ROUND ABOUT THE SEAWARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 38

ROUND ABOUT THE SEAWARD

(By Ouh Teavellisg Correspondent.)

According to official leturns the mo it payable branch line in Southland in propoition to its size is that which runs through Seaward Bush. All alpng this railway, from Invercargill to Waimahaka, little settlements and industries have spiting up, and now occupy whal was a few years ago a dense and impiegnable part of Southland's premier forest. The once useless parts have been cleared of scrub and tn^.b-^r, and homes of villagers have been carved out in the paits which lie close to this line, while adjacent sections have received the benefit of the unearned increment, and are now in good demand. When the piox^osal was mooted to run a line tlnough the Seaward from end to end the idea was laughed at as being worse than ridiculous, but after a considerable amount of agitation, clouded with reverse at times, the first sod of the line was turned on tho 9th of April, 1653, by the late Hon. John Ballance, then Minister for Public Works. The line branches off the Invercargill-Bluff line at. the lower end of Clyde street, and runs right tln-ough South Invercargill ; then enters the bush and soon reaches Tisbury, the first township.' ' Here all sorts of buildings have spiting up, and quite a respectable-looking township nests snugly in the middle of the great forest. Mr A. A. Howells has a bacon curing factory here, and several other businesses are plso carried on. As a consequence of settlement a school has been established, and Miss Hamilton appointed head teacher.

A few miles farther on is Waimatua, where another settlement exists. The New Zealand Pine Company had a sawmill going full swing, but now the tinibei industry is carried on by Messrs Anderson and Haiper. A large poition of the population is occupied m procuring and squaring sleepers, under contract with tli-i Railway department, and the bush being heavily pud suitably timbered at this spot, the oj'cuj^as on has become tm mvpoitant nnd lucrative one. On either side oi Waimatua tho gr->de is considerable —^o much so. m fact, that a triun heavily laden with siwn timber is often " stuck up,'' and two journeys with a half-'oad are necessaiy to surmount the diOricultv.

The next f.ta!.io±i is Mokotua — this al~o being ruriotuided by a township — rmd il is about 11 miles norn Invercni^ill. Tins vas the first section of the line formally opened, lhu ofAcinl owemoay taking x^luee on .Ivly 0 "K-SG. There is a sto c he^c, owned b\ Mi Robinson, i\\^o a hall A schoo 1 . has been opened, i> icl i- Lujil by Ui&s Bella uy.

Kepuka is another place of stir and bustle. The once dreaiy. desolate waste is now closely settled, and has five sawmills working alongside the line, and within easy distance of ,one another. Messrs M'Callum and Co. have secured a large area of bush for milling purposes, and have scope enough foi operations for tho next decade. Massey and Co. are also well provided for in respect of suitable bush. Tinipany and Co. have recently added a new 30 h.p engine to their plant, and this additional power enables them to cope with the demand. Thp mills of Collins and Roff and of Guthrie and Co. are also m full swing, and in consequence the Kapuka district presents a real lively appearance. Oteramika Gorge is a few miles farther on. This section of the line was opened foi- traffic on March 6, 1805, amidst general rejoicing, as many of the settlers have resided here for the last 30 years, and the happy thought of a railway lunniug past their doors never dawned upon them till within the past few yeais; and now it has become au fait accompli. The Waimahaka scctio.l of the line was" opened on June 12, 1693, and that is the present length of the line The Government intend to extend the railway, and a survey is being made. One of thp engineers, who showed me over the proposed loute, informs me that the next section will be to Tokonui.