NAPIED WOODVILLE.

Woodville Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 68, 6 May 1884, Page 2

NAPIED WOODVILLE.

[Wanderer.] Leaving Naone flue morning last summer, wine mornings were the exception, rthe rule, I reached Waipawa at 10 o'clock. I bad a look round town, but cannot say 1 thought mmf it. It looked dull, and though ; Scrimgeour, with lua usual kindneried to make me feel clieerful, I t: he found it a dismal failure. Bulchange for the better was in stoi'e, I had determined on going as fais Waipukurau that evening, Wakurau is without exception the piest town in Hawke s Bay. It has ace situation, is well built, and lua somewhat healthy appearance, 3 no doubt to the enterprise of veral of its citizens, including Mr aith, Messrs Wilding and Bull, Mr Jones, and Mr Gow. Mr Smith leal no stone unturned to advance the iterests of the place ;

and Messrs Ming and Bull’s sawmill gives cployment to a large number of hids. Mr Jones is a “ local indusy” man, and turns out work which juld be a credit to any workshop, thvaried stock of implements he has»n hand making a inost creditable dislay. I spent the night with Host Gw, whose hotel, the Tavistock Ang, is one of the most comfortable alag the line, 1 see ™ m t since my visit he is taking steps to erect a new hone, and all support to him in his enterprise. Mr Gow showed me his thoroughbred horse Sator, imported b} him, and which stood the last scasoi. for the surrounding districts. He is a magnificent animal, being Preach bred, and I am pleased to hear tint his owner meets with good support in the introduction of such a high-class animal into the district. Mr Gow also showed me two magnificent pointer dogs which he had also imported. Leaving Waipukurau next morning, I wended my way to Makatoku. The _ day was wet, hut I found every comfart at Mr Stevens’ accommodation house, which has all along been a welcome and comfortable home for railway passengers. Mr Smith’s hotel is some distance from the station, but this also seems well patronised. When the railway terminus is removed to Matamau, however, the present briskness noticeable at Makatoku owing to the railway traffic will have become a thing of the past. During the afternoon the weather cleared up a little, and I thought I should like to have a walk to Makatoku to see what was to ho seen. The line was very muddy, however, and this trip was far from being one of nnmixed pleasure. Between Makotoku and Matamau by rail the distance is a little over four miles, whereas by the roud it is nine miles. This will show the saving in time to bo effected by the opening of the line to Matamau. By means of a lofty viaduct the railway crosses a huge gorge, below the coullueuce of the streams which the gorges ou the main road beyond. After a dreary march through mud and across two or three ravines—for these were not bridged then I reached the Matamau Hotel whore I found everything nice, homely, clean, and comfortable. Here Host Baddeloy reigns supreme, and there are few more attentive to the wants and comforts of travellers, and when Matamau becomes the terminus I wish him “a happy time.” There is also a store and Post Office here, the property of Mr Biniie.

Having stayed all night at Matamau I started early next morning for Danevirke, having to be roused at nu unearthly hour—for I don’t like to get up early unless I can help it—somewhere about six o'clock to catch the coach, Danevirke I found to be a thriving place, and after regaling myself by a good breakfast at Host Allardice’s I had a look round the township and saw things things looking far more flourishing than I had ever expected to lind to find them. Buildings seemed going up on all hands, and even since then there have been great changes. Messrs Rasmussen and Younghusband are opening in a large way, and mean to do business, Messrs Lemon and Jones have entered into

partnership as blacksmiths, and on the whole things arc very flourishing. My only fear is that it will not last, and that as soon as the line is opened to Woodvillc a re-action the reverse of prosperous will set in. Of course, against this, there is to be taken into consideration the fact that the timber industry is being rapidly developed, and this in itself will go a long way to maintaining prosperity when things have failed. w During my visit I went as far as Henderson Bros., and Wratt’s sawmills, where I found the courteous proprietors only too happy to show me round. The mills arc situated about a mile off the main road, with which they arc connected by a tram line. The firm have a timber yard on the main road. The lease of totara bush extends over 14 years, including 2,500 acres of land, and it contains magnificent timber for cutting purposes. The mill plant is very complete including a vortical saw, Hitching saAv, breast bench, planing machine and firewood saws. The motive power is supplied by a 1G horse-power nominal engine, giving, however, an actual power of 48 horse. The fittings of the mill are very complete, the belting being protected all through. The Maungatera stream runs in at the back of the mill and over this the firm have erected a substantial bridge for the purpose of carrying their tramway into the forest beyond. The firm evidently believe in doing well what they do undertake, and the expense to which they have gone in cuttings and formation shows that they intend their work to be permanent. The mill is kept pretty busy, the firm being care-

ful to turn out the best timber, and in the magnificent forest which they hold they have ample resources. When the lino is opened to Danovirko they will have a much better market opened for their timber, the cost of carriage at present being almost prohibitive against sending timber to any distance.

Nearer Woodville is the mill owned by Messrs H. McKenzie, Sc Co., and under tbe supervision of Mr Luxford. The plant consists of vertical saw, ripping travelling saw, &c., driven by Bteam. The mill, since being built eighteen months ago, has mostly been employed in cutting timber for the bridges and works for which Mr McKenzie held contracts ; the timber for the Mangatera, Whakatapu, and Manawatu bridges having been cut here. Theplant is capable of cutting totai-a logs 50 feet in length. The most of the totara round the mill having now been cut, it is the intention of the proprietor to remove the plant to the now block which he has secured shortly, and to procure a larger engine for driving the machinery. During my trip I noticed with astonishment the rapid progress which settlement is making in these bush districts, especially at Dancvirke and Woodville, and well might the Minister of Public Works remark during his recent visit to the district that there was a grand future in store for it.