THE TAUPO COUNTRY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 835, 16 March 1867, Page 3

THE TAUPO COUNTRY.

Mr. John Jordan, Rangitikei, baa addressed the following interesting letter to the Advertiser:-—' Would you allow me, through your columns to draw the attention of the public to the state of the district recently travelled through by the Governor and his party, and to make a few observations with regard to the best means of occupying and stocking runs, which might there be obtained from the Natives. As a reason for my venturing to deal with the subject, I would state that five years ago in the month of January, 1862, Mr. (now Captain) Biggs, and myself made a very pleasant excursion there, expressly for the purpose of examining the country. The route we adopted was through the main bush to the north of the Rangitikei district, reaching open country in the Patea district, at the head of the Rangitikei river ; thence westward to the road traversed by the Governor in his descent to the Wanganui river, and then along the road to Ruapehu, Rotoeira and Tokanu; round the east shore of Lake Taupo, crossing the Waikato river at the heads, and again at Orakei Koraka on to Tarewera, Rotomahana, and the Lakes. On our return we adopted a more southerly course to Lake Taupo, for the purpose of seeing fresh country. At Lake Taupo I parted from Biggs as it was his wish to cross. to Napier, an intention -which he carried out, and returned alone to Rangitikei ; and, having on my journey up learned the "lay of the country," was able to make more careful observations. At that time the natives expressed much disinclination to the idea of Europeans coming amongst them as stock owners ; but that their feelings are much changed in this respect is shown by the evidence of the Governor and his party. Besides, I may mention that relatives of the Taupo tribe are living on the Rangitikei river with whom I am well acquainted, and who have continually pressed me during the last two years to move up there, and have promised to secure a run if I would consent to do so. Indeed, only so lately as the month of July last, Wi Kingi, son of the late chief Hera Gayser and Te Heu Heu, while on a visit to their friends in Rangitikei, called on me several times and strongly urged me to go, nor would rest satisfied; until I promised that I would, if possible, before the end of the summer, pay them a visit. They then informed me of the visit which his Excellency had promised to pay them, and asked me, if I could manage it, to be there at the same time ; this I was unfortunately prevented (ioing. Thus far Ihave referred to myself for the sake of showing what personal knowledge I have of the subject in hand. I will how make a few remarks on the land, and in doing -so I- consider lam unable to endorse the golden opinions of those who have sinci^^isited it. There is very little good

land suited for agricultural purposes. It is only on choice spots that the Maories can produce even potatoes, and those I saw growing were by no means a luxuriant crop. The only ground which I saw that seemed at all likely to produce even a, decent crop of wheat was immediately round the settlement of Tokanu ; but this is a partially drained swamp, and of small extent. The land may be employed for pastoral purposes, and will be useful in that way ; but even then it will not, I conceive, carry a large amount of stock to the acre. Nor do I think that English grass will readily spread on a great deal of it. Besides, from the information of the natives and personal observation, I am convinced that much land must be covered with snow during many months of the year ; and this could only be utilised by being held as a part of a large run, and employed for grazing during the summer only. The land, therefore, I consider, for many years to come, is only useful for runs, and only to be so used in large quantities. I may here remark that lam [ now only referring to the Taupo country— that is, the district around Lake Taupo and Rotoeira, Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Patea ; not to what I spoke of before as "The Lake District," by which I mean the coun.try lying nearer to the Bast Coast, surrounding the beautiful lakes of Rotorua, Tarewera, Rofcomahana, and others; and in the country I am treating of the Patea district is decidedly, the best of all.. The question has frequently been asked of me, " But, supposing you had a run there, how would you get your wool away ?" And it is decidedly a pertinent one. In answer, without treating of the means ; of communication, one may easily say that wool is very much like gold,— -no matter what difficulties have to be overcome, where it is people will get at it. In reality, I believe that the present inconvenience of communication is a sufficient reason to prevent the small capitalist running the risk of starting a small run'; but on the other hand, it is a matter that the large one need not fear. On careful consideration, and with a knowledge of the couutry, I believe that the difficulty might be easily got over, and I could myself suggest a route, the greater part of which I have myself examined, where I believe all difficulties could be easily overcome, and the outlet for the entire trade of the district, with the commercial advantages to be deprived thence, secured to the southern portion of this island. Without particularising the route, it must be evident that if the outlet can be secured to the South, the advantages will be very great to the Province of Wellington. But besides commercial advantages, there are political ones, which must accrue to the country at large from any occupation of the interior of the island. Taupo has frequently been spoken of as the " nest of rebellion." Now this is hardly fair. The Taupo natives have taken but small share in the rebellion ; but they have, from their central position, often, to adopt a similar metaphor, acted as the brood-hen nestling the chicks of rebellion under her wings. Now, nothing would more effecually stop this than constant communication with Europeans, and the receipt of large rents from them. There is no doubt that the Maori looks on his tenant as identified with himself, and although he may occasionally bother him a little, and perhaps take him in, yet he is very much like the big boy at school who thrashes his fag, but does not allow any one else to do it. Indaed, I feel sure that the Maoris would carefully protect Europeans and their stock, and in order to do so would not in future, should the country be occupied in this way, allow any gentlemen who had little differences with the Government to take up their residence among them or interfere with the Europeans. But there is little use in pointing out to an investor, whether large or small, that a scheme may be attended with commercial and political advantages, without showing at the same time that there are attendant personal ones, and in this instance this is the easiest task of the three. It would be unnecessary to trouble you with a long array of figures and fancied results, which every man you met might find fault with, and point it to some real or imagined discrepancies in it. Some calculations are useful, nay necessary, to directors and managers, but are of little use in a letter of this kind. The more simple plan is to point to the certain success of sheep-farming when conducted under careful management, as evidenced by the continued success which has, up to the present moment, been achieved. Patience is necessary here as elsewhere. Even the large run must not be expected to pay in a day if newly started, but with care the results are certain, and in time may exceed almost the greatest expectations. From what I . have here said it will be evident that I hold the opinion that small runs will not pay there, but that large ones will ; indeed, I feel sure that for a private individual of considerable means the speculation would be an excellent one. Unfortunately there are in a new country few who are individually willing and able to undertake the enterprise, while there are many willing who have not at their disposal the necessary means. This might, however, bo obviated by the establishment of a Joint Stock Company. Similar schemes both in England, Australia, and our own South Island have been attended with eminent success, and the present moment presents a most favourable opportunity for starting it here. The Maoris are themselves well inclined, and the country is ready and at hand. Only lately, when the Wellington Small Farm Association was formed, there was a proof of the avidity with which people combine for purposes of the kind, and the occupancy clause having forced many of the intending shareholders to relinquish their intention, here an opportunity would present itself of their investing savings more profitable and with greater certainty. A cry has often been raised against sheep-farmers and sheep-farming, and hence they have been regarded as monopolists, but in a scheme of this kind the working man would have an opportunity of tasting the sweets of sheep-farming. The present time, too, is most. favourable. In the first place, sheep might be purchased in the Province of Napier immediately after next shearing, at a very low figure, and could thence be easily driven to the country under consideration. Then the Maoris would, I feel sure, be induced to let a large stock on advantageous terms. Should such a plan be acceptable to the people of Wellington no time should be lost in setting about it. There are some delays which are unavoidable. It would, of course,

be necessary to get the title to the land approved by the Native Lands Court, and some preparations are required prior to putting sheep on a run, in the way of yards, dwelling-houses, &c. Then I conceive, it would be hardly safe to put a large flock there until the run had been carefully watched during a winter, to ascertain what parts might and what might not be liable to heavy falls of snow. All these, and many other things, should be done now during the ensuing winter, if stock are to be placed there next summer. Shareholders, too, require some little notice to meet calls, and indeed no heavy calls need be made until the month of October, when money would be required for the purchase of stock.