Visit to the King Country

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 96, 28 August 1923, Page 2

Visit to the King Country

NOTES BY THE WAY.

(By Co’ puncher)

After journeying to'Stratford from several miles back on a bitterly cold day, I stayed the night and boarded tho express next morning and travelled to Marten, then tiansfeiring to the 2.30 slow train to Taihape where tea was partaken of. By the express at 7.29 I journeyed to Te Awarnntu, arriving there at 3.30 on another bitterly cold morning with 10 degree* of frost on the ground. I put up at tho To Awamutu Hotel until the coach left at 6.30. Then commenced the roughest part of the trip over roads which are far inferior to any in Taranaki. We arrived at Te Bau-a-moa at 12.30, many thanks to the coach driver for not breaking our nocks. Then there was a ride of five miles on horseback over a fair road, taking our luggage with usi, nn'rne be-

ing a cabin trunk perched on my knees. The country from Stratford to Patea is a black loamy soil and is admirably suited to dairying. Jerseys are the more prominent breed. A most noticeiblo feature of the rough country about Patea is the enormous amount of gorse, which i» now out in full bloom, and entirely enhances the beauty of the hills, but it is rapidly becoming a nuisance. From Patea to Marion tho land becomes rougher and is very sandy, not being so Suitable for dairying, so fat stock and grain-growing are carried on more extensively than anywhere else. This is amply manifest' ed by the stacks of oats' and barley which have been threshed, and also the quantity of fat stock, mostly Herefords, which are being railed to the various freezing wo: ks. The ceunti'y from Marion to Tai-

hape rantres from nice easy slopes? to steep hills and cliffs, hundreds of feet high. The formation of the land between Hunterville and Mangaweka is very curious. It is something of a phenomenon, being in layers of yellow and ml earth, then blue and white papa, which looks beautiful from the train, with the river winding in and out of the cliffs Hike a great snake. Just before arriving at Taihape the line crossed tlie viaduct which spans i a gorge hundreds of feet deep with a stony creek at the bottom, forra- | ing a very nice landing place for any- | one falling off on the train! All the hills hereabouts are covered in brac- ; ken fern, and look very rough. After leaving Taihape nothing much could lie seen of the country, but from the information I gathered it is said to be Steep with intermittent gorges | until Taumarunui is reached; then j it becomes rich and undulating. From Te Awarautu onwards, the land varies f.om undulating slopes to steep hills and gorges which are covered in bracken fern, manuka and bits abound in thousands and aro

as tame as cats, also they are des- | troying the farmers’ crops of turnips and mangolds. Rabbits are not the only gam© that gunmen can shoot at, for pheasants are plentiful and also quail, wild ducks and pigeons. The heather is rapidly becoming a nuisance about here.

j te RAU-A-MOA to hauturu. i The country about here changes r from hills and gorges to lime-stone bluffs, hundreds of feet high, which sparkle Like diamonds when the sun shines. The Te Kihi road which runs past these ifc nothing but a 12-inch track in places, with high cliffs on one side and a deep gorge on the i other, while the Kahouri stream ' away down below winds its way to the sea. The land in between these bluffs is excellent dairying land, except in places where the blackberry and fern hold possession. Hauturu, with its Maori vvhares and post office nestling beneath a great bluff, i 3 a dreary looking place. A noticeable feature in the bhiff here is a statue of Queen Victoria which has been cut out by the action of wind and rain. It can be seen , for miles around, also a wishing stone which is sacred to the Maoris. The Weeping Sisters, which can be distinguished two mile a away, stand worshippers at prayer, with a book in their hands and bowed heads. It may be mentioned here that two years ago all the land about To Rau-a-moa was covered in ragwort, so badly that tho settlers could not contend with it, so the Government came to their aid with money and sheep, and now it is all floated out except a few plants, Tli|is goes to show that where there's a will there’s a way. ,

RAKAUNUI. The Rakaunui river, which winds its way through beautiful country into the Kawhia harbour, is a sight to please the eyes. This scenery on

the banks and in the vicinity is simply wonderful, being second to none in New Zealand. The Karaka, & shrub of some five or six feet in height, is most prominent, with its bright green leaves, and strings of yellow berries hanging in between. There are also peach and p n ar trees intermingled with g r ape vines climbing over the top. Limestone bluffs towering above like ancient castlea comnlete the picture. Going further tip the river, one came to a place where the nwse sounds like the clanging of chains, the water running under great limestone rocks with an uncanny noise. This is called “The Gate of Hell,” and is held in awe % the Maoris', who do not like passing lit in the dark. Also, if they meet a moropork in the daytime they will run for their lives. This is on account of some bad omen attached to it, and said to bring! bad Inck. At Mukatu, on the opposite shore of the harbour, a Maori war canoe, the Tainui, is buried. It is said that the Tainui was one of the original boats that brought the migrants from Hawaai-ikii to Now Zealand, who landed on the banks of the Mokau river. It was ancho ed to a curious stone, which was called the Tainui stone, shaped like a dumb-bell, about four feet in length, and weighing about half a ton, which was said to have been brought there as the anchor of the great canoe. The stone was placed on the edge of the beach and just ins : de the heads, and for centuries was held ,as the God o? Fishing. After many years the old canoe, fallen to decay, made its last long trip, being carried overland to Kawhia, where it was bn-ied, and there it lies to-day. Its burial place kis marked by two ancient pieces of petrified wood. OPAEAU.

A visit was paid to Oparau, journeying by the Te Kihi an cl, Te Kahouri roads which are in an awful state, the mud in places often reaching, a depth of two feet. The country past the Hanturu junction is a mass of fern and manuka for miiles, as far as the eye can see, but which, if denied, would make excellent dairying country. After joining the coach road, the land gradually gocomes better until Oparau is reached, where good dairy farms are in evidence, but these are not taken , advantage of as they should be. The township is situated on the banks of a r.iver of the same name, and has two landings and a daily launch service to Kawhia. The return journey was continued along the Okupata Road to Te Rau-a-moa, phst the Oparau dairy ractory, where a new electrical plant is being installed for the incoming season. After about six or seven miles, the conhtry gradually becomes rougher, unt,il a six-hijle bill is reached. Then one finds himself at the old Te Rau-a-moa butter factory, which was reached at eight o’clock at. - night after twelve hours continuous tiding. OTOROHANGA. ,Otorohanga is the natural mjllfet for all the dairy produce l which is produced from the dairying district round about. The township itself has forged ahead during the last few years, and is Still going strong. Several new buildings are in the course of construction in ferro-con-creto. Mention should be made of the Memorial and Roll of Honour to the fallen men of the district, which is situated on a prominent piece of ground ju&t out of the business portion of the town.' Just outride of the town the land is low lying, and when there is a flood all the flats are covered w/th water for miles, caused by the Waipa rive r overflowing its banks. Such floods are never seen in iaranaki.