MAHGAWEKA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 14

MAHGAWEKA.

4 LAND OF THE BLACK WOOD HEN. Mangaweka, originally known ns "Tliree Log AVliarc," came into existence as a settlomelit with the prospective development of the Slain Trunk line. The town lies in a basin upon the steep and precipitous banks of tho Rangitikei. River, which at this spot ■tower grey abovo the great carton through which the stream rushes, and afford a picture of a most majestic nature. The country near here is scarred with gulches and viaducts, one of which, the Makohine, is tho highest in Now Zealand. ? First Settlers.

The Mangaweka country was first settled by pioneers from liiiianr, who acquired land about three miles out iu the Kawatau Valley. These settlers, worked hard, and at the present aro ' in a very prosperous condition. Tho' Kawatau Valley, which has an area of about 70 square miles, is regarded a 8 one of the finest pieces of grazing couu- . try in New Zealand. Amongst the early pioneers who camo ; to Mangaweka may be mentioned the names of Messrs. Alf. Wanstall, J.-■' Murphy, W. Hall, 13. Deakin, D. Doake, • and T.T.Finn. Tho first shop in the place ;• \va3 opened by Mr. Eli Caselberg. iu. . 1890, when the only means of communication to llunterville was by means of a back track. Mr. Casolberg's store ill those times was a tent. Mr. Caselberg is still a very activo man, and as a mail contractor and general business man in the Kawatau; Valley rides forty miles a ;day oil horseback. In 1893, an . accommodation-house was added to.tho; , settlement by Mr. M. O'Driscol], with , thirty beds. In the-following year snothei' store was opened up, this timo bv Mr. T. Munro, who has since- died, : and one by Mr. \V. A. Officer, - while other establishments which followed were controlled b.v Messrs. I>. Truby (draper), Bowick and Rutherford, and T. Gordon smiths). Tho public school was.,'opened on March 5, 1894, by Mr. T. R, Bowden with a very small roll number. . ■

Cood Farming Centre. ' Mangaweka is connected by- some fine arterial roads through well-settled country, and there is every reason to believe that it has a very solid future m consequence.' It has some very- nno sheep and dairy country, and possessestwo cooperative dairy factories, one near the town, the other at Ruahine.' On tho road loading fifty miles on to Taupo is Manui, six miles out from Mangaweka, \Vhere there ' arc somo splendid' sheep and dairy lands, and. somo fine homesteads. The To hapu and Mangarerc districts also have some very good sheep country. For the year ended March 31, 1910, the district- export* ed something over a million feet of limber, while between 7000 and 8000, passengers were booked from its station. The district is splendid for small fruits such as pears, plums and apples, while its strawberries are regarded as tho best in the North Island. The town's Horticultural Society, which has been established about- live years, is a very flourishing institution, and it is now intended to incorporate tho fionccrii with farm and agricultural exhibits. '

A Progressive Town. Tho town is'progressing on very sound lines, and abput a year ago the Bank of Kew Zealand showed its confidence in tho place bv erecting a brick and cement bank building, the finest in tho town, at a cost of £3000. Ju the last twelve months tho post oDlco has beta enlarged, and the staff increased, while recently the railway station-was included as one of the stopping places or tho Auckland-Wellington-./-' express. Tho town was constituted a Town Hoard districts about six months ago. with an area of 400 acres and a population of about COO people. The present Town Board comprises Mr. J. Gcorgotti aa chairman, Commissioners Dr. R. B. Turnbull, W. A. Officer; R. E. Hornblow, and C. J. Bennett, with Mr. Stanley Dixon as clerk- With \comniondabl« enterprise this governing body, is now making arrangements to take a poll ott a scheme for electric lighting and water supply at a cost of £10.000. •,