FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

EXTRACTS FROM THE HERALD The following are extracts from the New Zealand Herald of April 22, 1884: The reception accorded at Dargaville to His Excellency the Governor seems to have been of a very cordial and, at the same time, of a very practical character. Along with the usual words of welcome employed on any occasion of a visit froni Her Majesty's representative, intensified in this instance by the long interval of 15 years that has elapsed since a similar honour was last conferred, there was a not unbecoming allusion to what the settlers had done by their own unaided efforts to develop the resources of the district, and also a quiet hint that aid might now be fairly expected from the Government in introducing new industries. Since the recent visit of Mr. Ferdeli to their neighbourhood the idea has very, naturally taken possession of the minds of the people that it is not altogether wise to be wholly dependent upon the export of timber and gum, and that, with a climate and soil said on the authority of an expert to be peculiarly adapted to the culture of sub-tropical products, they should turn their attention to this means of supplementing their wealth and comfort. The Hon. E. Mitclielson arrived in town yesterday after a tour of inspection of the proposed railway routes between Auckland and Wellington. He has been collecting material to be laid before Parliament during the next session. With this object-in view he travelled overland from Wellington to Te Awamutu, accompanied by Mr. Knorpp, civil engineer, and a guide with pack horses. His route lav along "Rochfort's line," or, as it is better known, the central line of railway. The Hon. the Minister of Public Works took observations of the character of the country on either side of the proposed line, the nature of the soil, .its adaptibinty for settlement, and the advantages presented for special industries. They mounted every accessible trig station from which an extensive view was 'to be obtained of the surrounding country.