UP THE RANGITIKEI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 10

UP THE RANGITIKEI.

NOTES'BY THE WAY.

1 Leaving Ohingaiti northwards (writes our travelling correspondent), there is a considerable area or fiat land between

the road' and the Rangitikei River. This is the'l'arm of- Mr. R. Hammonu. Ho has' another across tho river, and yet Bons who require land of their own.So, though ho.himself may have a.fairly Jarge holding, still.when it is cut up among his own family—and why should it not bo? —it' will be none too big after all. Tho homestead is not seen from the road, as fortunately a strip of bush has been left on the weather Bide.

A further on there is a bond in the road, and Mr. A. E. Russell's run is the next place. It is a fine property, and sheep do well on it. Tho liock of Komueysis as good as we may wish to see, and better than the average. When the surplus sheep are sold, usually at Hunterville, they bring good prices. I saw them sold this year at 125., ,and for five-year-old sheop it is a big price, but then the quality is there. Since I was up this way before I noticed that Mr. Russell, who lives atPalmerston, has built'a very handsorao woolshed. The next farm is Mr.'Weston's; one of- the Vinegar Hill family. He lias a.nice farm too, .comprising flats near the river, and rolling country on the other" side. There is no doubt that this is splendid pastoral country, as once you have a good'classVof. 'sheep they seem to.do very well here'. 'The formation is blue papa, and. it makes sound healthy land.-• Mr. Weston's-sheep, or what I saw of them, we're a good: class of Jlomneys,' and .were, ,in.>grarid condition. . Anbther'farm-which-'lies about two,miles off the main road is the property of Mr. W.' Stevens,,,who, by a propers system of moving his stock about,' carries a.-wonderful number. He is considered one of the most successful men.in the ■ district.. f Some.two -miles further,' when' on' 'the top .of the hill) the township of, Marigaweka comes into •view..: -Seeiv on a bright sunny day, aiid nestling undelr .the hills, it is: a pretty picture, but one ca"rinot help feeling that the township was built -on the wrong site—too damp in-the winter,-1 shoulcl s'ay,;';'.''At'.'oh6. :part 'pfUSl'iel main street the cdge..of„the J ,.clif| above, the Rangitikei River is not, mbrerthan a couple of chains away. Tho business end of the town is too near, the, high wooded hills,, so that in wihteT t'lo'sun is off the main street between-2 and 3 o'clock.; If the township had been built on tho upper end of-the flat.it-would he drier and get a good deal more sunshine.

It seems a long time since what is now Mangaweka was called "Three-log Whare." ■ There, was a nasty crossing over, tho. river, which was responsible fdr.several accidenWand lives lost, and. it was considered a'great step when tho first low-level bridge was formed, but the'structure did not stand', the heavy 'floods;, and 'the' battering■ .it igot from : : tho v large • quantities"• of . timber which wero at that time;brought down.when the-river-was ; up. The present cantilever bridge is a fine structure, high above any flood. I, don't know that there is anything'to makb Mangaweka much bigger than it is, but it should be a good little business place; provided the various trades are not too much cut up. There is. a considerable number of farmers who make Mangaweka their -market, and a good-proportion.of business naturally flovs into tho town-jship.j-plt is^onp t more..instanco of how 'dependent the'dburitry ia'on tho prosperity of the farmer. The railway station is a long way irom : .the township, but this was unavoidable, as the railroad above the town is all through steep hillsides, where no site could have been formed for. a station. The new Bank of New Zealand is quite the ornament of Mangaweka.. It is a handsome twostory.- brick .. building.., The directors .evidently,'have faith in the: future' pro-. Bpepts! of the'place'.' ;.'. • v-.'<.