WAIPOUA'S FATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 August 1926, Page 5

WAIPOUA'S FATE.

FOREST ROAD STARTED.

TIMBER TO BE MILLED. OPINIONS OF VARIOUS PEOPLE. I'STar" Special Reporter.' Tbere is no doubt that the desire liehind the movement for a road through Waipoua State Forest is that the forest shall be milled and the kauri as well a* tho other timber -covering this magnificent area of bush land shall be marketed. The work of making the road through, by the central route to the Wainiamaku Valley in the Hokianga County, has already been commenced ]>y the Government, and forty-six: men are at present engaged on its initial stages of construction. It is contended by public body representatives in Dargaville, as well as Government officials, settlers and bushmen, that the central route is the only one that should be considered. A "Star" special representative, who has made exhaustive inquiries, discovered that from Darjraville to Donnelly's Crossing, and right throughout the whole district up to the Waimamaku Valley, there is a consensus of opinion that the Waipoua Forest should be milled. And that is one of the main reasons why the road is being put through. Men who have worked in the bush all their lives were emphatic that a considerable portion of the kauri timber has matured and is now in the initial stages of decay. They contended that if the timber was not cut, then, sooner or later, the Waipoua would be lost for all time. On the other hand there were people, with whom the "Star"' special representative discussed the subject, who were just as emphatic that the road would to a great extent be detrimental to the bush. One or two went further and declared that vested interests were at the back of the whole scheme. Some Considered Opinions. When that phase of the question was mentioned to Mr. F. A. Jones, Mayor of Dargaville, he said that if he thought for one moment that vested, or commercial interests were at the back of the proposal to make the road through the central route, then he would have nothing whatever to do with it, and would voice his opinion against the proposal.

Mr. R. Russell, chairman of the Hokianga County Council, when asked for his opinion said: "Acting on engineering advice this council has always advocated the coast route through open country in preference to traversing Waipoua Forest."

Mr. V. Trounson, chairman of the Hobson County Council, who accompanied the "Star" special over the greater portion of the proposed coastal route, said: "If I had an axe to grind I would gi-ind it in favour of the coastal route, because I have property there. I think the road should go through the forest. It is the only feasible proposition. I have heard nothing about vested or commercial interests: but I shall be quite frank and say, if the bush is to be used commercialy then I for one will have a cut at it."

'""What is the opinion of the Dargaville Chamber of Commerce in regard to Toading Waipoua Forest?" was a question asked Mr. B. S. secretary to that body.

"We have always been in favour of a road connection betftt h the WaiTnamaku Valley and D*BBelly's Crossing," he replied. "The route" does not matter to ue in the le».st. This chamber has been advocating an outlet to the Dargaville end for those settlers for years. They have asked for support for a road and we have given it to them." some mills in and cut the bush," declared Mr. J. McCarroll, chairman of the Kaipara Hospital Board, and »• man -who has been, in the bush all his life. "Kauri is like a human being," he went on. "It lives, matures, and then commences to die. Waipoua has matured, and now is the. time to cut it. If it is left as it is, and as it will he in the near future, it means that thousands of pounds will be lost to the Dominion." , What Waimamaku People Say. It has been stated that the road through the forest would only serve a handful of settlers in the Waimamaku settlement. When the "Star" Special was in there on Wednesday night last, it was stated that there were 174 ratepayers in the Omapere Riding of the Hokianga County, the majority of whom would benefit by the central route. There are others in the valley who do not hold similar views, however, and some were emphatic that the coastal route should be the road. Others again, and more particularly those up towards the Wekaweka end, declared that neither of the routes would suit tliem.

According to Mr. A. V. Pettman, there are about 40 settlers with their families living between Waimamaku and the eastern end of the valley, who, when wanting to go to Taheke or Kaikohe, have to travel distances varying up to about 27 miles more than would be r.eeessary if the road from Tabeke to its junction with the road from Waimamaku was made good. Mr. Pettman estimated that about four and a half miles of construction would link Donnellv's Crossine with the Waimamaku valley. Xo his mind, this road would serve the whole district, and would enable settlers to reach either the Wairoa via Donnelly's Crossmg, or the railway at Kaikohe. The central route, said Mr. Pettman. had nothing to recommend its construction. There was no settlement scheme and no plan to utilise the soft timbers.

Speakin? in regard to the coastal route. Mr. Pettman maintained that it, too, had nothing , to recommend its adoption. Pome of the poorest land in the N-orth i« situated there. The few settlers at the lower ond of the Waimamaku Valley would only need to travel an extra three miles, a= asainst fifteen or sixteen extra that the maioritv living towards the eastern end would have to pn to reach Donnelly's CYossina.

"Sir Joseph Ward motored alon» this "artirnlar roa.l from Taheke to Kaihu ahout 10 years ago. - ' said Mr. Pettman. "and the mail wason ran resru■arlv. The amount of money needed to put this Tna ,i again in eood order, "nd the short link remiired to connect Holcjanea rnimtv vc-'th T)oiineTlv"s •"rossinc. wnnld he small .--omnared with the amount it i= pontemnlated to sDend °n a road through country which sunnorts no copulation, esoeciallv at this ;ime. when thp Government is preaeh'n<j econotnv."