OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 13.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 63, 11 February 1884, Page 2

OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 13.

A TRIP UP THE COAST. [by our special reporter.]

TAWHITI STATION, TOKOMARU. After a ride of nine niiles, the distance traversed from Waipico in ascending Tawhiti Hill, I reached the residence of Mr. Wallis, manager of Mr. J. N. Williams’ run at Tokomaru, known as Tawhiti Station. This homestead is one well known te coastal travellers, being formerly a hotel and dwel-ling-house in the occupation of Mr. Trimmer. It is situate in a little valley, under the shadow of Tawhiti Hill, surrounded by several small paddocks, a good stream of water running through them and emptying into the sea. The station has only recently been acquired by Mr. J. N. Williams, of Hawke’s Bay. In the hands of the new proprietor it is destined to become of good service to the Colony in the production of beef and mutton. The fact of estates falling into the hands of gentlemen like Mr. Williams, who possess the capital and enterprise to develop them, must be regarded as an important step in the direction of the future prosperity of the Coast and the well-being of a community like Gisborne, ' who are dependent for their success on the development of the waste lands of the district. Small holders could not possibly, with the surrounding difficulties of reaching ’ lands to which there are no roads and almost impenetrable by reason of the vast bushes and swamps that abound, make any strides in the work of converting the wilds of this part of New Zealand into pleasant and verdant pastures. The expense of attempting to do so would soon send men of limited means to the wall, and leave them to mourn over their lost capital and wasted energies, It is therefore well, then, that we have constantly coming amongst us with their capital such men as Mr. Williams, Mr. Ormond, and Sir George Whitmore. They coma like a boon and a blessing to the district, The result of their enterprise will tend materially to swell our exports in live stock and wool, The larger our exports the greater must be the prosperity of the entire community of Gisborne in particular and Cook County in general. An increased demand arises for the goods vended by the merchants and small traders, and new fields of labor are opened for the horny-handed sons of toil. The enterprise entered upon at Tokomaru by Mr. Williams has already caused a movement among the dry bones of Tawhiti. The district is alive with the voices of laborers. That the hills will still more resound is certain from the determination of the proprietor to continue to employ labor and effect improvements. This I learnt the evening I stayed at Waipiro, where I met Mr. Steele, a gentleman engaged in superintending the road-works now in course of progress throughout Mr. Williams' property. At that time he had a gang of Natives at work forming a dray-road from Waipiro to Pukititi, a distance of seven miles. That day four miles had been completed and the first bullock-dray of timber taken over it. The forming of this stretch of road-works was commenced on the 29th December, and the “ ganger ” anticipated the seven miles would be completed by the 31st of January. During the whole of the present year men are to be kept engaged in road-making, so that a most important work is being vigorously prosecuted. At the time of my visit to the homestead Mr. Wallis was absent, as was also Mr. J. Harding. Mr. Fred Seeker, the cook, however, put me up for the night and showed me every courtesy, I ascertained that there are now on the run from 10,000 to 11,000 sheep in a good thriving condition. A short distance back from the homestead lies a beautiful valley, extending the distance of about five miles. Coasters declare it is one of the loveliest in the north island of New Zealand. Fencing work is also in progress, and lines are being prepared to erect fences between Waipiro and Pukiti boundaries. The greater portion of the estate is mountainous, but it has some very good patches of bush and is well watered. To stand in the valley near the homestead, and from there watch a traveller approaching, reminds one of the familiar old picture of “ Napoleon crossing the Alps.” Z A short distance beyond, and a few paces back from the beach, stands the accommoda-tion-house run by Mr. Fox, close to which is a Maori settlement. The worthy host, at the time of my visit, had taken a trip to Gisborne to witness the races, so that I was deprived of the benefit of an interview with him. A few minutes’ ride, and I halted in front of the Native school-house of Tokomaru, where I met Mr. Warner, who has for many years held the position of teacher there. The school is now closed, and, as a result, Mr. Warner’s occupation is gone. It appears, from what I could ascertain, that Government has no desire to close the school, but < the blame in a measure rests on the Native owners of the land there, in consequence of their refusing to give a freehold site for the erection of a school-house sufficiently large ]

to meet the requirements of the number of children now in the district; One or two Natives there; finding that Mr; Warner's Wf; vices had been dispensed with, wfcnt Ro far ah to visit his residence and demand the key of it, even forbidding the occupants of the house to remove any of their furniture or personal effects. They said, as Government had closed the school, the residence and schoolhouse being built on their land, became their property. The interposition of some other Natives, who took a more liberal view of the situation, prevented what at one time gave promise of a “ scene,” as preparations had been made to make a forcible entry and eject the occupants. From what I saw of the Natives in that district they do not appear to me to be of a clash whose desire is to be hostile; They labor under some misconception; and the sooner the vexed question is set at rest and a friendly solution arrived at the better it will be for the interests of the Natives, their children; and the schoolmaster's family. After spend; ing so many years of his life on that spot, it certainly seems hard that he should, unfitted as he is through bodily infirmities, be thrown upon the world with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Matters are certainly at sixee and sevens between the Government, the Natives, and the schoolmaster at Tokomaru; A short distance beyond, and nestled in the bosom of a hill, surrounded by trees; and facing the sea, stands the homestead of

MB. ARTHUR’ti STATION AT TOKOMARU.] Mr. Boyd is the resident manager, but was away at the time I put in an appearance. Unfortunately, too, Mr. Arthur, who was in the district at that period, had gone up the Coast, and thus my sources of information were cut off. At the house I met a Nativd lady whom I presumed—at the sight of the little olive branches, who hailed my appearance, perhaps half alarmed, with the exclamation to their maternal parent of “ Pakeha”—to be Mrs. Boyd. This lady was courteous and invited me to be seated; but we found it impossible to work up a conversation; She could not speak English *, I could not give utterance to the object of my visit in the Maori tongue. . Matters were at a dead-lock between us, so I could do noting further than pat the children on the cheek, praise them as being “ Kauai the piccaninni,” shake hands with the lady and bid her adieu. The surroundinga of the place gave me the impression that Mr. Arthur had a good run, Subsequent enquiries confirmed this idea; as I ascertained his territory embraced 21,000 acres oi land, stocked with 5,000 sheep. This number is to be considerably increased. I then made my way to Marahia, another land-mark when on a sea-voyage, where stands a large rock in the bay with a dominion all to itself. The accommodation-house kept by Mr. McClutchy is situate under a steep hill, along and contiguous to the ovarland track, alongside which is the Native settle* ment of Tangoiro. A straight pathway frdm the hotel leads into the Native village of Marahia, divided by a brook. This was on a Saturday afternoon. A group of Natives, as is usually their custom at this spot on the arrival of a stranger, very quickly assembled on the verandah, anxious, I conclude, to learn the latest news and to ascertain the why and wherefore of the Pakeha’a invasion of their territory. One of them asked me if I knew Mr. Mickey Mullooly. I replied in the affirmative. The Native suddenly departed as if my knowing this old coaster was sufficient reaeon for cutting my acquaintance at the earliest opportunity. As I presumed, this Native had a grievance, for in a few seconds he returned, carrying in his hand a summons served upon him at the instance of Mickey for the sum of £4 9s. 2d. I told him that Mr; Mullooly, like other men, must get in his money, and advised him to pay up before further expense were incurred. The Native told me that he had already done so, and significantly shaking his head gave vent to .the expression, “He no good.” leuious as was the journey over Tawhiti hill, the track was not nearly ao bad and broken as I found the one over Tokomaru hill to Marahia. To travel along it at the present time is possible, and those who have completed the journey in wet seasons say at this time of the year the track is good. AU I can say is that in the face of the revenue received by the County Council from the land-holderS in the district the latter are very badly treated, for, at this season of the year efforts should be made to make cuttings and render travelling safe. Past experience of the thought bestowed upon the district by Cook County Council has led the ratepayers, in every direction, to clamour for separation and the formation of a new county, On Sunday morning I left Mr. McOlutchey’s and proceeded to Mr. Ormond’s station at Anaurat (To be continued.)