LAND BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 808, 9 June 1903, Page 2

LAND BOARD.

VISIT TO THE OHUKA COUNTRY.

As is well-known, the Taranaki Land Board left New Plymouth about the iniddlo of last month fjor the purpose of making a tour of inspection over the northern portion of the land district now being opened for closo settlement.

The party left New Plymouth on tho 11th May, and consisted of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr Mackenzie (who had previously been several times through the district), and Messrs Heslop, liattonUury,, and McCJuggago. The other momber, Mr J. 13. Connett, with his übuul common sense, remained like a wise man in comfortable quarters. Mr Follet Carrington also accompanied the Hoard, as he was up to assist the surveyors to get the land early in the market. Tho programme, mapped out by the Commissioner, was to go overland via Waitara-Awakino, as iar as Paemako, on tho MokoV-To Kuiti Road, and en route to luako certain inspections of matters that had dome before the Board. It was hoped that Paciiiako, whex'o ordinary civilisation would ibe bid good-bye to, would be reached on the socoud night after leaving, and from thero tho now country would ',bo entered, and a southerly route struck through tho Crown land to tho Ohura vulloy, striking tho Stratford-Ongaruo ltyoad (about 18 miles from Onguruo). From thence the Stratford-OngarAio line of road was to be ad'aerod to for about 25 miles', which would havo brought tho party close to tho Upper Tangnrakati. From this a course was intended to have been shaped easterly towards tbo Upper Wanganui ltivor, ending at Taumaranui. From thenco tho train was to have been taken tio Auckland, and then by sea back to Now Plymouth. It had been arranged that survey camps had to bo reached at different stages of tho journey, whoro tho party would p,ut in tho nights. Tho start was made from New Plymouth in pouring rain, and tho prospect looked anything but encouraging whon the party left the Waitara railway station, in the two buggies provided, in tho face of a northern gale, with drenching rain. Tongaporutu waa reached at night, and here the party was weat/berbound for two days. It seemed aa if the trip would havo to bo abandoned and a return made, but news camo that the rfoad had bocomo blocked in. the rear. It was therefore decided to push on. Tho roads ovorywhero wcro in a fearful stat«, i\nd all the rivers bank hi(jh. Tho Ij«Jww Mokau was suraess-

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