OHINEMURI.—THE RIVAL TOWNSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4637, 23 September 1876, Page 6

OHINEMURI.—THE RIVAL TOWNSHIPS.

To the Editor ; of the Herald.

Sib, —For some tune past, owing to the , contemplated extension of the telegraph, opinions have been divided as to the moat central position for the erection of a station, whether at Mackaytown or Paeroa. Like the writer in the Advertiser some Bhort time ago, I have no interest in either township, nor am I likely to have. But as the question

has been started, and as those only inter- J ested in the advancement of Paeroa have 1 urged its claims, it will be as well if the sub- 1 ject is considered impartially, and in a com- I prehensive manner. We will first take j the claims of Paeroa. The holders of j property there say that it is ad- : vantageously situated on account of it ) being the head of the river navigation, and that it is nearer to the Waitekauri mines than any other starting point. As regards the first, it is true that at the present time the steamers call there, bat this is because the trade of the district is carried on by small steamers from Grahainstown, which will not be the case when there is a large increass in the population of the district. Then we have every reason to believe that there will be direct communication from Auckland, and a line of larger and more commodious river boats, meh as the Takapuna, &c., having their terminus at Te Puke instead of at the Paeroa, thereby saving more than an hour's steaming, through the intricate bends between the two places. From Te Puke to Paeroa, the .distarce by land is little over a mile and a-half, and by water about seven miles. Tt is plain that Paeroa has very little claim to be considered the most convenient place of stoppage for the river steamers. And, in the event of Te Aroha being opened, there will be, no doubt, a landing somewhere in the vicinity of Te Puke, for it would be folly to send goods up as far as Paeroa and then back again— a distance of five miles. And then, when the projected tramway is constructed between Te Puke and Mackaytown, Paeroa will be quite out of the line of traffic, and completely isolated. Passengers and i goods would arrive in Mackaytown by the ] tramway route in less time than it now takes the boats to come from Te Puke to Paeroa, and at a great saving in the cost of transit. Now, as to Paeroa being situated nearer the Waitekauri mines, it is admitted that some of the mines are approached from there sooner than from Mackaytown. Thi3 is as far as distance is concerned ; but the roads must be taken into consideration. That from Paeora being over steep and almost inaccessible hills, while that by Mackaytown is comparatively level, and conduct* to the Welcome, Waitekauri, arid Owharoa batteries, and, in fact, to every other mill likely to be erected in the district. Viewing the matter in every light, one cannot see any good reason for fixing upon Paeroa as the goldtield's township. One very Berious drawback is that it is in the hands of private speculators, and no gain would accrue to the Government by its progress, whereas Mackaytown being a Government township, the rents paid for occupation of allotments amount to no inconsiderable sum per annum, and which would increase with the growth of the district. Mackaytown undoubtedly is the most central, and when it is asserted so to be, we must give the grounds for so doing. They are (1) : That, with the exception of two or three, the whole of the agricultural leases, numbering over 100, are grouped around Mackaytown, the majority of them being situated between Mackaytown and Waitekauri. The land is being rapidly brought under cultivation, and substantial homesteads (evidences of permanent settlement) are being erected. A stranger visiting the district cannot but be convinced of the superior claims of Mackaytown. The whole of the roads to be constructed in the district must, owing to the topography of the country, necessarily converge at Mackaytown. The plan of the goldfield lately published by Messrs. Wright and Bayldon plainly enough shews that Mackaytown is the centre of the radius of present and future mining and agricultural operations, and there can bs no doubt that the road now being constructed to connect the Tauranga district with the Thames must go through I Mackaytown. Indeed, every day's experience confirms the wisdom of Mr.

Mackay'a choice of the goldfield'a township.

I can sympathise with those who have made arrangements at Paeroa, believing it would be the township, but facts are unfortunately too strong for them, and a3 regards the telegraph question, if they require a station there, they will have to induce the Government to give them a second one, for it is

clear that the first station must be erected in the township where the Government offices already are, and which is proved to be in the most central position. —1 am, &c, A Settler.