ROUND ABOUT GISBORNE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 336, 10 August 1889, Page 2

ROUND ABOUT GISBORNE.

[by one who’b been there.] Deab Standard,—l could not vary well pay a ‘visit to the Waimata district, but I came across one who was more fortunate in this respect, and he has sent ma a very good de-criplion, which I append : — Some yearn ago I visited the Waimata Valley for the first time. In those days there was no Taruheru Bridge, tbe crossing to Whataupoko was by means of the ferry boat, starting from Common, Shelton and Co.’s old store, and landing on the sand spit on the other side—not an easy landing at the best of times. North Gisborne was only a township on paper; tha track—a bad one at that—took a circuitous route towards ths hills near where the residence of Mr J. Totchan now stands, and winding away towards Mr I, C, Taylor's, and then across the Mangapspa Creek, a few chains above Mr A. N. Williams’ fellmongery works, following close under the hills until you reached Mr P. Basket's property. Here tbe track rase on to the low hills on which the woolahed now stands, passing again on to the fiats to the south of Mr Barker’s bouse ; across the wooden bridge, in present position ; then turning away, off the present line of road to the right in a line with the main spur, up which you went until reaching the branch spur leading to the saddle where the road now goes ; following very nearly the line of the present road until reaching the waterfall, when the old track went away to the right, over the table land, the new road again joining the old track where the Wai mat a river is crossed at No. 1 crossing. The new track here ia certainly an improvement. Here you reach

THE FIRST BEAL SETTLEMENT in the Waimata Valley, being two huts which belong to natives who are breaking in a portion of the Waimata—Block, making a very creditable show, One hill especially has taken the grass uncommonly well, showing what our Maori friends can do, when they exert themselves. Across the river you come upon the veritable Government Waimata settlement. What a change from tha memories of ths past I Whore once we hunted the wild porker in his native haunts of fern and bush, you sea the handiwork of man showing itarif—fences, sown hills, good bridges, and houses. The first bridge has a history of its own, or rather I should say the creek and its surroundings have. The old track used to go down to the left oi the present bridge, and how boggy that creek was only thosa who used it can know. A contract was let to bridge this and other creaks, and the contractor in due course obtained the timber from the Bush Rescrva Section, several miles up the river; but the whole lot was lost, having been stacked on a sandbank too near the river ; when a summer fresh occurred, down the river went all the timber, never to ba used for bridges in the Waimata Valley. What was Waimata’s loss was Gisborne’s gain, as the Borough Council purchased several thousand feet of what waa saved on the river banks, using it for kerbing purposes. The County Council eventualljr made the bridge on this creek, I now arrived on KENWAY BROTHERS’ SECTION, where they have by dint of hard labor made a nice homestead for themselves. During the last few years they have built a comfortable house in place of tha *' wattle and dab ” structure which, in tha first instance, served tham as kitchen, dining room, bedroom, all in one. When I first saw the flat on which their house stands there was nothing but fern and titree, interspersed with small patches of cattle-carried clover—and now in summer you can drive into town in two hours I I remember seeing at their place a vehicle once, which for construction was un’que. The track at this time was barely eight feet wide, so the only way was to build to suit the road. On to the body of a small sledge a pair of smi'.l wheels were fixed—these wheels had once belonged to a hearsa ; the axle was shortened so as to give a breadth of about 4ft 6in to sft; the shafts were connected by means of bant irons. The whole thing, though comical in appearance, was useful, and is memorable in the Valley as being the first wheel vehicle which successfully negotiated the trip from Gray’s to Waimata. Coming further along the Valley closes in considerably, and we pass Kenway’s woolshed (built we believe by amateur Waimata talent —more power to them), the roof of which reminds one of our chidhood’sjdaya and Noah’s Arks. Mr Partridge's section is next come to, and here commences a deviation by means of a new bridle track, which misses two bad crossings of the river. To my mind this is a great improvement, especially for stock driving purposes. Going by the old road you pass MB DODDS’ BBOPBBTY,

with his comfortable two storied house standing upon a high table land. The old days return to my mind when I see the splendidly grassed hills and think of what it once was, a forest of large manuka, swarming with pigs. Mr Dodds purchased this desirable property from Mr C. Gray, of Waiohika, who obtained it from the natives through Mr J. N, Williams, of Napier. I understand Mr Dodds obtained for his wool last season the highest price of any wool sold from the Waimata. Nearly opposite Mr Dodds’ gate is a small holding in the occupation of Mr A Ritchie, being originally a portion of tbe same block sold by Mr Gray, but not included in Mr Dodds' purchase. Mr Ritchie has a splendid orchard of young fruit trees, and the traveller can obtain here Orawtord's non-intoxicating drinks. Mr Ritchie is a general all-round man, adapting himself to pH kinds of work, and we believe making a fair living among the settlers of the valley. Passing across the river about one hundred yards further on, you are again in Messrs Partridges' property. The river lies close on your left hand, the road rising at an easy grade until you IIEAC’t THE BOOK CUTTING overlooking the Partridges’ new home. A dangerous spot this has always been, but it is now much improved by the placing of some chain or so of post and rail fencing to guard the precipitous edge. I believe lam right in saying that the travelling public owe this decided improvement to the forethought of Mr A. McPhail. The Partridges new nest is a decided imorovement on the “ wattle and dab ” further down the road, being a commodious wooden structure, I would like to sea more settlers take a lesson in first the modest mud whare, and when the selection is improved, and the wool moneys come to hand regularly, then the nice comfortable six or eight roomed house. The land is good on this property, but it is very steep indeed in places. Passing on beyond the house you Sion come to the Waimata Apiary, or what will be such, as the foundation has been laid for a large bee farm by my old friend Mr Martin. The land occupied ia a portion of—mb d. mcnair's property.

I wish such men as Mr Martin every success, and know in such hands the industry ia sure to thrive. Mr McNair’s is no new name to readers of the Standabd. A better settler does not exist, and his place is a credit to him, showing more real work than any place ia the Valley. Tbe property is some 1 200 acres, mostly hilly, with the exception of two nice river flats. The house is surrounded with good shelter trees, to say nothing of a considerable orchard and vegetable gard n. The flock ia Al, and will give about 100 per cent, of lambs thia season. I had nearly forgotten to mention the old track, which alter passing Mr Ritchie's followed the opposite side of the river to the present road, until reaching Mr McNair’s flat, which it crossed close under the hills until near the old whare, then across the river on to what ia now Mr A. McPhail’s property. The road at the present day keeps on a good deal further before crossing. Near here, in 1880 and 1881. was Mr Jack Bslneavia’ survey camp. Hera also stood the parent of moat of the present willow trees in the Waimata, the largest willow I remember seeing. Little remains of it now to mark the place of Its former greatness, The old track rom this out, followed very nearly the present line of road, so I will not mention it again, COMBEBMEBE, Mr McPhail’s property, ia in some respects the choice of the Waimata lands, and is improving each season. It is a vary useful station in connection with the owners' Bushmere property. The highest price obtained for fat wethers for freezing, which were bought to send to Napier, was obtained for sheep fattened wholly on this property, There are considerable improvements effected here—fenoss, planting, ploughing, erection of sheep din, Ac., but still much remains to ba done, lodine springe are found on this SMjsrty.

MB BIOHABDSOX’S is the adjoining property. Here we see a splendid example of what oan be dons by oom* bmad family action. The family between them have now taken up, across the river, two perpetual leases, and tbs varions sections are showing the signs of much labor, in sowing, buehfalling, and fencing. Mr Richard, eon is particularly known as being the maker of especially good butter, and tbe oarer of good bacon (rolled or aider). On my late visit I was shewn a splendid bad of strawberries, which I had heard of brfore. Fruit trees here are in abundance. Mr Dixon’s is the next property—a nice piece of country divided into several paddocks, but it wants more stocking, as the tera ia gaining ground in places. MB snow’s NEW SELSCTIOS is approached by a road leading through ths above mentioned property. It should make a nice home in timo, with care and attention, to say nothing of the inevitable hard work required on any new place. To the North East of this section is No 20. which I believe is now taken up, after being visited by more people in search of land than any other section. Returning on to the main road Mr Dixon's property is pesied, when you reach the river, Messrs Tombleson’s being on the right hand and Mr Lsrdelli's on the left, these being the last settlers in Waimata proper. MESSRS TOMBLESON AND MR LARDELLI. Messrs Tombleson have made very [con siderable improvements in the short time they have been in possession, bush having been felled and several miles of fencing done. Again crossing the river you are at Mr Lsrdelli’s homestead. Thiegentleman has been one of the longest residents in the Valley, and has lately gone to England on a well earned holiday, leaving Mr Strachn, who has the adjoining section, in charge. Tbe property is improving year by year. Mr Strachn, has done some fencing and sowing on his selection. ONLY SIX OB SEVEN YXABS AOO the whole Waimata Valley wae practically In its virgin s'ste, grazing only a few wild and pigs, and now there is a fair road thriving settlement, Taken as a lot Waimata settlers are the class of men required for a new country, and ns an hospitable class I can testify to their sterling good qualities, I hops to give you the continuation of the Whangara district on some other oceuion.