NOTES OF A TRIP TO PIAKO.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 107, 9 January 1873, Page 2

NOTES OF A TRIP TO PIAKO.

Having a few holidays I decided to visit the Piako to ie»> how the pioneers for opening up that important district were getting ok. There are several families now $et£ed m the district, and other parties who have not come psettlc yet. have heen getting something done with a view to sottl^J 'Ihe most important work for opening up the district is the erection of a nuniher of bridges and culverts between Hamilton and Piako, which, when completed, will make a good passable road. The timber for these bridges and culverts has been sawn for some time, and the most of it carted to the sites with a deal of labour. The settlers, assisted by the / , Pro* ineial Government, are getting these bridges and culverts erected ; and I am sure that the money laid out on this work by the Provincial Government will be well spent m giving access t> a- very large extent of level country. In spe.ikmg of a railway to the Thames, I would call the attention of those interested in the matter to the apparent excellent route from the Upper Thames to Port To au o Waikato, and thence either to Taupin or Hamilton. The j route appears to be almost a dead level, aud the distance* not over twenty miles. A railway from some central part of the Waikato to the Thames would be a fine thing for the country. I think a cheap line — cheap as regards engines and everything else, from some central part of the Waikajw to tho navigable part of the Thames river, with a steamed from tehnce to Shortland, is all that la required. In tho meantimo I would suggest that a few publio spirited men should be appointed to investigate the route I have indicated. I observed that grasshoppers, caterpillars, and other insects have been doing considerable damage at the Piako as m other districts. I said to one of tho settler's wives that I thought a lot of turkeys would be a good thing She said ' she thought so too, and she thought their turkey-cork must be of the samo opinion, for he had most determinedly persistrd in sitting m a nest in spite of ever so many beatin^^" with a slijk by the children. At last ho became so savago that the children were afraid to go near htm, so the good woman, to humour him, gavo him a number of eggs to sit *^ on. He has continued to sit very faithfully for several weeks, only leaving the nest once in several days, to gobble up some food and hurrj back to his eggs. He is expected soon to appear with his young caarge — (Communicated )