Taihape and Moawhango

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7965, 23 November 1904, Page 5

Taihape and Moawhango

The following are extracts from an admirable description of the above districts which appeared in last evening's issue of the Post:—

One of the most striking things about the country through which the route of the Main Trunk railway passes is the contrast between north and south. In the north from To Kuiti to Taumaranui —with the exception of offshoots like the Ohura Valley on the Wanganui side the pumice blight lies heavy on the land. In the south, that is, in the valley of the Hautapu and the Upper Eangitikei, a fine grass-producing soil overlies the omnipresent papa. . And the contrast in the soil is reflected in the methods of settlement. At Taihape they have built solidly; by comparison, the' seminative townships hi the north are almost ramshackle. This comparison is meant, not to be invidious, but to emphasise | what Taihape is doing. There is no doubt the settler there means business and when that is the case ho shows his confidence in the matter and manner of Jus buildings, his fences, and all his appurtenances. For its age, there is not m New Zealand a township and district more solid than Taihape. . The start that the timber has given the place will be perpetuated in the grass. All up the valley of the Hautapu the timber is coming down. The familiar i\ew Zealand spectacle of abundant grass springing among the blackened logs is on all hands to be seen. From Taihape the extension of the railway (to be) continues along the Hautapu, and gradually turns away north-west and ascends to the Waiouru tussock plains. The elevation aioUl' u runs up to something hke iGOOft, consequently the plateau is interior country, and it may be said that the good land terminates about sixteen miles north of Taihape. .But if one travels East of Taihape, away from the railway and out into the Moawhango district, he finds a great undulating basin of excellent sheep country, rolling away as far as the eyes can see. As a panorama, there are few better things to be seen. The principal landmark is Oran«i nearly 3000 feet high. The European would dub it Table Mountain. The immense level top terminates in sharp corners, and it is said there are only one way of scaling the precipitous side. Orangi boasts of a Maori graveyard and a tamwha. From the crest where the spectator stands (some five or six miles east of Taihape) Orangi is distant probably fifty miles. The panorama includes the snow-capped Ruahines, and occasional glimpses of mighty Euapehu, away in the far north.

Moawhango district has a generous share of the valuable pine forest of the Bangitikei and Hautapu. But one finds here what he has not noted anywhere in the densely-wooded valley through which the railway runs-that is, natural clearings, vast grass-coyered valleys, and flats in the midst of the bush. It seems that these clearing 3 have existed from remote times; and the soil being too good to fall completely a prey to the encroaching fern, it has been comparatively easily cleared and converted into meadow land. The grasses are native, or fog, which has virtually become a native. In this form it runs three sheep to the acre. What it will run when ploughed and put down in European erasses may be guessed. The elevation is not greater that 1600 or 1700 feet. Generally * peaking, tha hill slopes are less prec'uifcous than those of the Hautapu Valley. They may rather be oUssed as undulating; a very large proportion is easily ploughable. The industry ia chiefly wool, but an the pasturage improves, the fattening of stock must olaim a constantly increasing nhare. It is, perhaps, too hi<?h for dairying, though the snow in winter does not lie very long. Dairying, by the way, i 8 progressing along the Haucaou. Torere, between Mangaweka and Taihape, has a dairy factory (cooperative), and wants a railway Mding. Crown tenant! on small blocks at Waioui, a few miles outside Taihape, have dairy herds, and pack hteir oream in to Taihape, thence rail it to Torere. Tha ultimate mnat be a factory at Taihape.

Many interesting pen-pictures of personalities could be added to this sketch. The business man of Taihape and the farmer out-back arejequally a fine type— progressive, hospitable, optimistic. It is a good country in good hands. Because of occasional rowdy scenes when the "co-op." was thick about the town, Taihape has been needlessly libelled in sundry publications. The " co-op."—who has himself been subjected to more than a fair share of obloquy—has now followed his work up along the line, to various points from Mataroa to Turangerere, where the railway works drag their slow length along; and the permanent citizen, with his churches, hotels, and other institutions, is of as good material as is found anywhere. But a few years ago, Taihape township was standing bush. The bush still stands almost within a stone's throw of the Gretna Hotel. Yet the banquet to the Premier on Saturday evening was put on in a manner worthy of any hotel in this city; and sections change hands at eight hundred to a thousand pounds. Every one knowshow the timber industry is booming, and how the mills have grown like mushrooms. Every one knows how the completion of the Main Trunk line "in the near future " is confidently looked-forward to by Ministers and by no one else. But everyone does not know the. awfulness of Taihape roads. It was stated at the luncheon on Saturday by a business man at Taihape, Mr A. H. Barsby, that ten years ago there were fifty settlers at Taihape, and that now there is a population of 3000 within a three-mile limit of the town. The Main Trunk line is still between Taihape and Turangarere. Information (unofficial) gleaned at Taihape is to the effect that the Mataroa Tunnel, about six miles beyond Taihape, is not yet pierced; after it is pierced, there will be the lining to complete. It is stated that the official estimate of the time required for completion is fifteen months. The ■unofficial estimate is two years andupwards. The tunnel will be about twentyseven chains long. These big works are the keys to the time-Hmit as far as formation is concerned; after them comes the ballasting and platelaying. There are other big jobs on the Turangerere section, beside Mataroa Tunnel. The Premier remarked on Saturday that the railway had "got through practically, on this end, the worst of the country"— whatever that may mean. The fact is that there are three or four large bridges or viaducts in the untouched 54 miles that the Premier dwelt on. One of these viaducts will be higher than Makohine; and one of them will probably be longci than Mangaweka. " I will bet a suit oi clothes," remarked a local business man, " that ffaihape will be the terminus oi the railway for five years; they may rue a couple of trains a week to Mataroa but that won't be a terminus." The

truth is that mere distance from railhead to rail-head, or shovel to shovel, ia no Index to the time of construction. The natural difficulties to be overcome find little place in after-dinner speeches.