BOUND ABOUT PAHI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2373, 24 August 1899, Page 34

BOUND ABOUT PAHI.

(By Our Travelling Correspondent.) There is a comfortable little farming centre between Orepuki and Riverton, known as Pahi, and a more fertile piece of land is «ot to be found in Western Otago. The primitive bush has long since fallen before the progressive hand of man, and the plough skims where once sturdy pines abundantly grew, while the low-lying land has been thoroughly drained by spade and plough, and the effectiveness of this can be seen on the various farms. Most of the land was once part of the station bloc'c, and Dr Monckton's beautiful homestead is now owned and occupied by Mr Jan.es Fitzgerald. The late Mr Printz owned a large and valuable area here, while the smiling farm of Mr M'Pherson shows signs of careful and practical husbandry, and at Mr Coleman's the success of the typical farmer is plainly visible. Bush land is still being cleared and stumped and the natural grass that grows there is of excellent quality and perennial— th"us winter feed for cattle need not be specially grown. Shelter has been secured by" a prudent system of leaving belts of bush untouched, and crops are thus protected from the destructive autumnal breezes and cattle enabled to defy the fiercest wintry storms. Being so closely sheltered, the locality affords a. favourable scope for orchardising, which is carried out to advantage, most orchards being well laid out and thickly planted with all kinds of antipodean fruit-bearing trees. Mr Fitzgerald has just completed a substantially built vinery 30 x 10, with a roof of 15 feet, and ventilated by most modern design. On the wooded slopes of the Longwootl ranges several sawmilling areas have been taken up and Mr "Watson has a>mill in full swing close to the railway station. Two Invercargill firms are on the eve of establishing mills in the vicinity, and sleeper squarers are giving the bush a trial. The question of establishing a dairy factory at Pahi is a current topic locally, and my humble opinion has been sought in the way of giving the matter publicity and recognition. Certainly the Orepuki factory is too far distant, and were one built in the centre of the district — say beside the Bchool — enough milk would be forthcoming to make it a profitable concern. A meeting in the school to test the feeling of the district would not be ill-advised, and might result in action. A very handsome and goodly-sized school is centrally situated, of which the headmaster, Mr Hoddinott, 8.A., is deoidedly popular. Right behind Pahi, along the seacoast, was onoe the famous Maori settlement of Ruahine. This was the- landing place for whalers, and being also a fishing depot the importance attributed to it can be e.is<ily recognised. Time has hewn gaps in the ranks of these primitive people, and in the course of one generation the noble race will be probably extinct. Ruahine i« in the Southern Maori electorate, which Mr Parata, represents in Parliament. Whatever may be their fault? the people of Pahi and Orepuki are a fair, impartial, and unprejudiced clasp, and this trait, with their amicable disposition towards one anothpr, is a feature quickly noticed by visitors. Every one gets full credit for every good deed, and all are inclined for the best welfare of the dial rict.