Hawera, the City of the Plains.

The establishment of the settlements of Hawera and Patea is of a much more recent date than that of New Plymouth. It was only at the close of the war that the land was occupied by the military settlers: these pioneers, for the most part, sold their grants of land, leaving for other parts; still a fair sprinkling have remained, and these may be considered in every respect the backbone of the district. In 1880, the famous Waimate Plains were surveyed, divided into sections, and placed in the market, where the flourishing settlement of Hawera is now established. This city of the plain, as it has not unaptly been termed, has a population of over 1000, and this is still increasing. It is the central market of an unusually fertile district, celebrated alike for its general agricultural yields and the growth of fat stock. The streets of Hawera are nicely kept, being-well gravelled and curbed; the town has been built on level table land, and is approached by railway from Wanganui and Patea, southwards; and New Plymouth and Waitara, from the north, commanding either of these ports, whilst a capital metal road across the plains, leads to Opunake; Hawera being considered the commercial centre of the district. The town, some few years since, was formed into a municipality, and the public and municipal buildings, churches and places of business, would be creditable to a town of much larger dimensions. But in this transitory world, it is as well not to look for perfection. Hawera, with all its marked qualities, has one drawback in the cold, bitter, and keen winds that pour over the plains, destroying orchards and gardens, compelling the residents to look to the more genial climate of New Plymouth, which lies northward of Egmont, to make up for the deficiency. page 20 As an instance of the severity of these winds, the hardy blue gum looks sickly and weedy, and is gradually dying out from the old plantations; on the other hand, oats give good returns, frequently 70 to 75 bushels to the acre; wheat, 50 to 60; potatoes, 15 to 20 tons, These are not exceptional cases, but the records of good crops made by several settlers; the results are from unmanured lands,

Regarding industries, they maybe said to be quite in their infancy, and amongst them a number of excellent cheese makers are banded together into companies, one establishment having about twenty tons ready for export. Several dairy factories are in process of organisation under the control of various companies. The flax industry at Opunake is flourishing,. The Messrs. Wagstaff Brothers turn out large quantities each month; much of this is used by local tradesmen, and the surplus exported. The Bee industry is largely on the increase, Messrs. Epping, and others in the neighbourhood of Normanby, export a considerable amount of honey each season.

A Sash and Door factory is established in Hawera, and this, with a Saw Mill belonging to the same company, employs about thirty hands. The goods turned out are of first rate quality, and an export trade is opening up; and although no dividend has been declared, a good profit has been carried forward, each balance, by way of reserve fund. The staple product of the district is however, stock,—fat sheep and cattle, The production in this respect is something marvellous, and ever on the increase, as each year more land is laid down in grass. About 12,000 acres have been newly laid down during the last two years: and every season large tracts of bush land fall before the axe. The land being at once sown with grass, extensive flocks) of sheep, driven from Napier, and other parts, soon fatten on the luxurious grass of the district.