OTOROHANGA'S PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 3 (Supplement)

OTOROHANGA'S PROGRESS

_—. —♦ .— RARE BEAUTY OF SETTING. DISTRICT WITH A FUTURE. RAPID EXPANSION. Where the Waipa River romps gaily round its bends, and weeping willows reach down delicate hands to the water, the town of Otorohanga has been built. Otorohanga is the Northern gate of tho King Country. It stands in a wide valley, so exstensive that it is really a rolling plain which, seen from any of the eminences around the town— eminences which will soon be the sites of —makes a scene of rare and unexpected beauty. In the foreground shines the river, tho surface broken here and there by little rapids. Stretching to the distant hills to the east and south is a vista found only where the plough has been employed for years,, and where clumps of native bush have been preserved or plantations planted. Within a mile of the town is a magnificent batch of native bush, suggesting in the sotting of rich pastures and stacks of hay, an army with banners on review. Dotted over the green fields arc hawthorn trees, beautifully symmetrical and at this season glowing red, but tho clumps of native I bush, superlatively beautiful, dominate tho I landscape. Beyond the lower hills to the ' south, faintly outlined in the haze, are i tho crests of the distant ranges on the uplands of the interior; northward sweeps this easy rolling land, much of it welltilled, all of it highly productive. Clover or Fern. Here is a paddock from which a heavy crop of clover hay has just been harvested. A better crop and richer soil could not bo found beyond tho drained wump lands. Over the fence grows bracken fern, its tops high above tho fence posts. It is a striking demonstration of the capacity of tho soil, and lest it be thought that the district is a patch-work of rich pastures and riotous fern, it should be explained that the fern patch in this instance is close to thei town and a reserve. Far from being a patch-work scene of rough and ragged settlement the valley in which Otorohanga is so charmingly set, resembles far more the old settled country of the Waikato than the lower portion of the Upper King Country, and it has not a vestige of similarity to the bu«h districts of even the cleared hills of Taihape. Tho day ts coming when Otorohanga will be thp centre of a district resembling a rural district in Somerset. What has been accomplished by settlement around Otorohanga is an objectlesson and an inspiration. Its smiling fields, comfortable homesteads, and sleek cattle are proof of the capacity of the land and make it plain that in the course of another decade there will be a second Waikato within the boundaries of the King Country. Draining of Swamps. The dairybig possibilities of the district immediately surrounding the town of Otorohanga liave been considerably increased by the draining of a swamp of 5000 acres, which commence* half a mile from the town boundary. This land will soon be ready for settlement, and being very rich will become a veritable garden. Plans are now in hand for tho draining of another swamp of 4000 acres in the Rome neighbourhood. It is estimated that wh*n occupied and fully developed these two areas will carry 6000 cows. Otorohanga has been a town district since 1916, but if the amount of building that is in progress may be regarded as a sign of rapid growth, it should not be long before the town becomes a borough. Business premises to the value of about i £10,000 are row in tho course of construction, or just completed, the buildings which are all of concrete including one- for the Bank of New Zealand. Within the la.it six months houses to tho value of £15,000 also have been erected. Since a town board replaced the native township council a -loan has been expended on footpaths and curbing, and a vater supply is now under consideration. It is proposed to tap a stream which gushes out of a limestone face throe miles ! away. A fall of 287 ft. will be obtained. i and a good pressure assured. The flow of the stream measured in January was 60.000 gallons in 24 hours. The town board has probably the finest town hall in the King Country, capable of seating 700 people, and it runs its own picture show. The power plant used for the pictures also generates enough current to light the main street. The town domain covers 37 acres, b;:t so far the area has not been developed. But tho greatest public asset is the river bank. Willows and poplars planted many years ago line the stream, and there are perfect beiuty spots.at every turn. The river and its bank will mako the future town one of the moat beautiful in tho country.