Our Bush Settlements.

Waipawa Mail, Volume X, Issue 1034, 15 January 1887, Page 4

Our Bush Settlements.

matamau. Past, Present, and Future. [by our special correspondent.] [■Continued.] Ten years ago the Government purchased and cut up the block of land now known as the Matamau Settlement. It went, however, at that time by the name of Te Whaka-Rua-Tupau, which was subsequently changed to Matamau, presumably on account of the latter being shorter and easier to pronounce. Both are names of water-courses in the immediate neighborhood. I have often wondered, what peculiar circumstances brought about the purchase of this little area in the bushy wilderness.

As far as I can glean, there was nothing in or about the place to make it such a dtsirablo acquisition for the crown, especially at that time, when the present line of railway had not been thought of. The first survey parcelled out 14 sections, each containing shout 40 acres, with the exception of No. 1, which was almost twice as large. This was not disposed of at the first sale, but has lately been cut up and partly taken up under the Village Settlement System. I liavo not been able to obtain the names of the original purchasers of the 13 remaining sections, but the first pioneer who tackled this heavily timbered country was Mr A. Larsen, a settler of Danish extraction, who has stuck to the clearing even up to date. Mr Larsen came on to the scene in January 1877, or about six mouths before any other pioneer. After Mr A. Larsen, Mrs Cross came, and then Mr Larsen, who did not stop very long but 6old out to Mr P. Olsen in 1880. Previous to Or 01sen 4 s arrival Mr J. P. Leighton had taken up two or three sections and has subsequently acquired several more. lie holds now six sections altogether. At present the 14 sections, originally surveyed are disposed as follows : No 1, cut up into 37 village sections ; No 2, (with 5-roomed house), IC, 11, 12, 13, and 14, belong to Mr J. P. Leighton ; No 3, Mr A. Larson : No 4 and 5, owned by Mr W. J. Carljfie, of Napier, and rented by Mr Cl. Beatty ; No. 0 and 7, (with 5-roomed house), owned bv Mrs Cross, and rented by Mr G. Beatty ; No. 8, Mr Maney, of Napier ; No 9, Mr P. A. Olsen. Mr Olsen has cleared all his land, ringfeneed, and subdivided it. Besides a well-finished four roomed house he has also some substantial outluildiDgs, of which his neat and clean dairy is worthy of special mention. Water is laid on to this and the dwelling-house through pipes from a never-failing spring of pure cold water in the hill above the house. The pipe going to the dairy allows the water to run through a trough in which his pails of milk nud butter are immersed, thereby keeping these products sweet and cold. His butter is much appreciated. As mentioned previously, No. L section was not long ago cut up and offered for sale under the Village Settlement system. Out of the 37 sections, into which it was cut up, there are three Educational Reserves (containing about 5£ acres), 1 school site (7 acres, 2 roods, 12 perches), and two gravel reserves ; 15 sections have been taken up, as follows : —No. 2, J. Hammond; No. 3, Mortensen : No. 5, A. Box ; No. G, Chas. Garforili ; No. 7, J. Harwood ; No. 12, S. Cameron ; No. 13, Barker ; No. 14, G. Bea ty ; No. IG, Thorby ; No. 24, McEarney ; No. 29, Reynolds : No. 30, John Fredrickson ; No* 32, P. O. Pettersen ; No. 3G, A. Larsen ; No. 37, J. C. L. Jensen. Mr A. Box has erected a well-finished cottage, there are also houses built by Messrs J. Harwood, T. Hammond, P. O. Pettersen, and A. Larsen. Seci’oxis No. 33 and 34 are reserved as camping-ground for travelling stock ; 13 sections are not yet sold. Besides the land already mentioned as sold or open for purchase, about 1400 acres more will soon be thrown in the market under the deferred payment system. This new land is a continuation, as it were, of the original Matamau settlement and runs up between the Matamau river and te Whaka Rua Tapu stream in a North-North westerly direction, in fact is the ridge or water-shed between the two streams and consequently offers good access to water all the year around. The bust, is not extra heavy and the soil is of a warm nature, well suited for grass. The ridge cm at no point be called rough, and along the water courses are some nice fiats. The to open up this new block has lately been laid off by Mr J. Bargh, District-Surveyor and runs for about 2% miles along the Matamau River. Two contracts (of I Jinile eacbj for clearing this road have been let within the last few days and the survey of the sections is likely to be in hand at once. They will number about 10 sections of 120 acres each. It is through this new block, that the back part of the Piri Pin block is to be tapped and the land assumes for this reason a certain importance. Imprimis it will also be the means of pushing the Matamau settlement ahead.

Between the Main road and the railway line, Mr Tanner holds a considerable area of bush land, which is now being gradually cleared by saw-milling industry. Mr Tanner’s mill lies close to the Matamau railway-siding and about 40 chains from Matamau proper. It has been the means of giving a considerable amount of employment to the settlers and will ’be a still greater boon in the future, when the settlers commence in earnest to build on their sections. The mill has up till lately been standing still for a few months. This new start is likely to last till the bush is cut out. To be continued.