A TRIP TO THE PATETERE COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 6

A TRIP TO THE PATETERE COUNTRY.

On Wednesday last we started, on,a trip to the Patetere conntry in company with two Southern gentlemen—Mr. James Smith, of Greenfield, Otago, and Mr. Reid (of Reid and Duncan, Dunadin, at present on a pleasure trip in this province, and who were desirous of visiting and inspecting the famous Patetere block during the course of their tour.' Mr. Smith is one of the largest freehold agriculturists in the colony, and he is at present cultivating an estate of 24,000 acres. Mr. Reid, as being -employed as a profeaionul valuer by Southern Loan and Mortgage Companies to value estates with a view of advising them as to the extent to which advan'jes may be safely made, is alao an experienced agriculturist, and in the •course of official duty has .acquired a wide and varied experience in sucti matters. The opinion of these gentlemen, therefore, on all agricultural questions, and especially on the -capabilities of blocks of land, wiiich have been comparatively untested, must of necessity -carry great weight. We had not been up the line since the late native meeting at Whatiwbatihoe, and therefore it may not be uninteresting to note a few of the improvemeats going on along the line and in the districts' en route, to. Cambridge—the objective point of the first day's journey. In passing the Newmarket station, we noticed that the new railway workshops are being rapidly pushed on, and that a good deal of the roofing of the huge buildings has been completed. The wheat crop iu the Papatoetoe district, so fax as could be seen from tbe line, is looking remarkably well, and promises an excellent yield. There seemed to be but little. change in the settlements along the line between that point and Mercer. Here and there ploughing and clearing was going on. Steps are being taken to cut out the worst curves in the railway line at Pokeno—which have been the terror of the engine-drivers—and yesterday a party of young men camedown from Waikato. in order to join the road gang engaged on the work. This improvement should have been effected years ago, but better late than never. At Mercer a new engine shed' is in course of completion, and turn-tables are also being erected. Mr. Metcalfe, a resident of Hamilton, and Mr, Wright are about to start a terra cotta and pottery establishment near Huotly, the machinery for it having arrived by the Doric. A new railway goods shed is being erected at Taupiri, and the district appears to be improving. The latter remark may also be made with regard to Ngaruawahia, whore the area iu grass and cultivation is extending. It is stated that a new tannery and a new flax mill are about to be started thsre. Hamilton, though it has Buffered to some extent by the railway terminus being carried further South, is bound to recover itself when thft Cambridge line is finished and the line to Morriniiviile and Te Aroha and up the Thames Valley is completed. Its admirable position as tbe point where th.se lines will junction with the Southern trunk line must liavo a potential influence in determining and stimulating its prosperity, when the above connections become an accomplished f.»ot. A few buildings are being put up, and yesterday the Hamilton Cheese factory, just erected, formally commenced operations. Captain Runciinan had everything in readiness for starting at eight o'clock, and shortly after that hour the tanners commenced to bring in their rnilk, a. goodly supply being received. Considerable confidence is felt in the enterprise, and that it will prove of great service to the settlers. Another cheese factory is to be started at Rukuhia, and the question of having one in the Cambridge district h,as been agitated, but probably the residents trill a.wait the outcome of the venture at Hamilton. Between Hamilton aud Cambridge agricultural operations are going on briskly, the farmers going in for cropping, principally wheat and oats; and the country is looking well.. The low prices which lately ruled for stock led to a considerable breadth of wheat being put in; indeed it is stated that the area under, wheat will be double that of last season. Latterly cattle have fiinned considerably, as is indicated by the market quotations, and farming property has again hardened, owing to the confidence inspired by the projected enttrprise for freezing beef and mutton. Business affairs are to some extent quiet at Cambridge, through the depression in the agricultural interest, which, been common to all the Waikato settlements, yet it still maintains its position as the premier Waikato township. There is an air of comfort and ' progress about the township, which impresses the visitor at the Outset, and some of the places of business —Wells and Souter's, for instance—would not disgrace Queen-street. Among other buildings going up, is the new Wesleyan ChapeL (in the gothic style of architecture) for which Mr. Smerdan is contractor, and which, with unattached schoolroom, will cost £1000, seating from 250 to 300 worshippers. Mr. Edward Bartley, of this city, is the architect. It is expected to be finished about Christmas. Hitherto, Cambridge has been indebted, in a degree, to the fillip given by the native trade, and the holding of the sittingu of the Native Lands Court there. In the uiture of things, both these advantages will ultimately cease, and it will have to depend for its prosperity on its industries, and on the permanent basis of all .prosperity—the land. Judging from the appearance of the surrounding country, there is no reason for misgivings as to the future, when she is thrown on her own natural resources, divested of the extraneous aids which have hitherto favoured her. It is believed that the Hamilton-Cambridge line of railway wi.l be o;ie of the beat paying sections of its length en the whole Waikato line, as it will receivb the traffic of the district for a radius of at least seven miles. Considerable indignation is expressed by the residents at toe dilatory conduct of the Government in the matter of the construction of the line. The whole of the formation has been done from Hamilton up to the Town Belt, and all that is needed is that plate-laying should be commenced. Rails and sleepers are lying stacked at Hamilton, the railway bridge across the river there has been completed, and yet there is no sign that tbe work will be gone on with promptly. The settlers urged that the line should be pushed on so that it would be available for the ensuing harvest, but there is little prospect of anything of the kind. The member for the district, Mr. J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., was solemnly assured at the close of the session by the Minister of Publio Works, on his word of honour as :\ Minister and a gentleman, that tenders wwuld be called for completing the line at once, but so far no such notification has appeared. Wiien is does, a fresh delay of some weeks is certain to take place, and another season will be lost to the Cambridge settlers, so far as getting their crops transported by the district line, e;i route lor the Auckland market, is concerned.