OCCASIONAL NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 8, 27 August 1874, Page 3

OCCASIONAL NOTES.

THE PUERUA RIVEU SECTIONS. j Once upon a time, as the old story books word it, wild pig hunting used to be a much more general avocation among outlying settlers in Otago than it is at present, and wild pork a much more general article of diet ; indeed, at one time almost everyone, except in JDunedin, lived more or less on wild pork. I recollect when settlers used frequently to go out with their bullock sledge and dogs, and staying out a night or so, bring home a sledge load of wild pork. I used to go into this pighunting business rather heavily at one time, and have cut short the career of some old boars, sows, and little ones, and have humped home on my shoulders many a load of wild pork. The cry of that amiable bird, or little owl, had then some significance in it— "More pork; more pork." There was continually more pork at that time. Since those days settlers, having successfully struggled with the wilderness, have left off bark whares, and are mostly living comfortably, if not exactly luxuriating, in good houses, surrounded with green grass paddocks well-stocked with animals capable of being speedily converted into good beef and mutton, and consequently wild pork, as an article of diet, has gone out of fashion. The wild pigs are also scarce in districts where they used to abound, though on the outskirts of the large bushes they are still to be found occasionally rooting about. It is some years since I had a pig hunt, but a day or two since I thought I would have a turn out, for the sake of the walk, if nothing else. However, I found a good many more sheep about than pigs, and what with scrambling through a rough bit of bush with both hands engaged, one with a rifle and the other with a vigorous collie dog tugging energetically, ascending some steep hills tolerably well supplied with fern, tutu, and an occasional lawyer, andjdescending almost perpendicular hills along sheep tracks almost, after. frost and thaw, as slippy as glass, and with the help of my dog tugging forward— having on said sheep tracks comej down about half-a-do^en times, and once a regular thumper on the flat of my back — I thought pig- hunting was hardly as pleasant an occupation as it was once< and came to the conclusion to adjourn pig-hunting sine die. So much for pig- hunting, which is not the main subject I intend to write about in this note. As I was returning to "home, sweet home," I came along by the banks of the Puerua River, and there got a view of what is, if I am not mistaken, some of the finest and most picturesque country iv Otago. I have no hesitation in saying that it is a scandalous shame that these beautiful river-flats and gentle ..slopes with a sunny aspect, closely abutting on a settled district where almost every acre of land has been sold years since, should still be waste land and unoccupied. Having occasionally passed along the country between the Taieri River and the sea, on the Brighton road, I have seen a specimen of unmistakeabiy rough country — steep hills and deep gullies, covered with fern — yet I suppose most of this Taieri land is sold, if not settled on. In comparison to this rough Taieri land, that, along the banks of the Puerua is almost like a paradise. This Puerua land seems to be | excellent soil, and as regards a large portion of it, little more would be requisite in order to clear it for the plough than setting a light to tbe thick tussap grass on a windy day. It is a fair sight as it is along the banks of this beautiful Puerua ; stream, but what will it be when a series of smiling homesteads and green fields are to be seen along the course of the river ? Away further back from the river, beyond the flats and slopes, to the top of what are called the Rocky Ranges, the land appears to be of excellent quality, judging from the present luxuriant growtn upon it, and probably a large portion of it is not too steep to be ploughed. Now, I understand 3000 acres of this splendid country along j the Puerua River was surveyed by the Government into blocks and sections three years since. Why, then, has it not been [ long'Simce opened up for sale ? lam told, because the Government are not disposed ' to pay compensation money to the run- ' holder, and it is reported the Government ' do not intend to sell till the lease expires', ( say in about five years. Well, it Govern, ment does not sell this fine land under the deferred payments system before that time , T think it will be a scandalous shame, and. " no mistake. Talk of settling the country while fine land like this, distant a dozen ( miles from the coast — a dozen miles by t c ' road, and six or seven miles across country * — remains unsold ! Away with such hum- ] bugging clap-trap and political hypocrisy I Government eeems to withhold land from sale till there is an opportunity of selling to some large capitalist. I hope this fine Puerua country will not be allowed to be ■ bolted in a lump hy some great land- shark. I should think Government might afford to ' settle, with the runholders for the opening up, under the deferred payments system, ' of these 3000 acres, or a postion of them, ■ at once. This is a subject which should ! not be lost sight of, but should be urgedagain and again upon the immediate attend tion of Government. - '•'•"■'! r. ' I