BREAKING IN COUNTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

BREAKING IN COUNTRY

PIONEERING WORK GOING ON. A VETERAN SUSH “WHACKER.” “It is astonishing how reading opens up the country,” remarked Mr. T. Julian, than whom no one has a greater know- j ledge of thei conditions pertaining, to the back country above the Carrington-. Okahu Roads from Okato towards Rahotu. He was in charge of some of the formation Operations when the road was first cleared and felled about 30 years ago. He saw the original timber culverts put in the first formation. contrasted the appearance of the country now with those days. Only a few days previously he had been along the road, which is now metalled, and had seen ploughed. paddocks with splendid crops of swedes where on his first visit there had been a track through standing bush. Mr. Julian is a typical example of the hardy pioneer who has done so much to make Taranaki what it is. He has spent all his life in the coastal district, mostly farming and at survey and road work on the rough country round the foot of Mt. Egmont, and on the mountain and though he will be 81 this month, he still possesses the strong pioneering spirit. Though he has certainly earned rest the call of the bush proves too strong, and the other day the writer came across him about nine miles up Puniho.Road under the shadow of the mountain, where he was spending a holiday that he enjoyed.. Many would not call it a holiday, for he was at the end of a 6ft. 6in. saw, which, single-handed, he was making bite into an 18in. rata, and the number of firewood lengths he had to his credit' that day would have been beyond many young men. He still prides himself that left to himself he can* knock out his cord of firewood a day. He is in his element when allowed to. “potter” about on bush tracks. He regards it as a holiday to get into "the bush, for in the open country he says he is not allowed to take up a hammer to drive a staple into a fence post for fear that he will overwork himself. There is a fine area of about 2000 acres on Upper Punihoßoad, above the Carrington Road, which is now brought into production since the Upper, \ Puniho Road has been metalled. Though high above the sea level, about ISpOft., it is comparatively flat, and the country that has been brought in already is remarkably productive. Bush felling, of course, plays a prominent part in. bringing country into profit, and as in this district ratas are very common, - the settlers in order to meet the expenses of clearing the land trying to dispose of as much firewood as possible. Off one section already 600 cords of firewood have been taken in less than 12 months, as many as 40 men having been camped at one time. It had been hoped to get considerably more cut b t ut the. wet summer hindered operations, as it was impossible to get motor lorries into the stumps as anticipated, and tractors and bullocks had to be used.

“The bullocky of to-day is not like the bullocky of the old sawmill days in v working bush,” remarked Mr. Julian. • The clearing of the bush in this way JK. certainly helps to knock the property ! into shape. Where the land is swampy the felling is followed up by draining and there is generally no difficulty, in securing sufficient “fall.” On one property an area that was thick with manuka scrub has been cleared within the last 12 months and is now carrying a good sole of grass, so that a few cows are being milked, a very convenient shed having been economically built by using rata posts, whilst the yard is enclosed by a fence of rata posts and manuka rails. Gravel which was handy s formed the basis for a solid concrete floor, whilst galvanised iron provided tlie roof and sides of the shed. Some of the country further up the \ road is further advanced in improve- > ment, but it will not be many years y'before a vast improvement is effected and the whole district will be good pasture land bearing its flocks of sheep, of which there are a few at present, and its herds of cattle.