTY YEARS OF PROGRESS.

WHAT THE RAILWAY HAS DONE.

FOR A WONDERFUL COUNTRY;

"Ldoking back over 00 years of life lit the Jiorth the impression left is the Ertiat feeling of isolation and want of communication with the outer world in the early days, -, said Mr. Henry S. Liidbrook, of Tupo Tupe, Ohaeawai, Bay of Islands, when speaking to the Auckland "Star" special at Wliarigarei to-day. "When first 1 came hern," he contimied, "there were ho local bodies, consequently no metalled roads. The oiily means of transit was on horseback or bY" bullock drays. Those not able to ride had to be conveyed by bullock dray to call upon their neighbours. All goods were conveyed to and from the nearest port in the same manner. Mails were carried on paekliorse&j and we considered ourselves lucky if we got one mail a week. Cattle or shnep exported had (o be driven to the nearest port and each beast had to be lassooed and towed out to a small trading feenooner or steamer. The animals gwam behind small rowing boats and wore hoisted on board by mesais of a glin", passage to Auckland taking about 28 hours. , "When the Cohnty Act was paseed," Mr. Ludbrook went on to say, "new roads were opened up and those already existed were improved. Buggies and coaches took the place of bullock-drays nnd packhorses. The principal exports froih the north at that time were kauri gtitri and timber. Both these industries Iniployed a large amount of labour. In iily opinion liad the Government imposed an export duty on those exports at the time of Which I speak, they rbuld have raised sufficient money to pitfc good roads through the north from Auckland to Kaitaia. The early settlers passed through very hard times owing to high steahief freights and the ' difficulty of getting their produce to a saleable market." Coming of the Railway. Still in reminiscent mood Mr. Lud- ■ hrook went on to tell of the coming of the railway and what it meant to the"isolated and roadless north," as it was called. With ihd opening up of the Kawakdwa coal mines a short railway line was Tun from Opua to Kawakawa. This enabled settlers to ship their pro- • diice and stock by that route. Then the railway between Whangarei and Kaino, at the rate of about one mile a year, crept on through Hikurangi, Hukerenui and Towai, eventually conjiecting tip with the KaWakawa line. The mails were conveyed from the railhead by coach. Following slowly , on th« branch line to Kaikohe was opened up* Now it reachee Okaihau. This •has been the means of opening Up the back country and increasing settlement. With better roads came the motor car Into (lie north, all mails now are carried frota the railhead by motor lorries. The Berrice runs three times a week in and cut, One of the greatest events to the settlers round about Whangarei and the " liofth■■generally was the.running of the first through express from Onua to •Aueklftnd. This enables settled artd businessmen to get lip arid down be' tween Auckland and tho north with'"ottt spending undue time away from ■ tlleir occupations. It also encourages tourists to visit the northern districts. 'It is the generally expressed opinion " that the new policy of the Railway De* Itortment will encourage settlers to use ' tiie railway, not only for quick transit • of their goods from Auckland, but also ■for shipping their stock and , produce. •' Ample proof bf this latter statement has already been provided most conclusively, as the results obtained in connection with the Whanearei A. and P. Show fully demonstrate. Agricultural Development. About 20 years ago a great improvement took nlace by the opening up of the dairy factories. At that time it was thought land in the north was of poor quality. In fact for many years it went by the name of "the poor. , north." Now it could well be deScr'Wd as the "progressive and bountiful ■ north." The success of the dairy factories has proved there are large tracts of land suitable for dairying, and the stock turned out at the show to-day nrain and again proved thp same thing. There were some wonderfully fine tvnes of dairy cattle to be seen, particularly amongrst the Jnrsevs. Sheet) too Were on exhibition in large numbers, and • caused the most favourable comment on 1 all sides.. One keen judge was heard to reirmrk that he had never seen anyi thing like the sheep here in all his 25 years judging. Other proof is not far to seek that • the north is good dairying country. Two of the northern factories—Kaitaia and • "vThansaroa—have graded higner than any other dairy companies in the Auck- ■ land province. There is no mistaking the fact that tho nsrth can prodtiee butter of a quality not to be beaten in New Zealand. Just here it might be of interest to remark that this rear it is expected that approximately 2800 tons of butter will • po out from the north this season. And it will practically all go by rail. The Bay of Islands factory at Ohaeawfti is estimated to produce 500 tons. Hikurangi 000 tons, Mangatapcrc 500 tons, and Whangarei 900 tons. It is also estimated that there will be about 3000 extra bales of wool sent out this year in excess of that forwarded by rail last season. Opening up the • North by giving railway communication '. has also undoubtedly improved the marketing of stock for sheep and cattle • men. Finances Greatly Relieved. With the coming of the dairy companies, the financial position of the settlers greatly improved. .It has also brought about improved methods in agricultural development and progress. Now it ' is common to see top-dressing and cropping and manures are what these Northern lands require. Up till quite recently they have been starved for them. But what could settlers do in the face of freight charges? Even until • the advent of through rail connection with Auckland, the struggle to get manures is a big one for the man on the ■ land to-day. But, knowing its full value, he is doing his best, and it is a good Lest, too. There was another great boon given to • the farmer, especially the sheepman, ■when the Moerewa freezing works were opened up. This enabled him to compete successfully in the fat lamb trade. Fat stock exhibited at this year's show proved conclusively that fat lambs, mutton and beef, fattened on Northern l&nds, ran hold their own with any

other part of New Zeal&ndi One breeder from here took the cheep championship at the Wailrato Show last week. He gained the same honours here tn-day. That the North can produce a* good quality Of wool is proved by the hign prices obtained in Auckland and London markets. Many of the glim lands iii the North have been considered too poor for agriculture of pastaral purposes, but men to whom" the "Star" special reporter lias spoken, and Who "know the North" during years of occupation on the laiid unhesitatingly stated that, by improved methods in dealing with these gum lands, it has been demonstrated beyond any doubt whatevef thai they can convert them into good pastoral lands. The Volcanic land is some of the richest iii the North, and there are instances of volcanic soil, surface-sown to English grasses 40 years ago, still being good in sward. Benefits to Auckland City. Judging by What brie eccs around the 6howground, arid after travelling throughout a great part of the North, there is no mistaking the fact that the growth of Auckland city is due in a great .measure to the North. T"he money value of gum, timbers and past exports was exceedingly large; now the export of Wool, frozen meat, and dairy produce has largely taken its place. And so has the North grown from 1865 to 1025. It is a great peninsula, stretching for over 200 miles north of Auckland. It is considerably larger than the whole province of Taranaki. It Comprises approximately 3,800,000 acres, and contains the counties of Maiigonui, Whangaroa, Bay of Islands, Hokiangaj Whangafei, Hobson, Otamatea, Rodney and Waiteriiata. The largest of these counties is Hokianga, with about (520,000 acres, aiid the smallest is AVhangaroa, With 112,000 acres. The completion bf the North Auckland Main Trunk railway aiid branches has placed till these districts in direct railway communication with Auckland. This being the 49th year in the Ms« tory of the Whangarei *A. and P. Association, it marks another milestone which has been made during the year of steady, though till quite recently necessarily slow, progress in the development of the North. Jubilee year in 1920 will, it is confidently anticipated, see even more progress accomplished.