THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9493, 24 April 1894, Page 5

THE UREWERA COUNTRY.

RETURN OP MR. MUELLER, CROWN . LANDS COMMISSIONER. QUARTZ REEFS SEEN AND SIGNS i \ OF GOLD. PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT. On Saturday evening, Mr. Mueller, Com- 1 missioner of Crown Lands, returned by steamer from Ohiwa, after his recent tour with the Premier's party in the Urewera country. Mr. Mueller states that about Ruatoki there is a large amount of good land for settlement—land absolutely ploughable, and very different to what the party found in the southern parts of the Urewera country. From Ruatoki they went to Galatea, and from thence to Uhikereru and Te Whaiti, a native settlement. The road lies along the old constabulary track formed in the time of the war. It traverses about 12 miles of open land, and seven miles of bush, coming out on open fern lands, on which the native village stands. The Premier's party received every hospitality from the natives, aud had a meeting with them. They went down to Ruatahuna, one of the famous strongholds of the Ureweras in the war time, and not far from it was one of the early mission settlements. lb is now marked by the densest masses of sweet briar which could be imagined— full fruit, with red berries, — looking at a distance like a painted plateau, and can be seen miles away. The land in the Whakatane and Waimana valleys was found to be very good, but the area which will stand cultivation is exceedingly small. In fact the whole of the cultivable land seen in these valleys did not amounb to more than 8000 acres, all the rest being mountainous country. The ranges were steep but not precipitous, and were covered with good soil, and producing wherever grass or clover had an opportunity of striking root, most luxuriant growth. In several places they saw cocksfoot four feet high. They had a meeting at Ruatahuna with the natives, and were the first Europeans allowed to enter Te Kuti's runanga house. They had to hand over pipes, tobacco, matches, and knives, as it was tapued, and no one in possession of these articles would bo allowed to enter. It was excellently carved and painted, but the carvings were of the modern type, and by no moans as beautiful as can be seen at Whatihoehoe, or those which were executed at Oruanui, Taupo. From Ruatahuna they went back to Te Whaiti, and stayed there for one night. Next morning they started for To Mimi, and this was the worst journey for the horses, being up and down hill. They commenced the journey at daybreak, and were overtaken by night in one of the steep ravines, there just being room enough for two or three small tents. They pitched tents, tied up the horses, and huddled; together for the night, the Maoris sleeping I round the camp fire. At daylight they pressed on, reaching Te Mimi ab noon, and held a meeting with the natives. It is one of these out-of-the-way pUces where threefourths of the younger natives had hardly ever seen a European. On following day the journey had to be made on foot, the Maoris carrying the swags, the route being to Lake Waikaremoana. The road from beginning to end almost crossed the run of the terraces, and it was simply a succession of ascents and descents. While crossing the creeks, a sharp look-out was kept by those of the party who had mining experience, for signs of gold. Several layers of wash and most likelylooking stuff were passed. There was no time for prospecting, as they knew that their energies would be taxed to the utmost to reach Lake Waikaremoana that night. The party also crossed several quartz reefs, three or four of thorn composed of dim hungry-looking quartz, but amongst the pieces picked up in one of the creeks, at least one showed unmistakably gold in the quartz. ' lb will be many years before that country can be opened up and made fairly accessible for miners, but there can be no doubt it will prove gold bearing. Alluvial mining, as far as could be seen, will never be carried out on an extensive scale in the Ucewera country, bub quartz mining and reefing may develope into great importance. About seven miles from Lake Waikaremoana the party struck a deep creek with sandstonebottom, gouged out and widened to an average of fully a chain. Down this creek the party made up the lost ground of the previous climbing. The Premier, heavy man though he is, kept the lead for fully five miles, no doubt owing to his alertness in following West Coast rushes. However, when the party reached the lake at dark he was clean done up, and could nob have gone another half-mile to save his life. When the party got across Lake Waikaremoana they went to a meeting-house at a. kaianga three miles below the lake, and were well received and entertained. The evening was devoted to harmony, English, Irish, and Scotch songs were sung, and after Christy Minstrel selections were exhausted they fell back on Moody and San key, the Maoris coming in with a few ivaiatas and speechifying. This went on till half past two o'clock in the morning, when matters got quieter and more subdued towards daylight. Then the tinkling bell called them to Hauhau morning prayersmen, women, and children join in the responses. The same ceremonial took place at six o'clock at night, the prayers being a compound of Christianity, Judaism, and heathenism. Saturday was the Hauhau Sunday, and Hauhaus stick largely to the Old Testament. Leaving Lake Waikaremoana they gob horses and went to Wairoa. On the road the Premier broke the record in riding from the meeting place to Frasertown, in the shortest time, although purt of the road was washed away and a detour had to be made.

At the Wairoa and near Gisborne, the Premier had meetings with the natives and received deputations, after which he went South. Mr. Mueller, according to promise, escorted a Urewera chief, Tupaea, from Gisborne to Whakatane by the Motu track, one of the routes held in fear by those who have to traverse it in the winter time. As it was, the last day's journey commenced at six a.m., and lasted till halfpast eight p.m., the women being 14 hours in the saddle to reach Opotiki. From thence Mr. Mueller made two trips inland to examine two large blocks at the upper ridges of the Waioeka, and another south of Ohiwa Harbour, with a view of constructing roads giving access thereto. The chairman of the WhakataneCounty (Mr. Abbott), and several councillors, accompanied Mr. Mueller, and the party returned exceedingly well pleased to find a good passable road through Nukuhou and Waimana Gorges, which owing to the height of the range, prove to be the only means of access to this largo block of good land. Mr. Mueller, as already stated, returned by sea from Ohiwa to Auckland.

Mr. Mueller says there will be no further trouble with the Ureweras. The past is past, and they will trust the Government and the Europeans to deal fairly and justly by them in future. They recognise that the balance of power has passed from the native people to the Europeans, and. that it is futile to oppose the extension of settlement.