KAWAKAWA: ITS ROADS AND RIVERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9012, 18 October 1892, Page 6

KAWAKAWA: ITS ROADS AND RIVERS.

Raving in Parts I. and 11., given a passing lance at the three rivers that enfold and periodically flood the lower parts of the town and tU level land down to Taumarere and to the s4, with a more particular description of one ofthem as bearing more particularly on the rod I wish to fully describe, and which was, as \ stated, the cause given by the natives at thqr two meetings in Waiomio of the obstruction and objection to any road being mate through the Kopuru Valley, as infringing on the area of land set apart for an delusive settlement. I will now return to tfe road in question, and show the very grea', advantages it is determined to give Iby its construction to Kawakawt, its trade, traffic, and settlement. Leavhg the town by the Great North Road through the Scoria Flat, some three miles, the intended road branches off to the south, taking up a parallel line to the Wairakiki river, that, as 1 before stated, encircles the south lide of the Flat. After a mile the now uiformed roadway enters the valley, havingnow the river Otiria on the right and the \\ arakiki on the left, quite close, and in view for two or three miles, when the former branch© off to the northward, still encircling the valey, and the latter enters on its unknown course, as already described. Although the whole of the valley for several miles ii length and width is of surpassing fertility, here are very few inhabitants in it, and, as usuil only of a nomad character, this year buildug tenures and fencing in gardens, and the y«ar moving on to other localities. This being the uniform custom of the race, the idea and proposal to found a secret and entiiely exclusive settlement in the tt,~ra incomita, or southern side of the valley, was not>nly most improbable, but quite contrary to tieir manner of life, and never likely t< be iltered. Their present intention, now thai this Utopian idea is exploded, of offer ingto the Government at least one-third o! the Kopuru Valley, or some two to three thousand acres up to the block of four thou sard acres at Rgapapito and through which thi road now being surveyed is to go, wil open a magnificent area for Europan settlement, lying as it does within loir miles of Eawakawa and its railway. Ttis line runs parallel to one described some weeks ago by the Whangarei correspondent, leading from that township due west to Mangxkahia and Hokianga, the former being also th« point now aimed at by the Government, it being the proposed terminus of what is called the Omapere termiuus of the Northern line of railway, now working its way to Konokoriki, Albertland, and on to the Wairoa to this point. As the line will traverse eight miles through the Kopuru Valley, and then four through the Government block, it will then pass two miles south of Kaikohe, reaching Mangakahia. sixteen miles from Kawakawa. through a beautiful level country the whole way, most admirably suited for settlement, and some nine miles shorter than the present mail coach line to Kaikohe. It is also contemplated to continue this line on to Taheke, to meet the Government road formed soms years back, to Rawene through the splendic, vale of Waima and the settlements alongthat route into Rawene, shortening the distance from six to seven miles to the Hokianga Heads, and the coastal line to the Bluff and railway line to Dargaville. After passing Mangakahia, and thus leaving a good level road likely to be settled along on either 3ide. it is thus connecting the two termini of ;he Great Northern line, and the Kawakawa line. The immense advantage to the latter place is evident. In addition to this, if the line is thus extended to Taheke, it will pass the three village settlements on the threes reserves to the east of Taheke, the Auckland City Council reserve, the Onehunga reserve, and the education reserve, taaen up in trust by the Government on the village settlement perpetual lease system, th* Government being the agent, as it were, fa: those bodies. Thus it will be seen the tide of traffic likely to be opened by this line of road, and the advantages to intending settlers along this route are second to none in the colony.— Correspondent.]