MAUGATAUTARI

Waikato Independent, Volume VI, Issue 384, 11 June 1907, Page 5

MAUGATAUTARI

SALE OF A LARGE ESTATE

(From our own Correspondent.)

Considerable interest and excitement was aroused here when it became known that on Saturday the Messrs Death Bros, had disposed of the whole of the Horahora estate. This is a valuable property o£ nearly nine thousand acres, hounded for several miles by the Waikato River, and giving name to the well-known Horahora Rapids on that river. The whole

area consists of fine sheep grazing and is second to none in the Waikato. The property has been in the hands of the 'ldealh Bros, for about six years, and under the management of Mr E. A. Death. The purchase money runs well into five figures. Although the infusion of new settlers into any district is a circumstance likely to tend to the progress of the place, I cannot let this opportunity pass without expressing the general regret at the probable departure from r our midst of Mr B. A. Death. Well and favorably known by farmers and stock owners all over the

Waikato, he has, by his frank and generous nature, won the esteem and respect of us all. Despite the worry and anxiety engendered by, and the labor necessary to the management of a large station, he has always been to the fore in any public or social function and, m general, promoting the welfare of the district, in which his tact and genial disposition have done much. A fine neighbor, a staunch friend and a most useful settler, his loss can be ill afforded, and wc feel impelled to say with the Homan citi/.en gazing at Caesar’s corpse, “ I fear a worse may come in his place.”

Little else in the affairs of this district is worthy of note, for we have grown a (]uict community and display little enough of the spirit and enthusiasm that enlivened the place a few years ago. In common with the rest of the Waikato the turnip crops have suffered severely from the blight. Swedes appear to be almost immune from the attacks of the pest, but unfortunately the practice of sowing a proportion of green lobes or other soft varieties of turnip with the swedes was

followed in almost every ease, and whole paddocks of large and shapely bulbs have turned to a mass of repulsive slime. The late severe frosts have killed off almost every vestige of clover, and little pasture remains but the hardy cocksfoot. In consequence of the mild weather that prevailed in the autumn, the paddocks of grass put down in February and March have made a rapid growth and many arc now carrying a fair amount of stock.

Mr C. Hicks has made a start at building a new residence, and the excellent condition of the roads render the cartage of timber infinitely more easy than is usual at this time of the year. It is pleasing to note the increasing energy and thrift of the Maoris of the district. Unless interrupted by the mischievous “ tangi ” they are constantly at work in the neighbouring districts many with teams and contracting outfits of their own. They arc, however, becoming exceedingly Jewish in their anxiety to drive a hard bargain and settlers continually complain of the difficulty of doing fair business with them. The following dialogue is an indication of this growing disposition : —“ You like to buy the maize ? ” “ Oh, yes, I could do with a few sacks. What price ? ” “ I think eighteen shillings the shack II” ' For some time past contractors, under the supervision of Foreman Mahood, have been at work on the road between here and the Rapids and several large cuttings have been made, the usual gradient being 14 or Isin. With the construction of the high level bridge it need only the deviation at the Crow’s Nest to bring through this district all the tourist traffic to the rapids, for the distance is shorter by about two miles and the. country traversed is pleasing and interesting for the whole journey. A number'of workmen are busy at the Bapids sinking shafts and making ready for the setting up of a great electric power station, it being understood, as you ppinted out some time ago, that the Cabinet will now agree to the terms of the Waihi Gold Mining Company.