THE MARCH OF SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 414, 25 January 1909, Page 10

THE MARCH OF SETTLEMENT.

' •-'■'. '■'". ~ r ' ':-■ '■-.:■ GROWING OHAKTTNE.. ■ (from -oub teavelung correspondent.) . As in' the case of' Taihape, Ohakune' furnishes further proof of-the remarkable development of the country, which is proceeding alone ■the -Main Trunk line. Three years ago there' was only one house in Ohakune, to-day there are nearly one hundred,, and buildings are going up fast. As a result of the great stimulus which the opening of the railway lino was expected to-give to the sawmilling ■ industry laud m the town has gone up two and three hundred per cent. Until lately some sections iwere.sold at as muoh' a 5.,£150, and 3250 per quarter acre. It is.,considered ■ that there is sufficient timber in ,the district.to keep twenty sawmills going for twenty years, and side by side with the clearing of the bush, the land will be. developed for mixed farming. Even now a cheese faotory has bo'en erected within a few miles of the town, and at Raetihi (which is a much older settlement,-seven or eight miles back , from the Ohakune Railway Station) farmers are already in a very good way.:- It %■ possible that Ohakune will have a struggle' especially if the timber business does-not get into operation as early as .'was expected* but there is no doubt whatever .that - the district must have a prosperous future. Speaking to a Dominion correspondent, ■■ Mr. A. W, Wilkie, a'Town Board Commissioner, , and a member of the firm of Wilson, Wilkie, and Company, stated that the Town ;i Board would almost immediately spond. .£BOO on the formation 1 of the .roads and footpaths in the town, and the services of Mr.- Chennery Suggate, engineer, Auckland, had been- procured to carry -out the work. ' It was also proposed to instal'a high-pressure water system for household and fire prevention purposes, and it was considered that, on account of the excellent position of Oh&kune, the cost would not lie mftoh more than An electric, lighting scheme for the town was also being arranged, and estimates as to cost considered. It was also understood, that teuders would be called shortly for the erection of a now and up-to-date post onice, and that the work,would be pnshef on fast. Referring again to. the timber industry Mr. Wilkie stated that Messrs. Gammon and Company were making extensive .arrangements for running the. big sawmill near the station, and had just imported a first-class new locomotive for the hauluee of timber along the steel-laid tramline. It was. also. understood that the railway authorities wore making provision for the housing of a large number of locomotives at the railway-station, Mr. Wilkie went on to refer to.the scenic beauties of the Ohakune lakes, situated about two miles, from the town, and the : trout fishing, whioh was very good. Ohakune people firmly hold the idea that the -township and its neighbourhood offers i capital opportunities for investment to the man who is no afraid'to take his coat off. ■. ■' . .