THE PROGRESS OF OPOTIKI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5602, 31 August 1875, Page 3

THE PROGRESS OF OPOTIKI.

A coimK.NPt>M>K\r, writing on the '2l\n\ August, states :— " Permit me through the medium of your widely -circulated paper to make known to the public at large a few facts in connection with the rise and progress of the township and district of Opotiki, Bay of Plenty. This important nnd thriving little township has proved one of the brightest examples of tho success of the sometime equivocal policy of military settlements. But a few years ago it was a wild, swampy Hat, teeming with luxurious indigenous vegetation, but possessed of no mark or evidence of civilisation— Europeans, what fow there were, living in rnupu wharcs, in tho immediate vicinity of the church, which liad been surrounded by earthwork* ami otherwise fortilied, to meet the exigencies of a lively and perpetual anticipation of an official visit from tho noblo savage Every ablebodied man wot then a soldier, mid slept with hit loaded riHo handy. But thanks to flour and sugar, a manifest change has taken placo. Country lands are now occupied in evory direction. Cultivation and draining has brought tho soil into a state of fortuity which scare haa its equal in New Zuiilajid, while fine level metalled roads, intersecting tho farms for miles into tho interior, oner every facility for the transportation of the enormous crops which arc now annually produced, into the township, where our two wharves offer plenty of accommodation for the various vessels which trade from hero to Auckland and other ports. Of public works and buildings we have a fair show, the most imposing of which is the church, once the Bceneof bloodshed and murder, during the outbreak of the Hauhaus, and with the stains of blood upon the front board of V\o pulpit, where the headof tho'former unfortunate incumbent was placed, after being severed from his body by those wretched fanatics. All evidences of this sad catastropho are now removed, and the church re floored, repainted, and refurnished, is restored to its primitive beauty, ami will bo reopened for divine service in a week or two. Of Government budding* v>o have the Court house and Constabulary orderly-room in one ; the Telngrjph and Post-offices in one ; the Polico Barracks and native hostelry. Of public buildings we "have the Town Hall in course of erection by a joint stock company, and tho school • house, both Hue large buildings. Of business establishments we have 3 largo hotels, 4 general stores, I shipyard, 1 tiiubo-yard, 1 brick yard, and minor trades of nil kinds ml libitum. We have also some line bridges connecting 1 tho township with the great ICast Coast road from Nnpicr to Tauranga, nud making this the halfway resting place for travellers. Of live stock, wo have every variety in abundance. Of cattle alone, there are over 2,000 heed on the run, and tome splendid horses are bred by the settlers, from imported stock. In many respects Opotiki would well repay tho speculative traveller, possessing as it does, with its inexhaustible heavily timbered bushes, so large a field for investment, besides many points of natural beauty and interest to tho,pleasureseekor."