CHEVIOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4904, 20 March 1894, Page 2

CHEVIOT.

A Visit to the Settlement. [PEOM OTJa NORTHBEN COEEESPONDBNT. I At the latter end of last week, in company with a friend, I paid a flying vieit to Cheviot, with the object of pereonally ascertaining the present condition of affairs at the settlement. Leaving Bangi- ; ora at 7 a.m. on Thursday, we accom- ! pliehed our journey of sixty miles by 10 ; p.m., having made easy stages, for the sjke of our horse. After leaving Waipara, the well-beaten rotcl and numerous little heaps of charcoal where the tea-bi!ly has : been boiled, give am^lo evidence of the | large amount of traffic to and fn m the ; land in which the hopes or so many are i centred, and towards which, so many eyes and thoughts are di.<e:fcod. On the J road we passed two or three of the j eettleis patiently making their way to their new homes, with their implements and other necessary belongings piled on dray or cartj and live i stock being led or driven. Crossing the I Hurunui bridge a road-make; s' camp and new road works give us the first indication of our having reached the far-famed estate, although we had still twelve miles to travel before making the township. A considerable amount of substantial road work has been done between the bridge and townßhip, the eteep grades of the old road having been reduced, and where practicable more direct lines taken. As we drive along through the semi-darknesß of a foggy, moon-beclouded night, an occasional glimmer of dull light marks the presence of a settler's tent, and here and there the outline of a more pretentious timber-built abode could be diacoined. We passed the township without knowing that we had done so, and after a good deal of trouble, owing to the tortuous nature of the track, found our way to the accommodation house at Marchlaw, glad to be at the end of our long though interesting and pleasant journey. Early next morning we visited the township, which we found to consist of a couple .of blacksmiths' shops, timber yard, and I three or four other buildings, including a etore in course of erection for Mr Robinson, and a neat little church belonging to. the Primitive Methodist body, and capable of seating about sixty or ieventy people. The foundations of a building, to be used as a hotel if a license can be procured, are also in; and on Saturday Mr Scott, of Dunedin, for whom the place is being built, was canvassing the settlers for signatures to a petition in favour of a license being granted. From inquiries I gathered that there was a feeling against a liquor license being issued, and probably a counter petition would be circulated. After looking round the townßhip, we walked to the port, distant eight miles* part of our way being along the splendidlyconstructed new road carved from the face of the hill. At the port end the road is not yeb completed, its construction at this part, for a distance of about a mile and a quarter, entailing an immense amount of heavy work, and an expenditure of about £7000. The roadway is cot from the face of the cliff, running sheer down to the beach, about a hundred feet below. When finished it will cut off about thiee miles of the old road, of such a steep and circuitous character as to preclude the possibility of bringing heavy loads from the port. At the sea-side, a mile and a half from the landing place, there is quite a little canvas settlement, consisting of the surveyor's camp and road-makers' tent*. The scene at the port was a very busy one, there being nine or ten three, four and five-horse teams, either loaded or being loaded with timber or fencing material. The unloading of the c.9. R»wena was just bsing completed under considerable difficulty, the north-wester blowing having made the sea very lumpy. Several improvements are urgently required at the port, some being imperatively neceßsary for the safety of the craft which now do a regular trade with the place. Sunning partially across the front of the harbour there is a reef called the Mid-bay Beef, which limits the entrance to a comparatively narrow passage. ' The reef being covered wilh water at high tide, it is a source of danger to vessels compelled to run out to sea for safety in easterly or other unfavourable weather, and also to strangers to the port making for the entrance. A beacon placed at the end of the reef and two beacons placed well up on the hillside to show tbe lines of the passage would practically reduce the danger to a minimum. Another thing necessary, which, with the above-men-tioned, should receive the immediate attention of the Government, is the provision of a safe mooring for sailing vessels. Under conditions of weather before leferred to, a captain cannot trust to bis own moorivga, but is obliged to make for the open roadstead. On Friday a schooner was wait'ng to be unloaded, but when the sea got up she had to lift her anchors and make her way out. Had there been a good mooring, she might have remained in the harbour with perfect safety. Amocgat the other requirements are a second surfboat, more shed room, and an increase of space for stacking timber and loading drays. The last-mentioned want can be supplied by cuttiDg down the hillside at the rear of the engine-slioA BQ4 using the earth for reclaiming the foreshore. Often, from the want of room, there is a block with the draya, and settlers who have many miles of hilly roads to travel caanofc get away from tbe port until lato in tbe day. With reference to the second surf-boat : If this were provided the vessels could be unloaded in half the time, and the advantage would be great in unfavourable weather. Mr Sinclair, who manages the port for the Government in a most capable manner, has had other difficulties to contend with in the shape of worn-out gearing. Matters in this direction are to be improved, however, thiß week; and it is understood that the Go- j vernment has Bent to England for a new wire-rope to be used for hauling in the surf-bsat. The erection of a telephone line from the port to the Po3t Offica is also to be carried out, and will be very useful. After spending a pleasant two hours with Mr Sinclair we returned to Marchlaw very favourably impressed with the business-like appearance of the port. In t*£ evening we attended a leGturd fin phrenology given by Mr Brake in the church % cfore referred to. There was an attendance of about twenty-five, and the lecturer was very successful m the treatment of his subject. Mr Drake, who has charge of the church, is making himself a very useful member of the Cheviot community, and his services are evidently meeting with the appreciation they deserve. For a few hours during four days in the week he holds a Bchool for the settlers' children, and he has organised fortnightly meetings for mutual improvement. A report having been circulated to the effect; that settlers were throwing up their holdings, I made careful inquiry as to the grounds for it. I learned that two or three settlers had left, but they had good reason for so doing, dissatisfaction with the land and future prospects not being the cause. The settlers I* conversed with seemed to be well eatisfied with their holdings and prospect*. A good deal of fencing has been done, and several coltages are in course of erection, the settlers in the majority of caee3 being their own carpenters. On Tuesday evening a meeting of the 3ettlers who took up land in November was held, for the purpose of arranging for a united appeal to the Government to be placed on the same footing as those who took up their land in January, viz., to have the first half-year's rent remitted. From the discussion which took place it did not seem very clear whether the Government intended to treat the November settlers in any way differently from those who came later. .Nevertheless, a mction was carried in accordance with the object of the meeting. The mail service is at present very unsatisfactory. Although coache3 run from and to Waipara every other day, there is only one regular mail a week, leaving Christchurch on Saturday and Cheviot on Monday. Mails are sent to and fro by steamer when practicable, but being irregular are of little use for business purposes. It is not unreasonable to think that the postal authorities might make an arrangement with the present

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mail contractor for a tri- weekly service, a change that would be highly appreciated by the settlers and bnsimss people. At the present, time there is only one general store at the township, at which all necessaries can be obtained at fair price?, considering the cast of carriage to tha settlement. Bre^d is buked in the place and sold at 7d th« 41b loaf. Good board and lodging are provided at the accommodation house at a charge of Is 6d for each meal, and the ?r,me price for a bed, and the attention p:-,ki to visitors leaves nothing to be desired. Haying to leave for home on Saturday morning we were unable to visit the Waiau end of tho eaiate, but we saw enough to give us a favourable impression of the condition of the settlers and their Eurroundings, and to lead ub to the conclusion that those who tide over the first two or three y.'Hr« will make for themselves happy and prosperous homea. Theconditions under which the settlers are placed are not worse than, but in many cases infinitely superior to, those whicb> many of the successful pioneers of colonial settlement had* to f •ie? r hence the grounds for hope thy/; the initial experiment in land settlement of the peoplo's Government will turn out the Eucce3a it deservesto be.