LAND DEVELOPMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 152, 26 April 1940, Page 5

LAND DEVELOPMENT

BAY OF PLENTY REGION

PROGRESS OF NATIVE SCHEME There are about 30 native land development schemes, large and small, in the Bay of Plenty, the oldest, Ruatoki and Whakatohca. having been gazetted in 1930, and the majority of the others within the next three years. Present activities range from well-established dairy farming on unit holdings to pioneering development of fern, scrub and swamp land and salvaging operations on station country, the leases of which have expired or been sur-i rendered. There are several areas, including Matakana Island, around and west of the town of Tauranga. There is Motiti Island, On the mainland going east there are the schemes at Pukaingataru, Te Puke, Maketu* and Waewactutuki. Then come Pultehina and Matata, followed, inland, by the very important! schemes of Putauald, Waiohau and Ruatoki., Beyond Whakatane. Going back to the coast, there are in the vicinity of Whakatane the 1 scheme of that name and that Icf Ngatiawa. Next is Wliakatohea-Wai-nui, near the Ohiwa Harbour. Then, 15 miles east of Opotiki:, lies Horere. Maraenui lies at the mouth of the Motu River, and beyond it T 28 miles from Opotiki, is Omaio. Further east on the Opotilci-E'ast Cape Road is Haparapara, a run that is being salvaged. Another property of the same class, but very much laigei* its area being 22,500 acres, is Maungaroa, eight miles up the Kereru Rh'er from the coast road.

The next scheme is Te Kalia, a closely settled dairying area.. Next in order are the two Orete schemes, one devoted to dairying and the other to sheep and dry stock farming, which are about 60 miles from Opotiki. Further along the north-east coast fo the Bay of Plenty lies the dairying area of Whangaparaoa. Te Pild, near Cape Runaway, a somewhat difficult station proposition, is the next in order, and finally there is Potikirua, a station which came into the hands of the Board of Native Affairs by purchase in 1938 Remote Areas. Between this country and the East Cape, but in the administrative district of Tairawhiti, which has its centre in Gisborne, lie the vei-y ex-v tensive dairying and sheep farming schemes of Wharekahika and Watt-apu-Matakaoa, with a total of 120 settlers and some 300 labourers with over 1000 dependants. On scheme lands stretching from Tauranga to Cape Runaway there were in 1938-39 335 settlers and 455 labourers, with no less than 2400 dependants. Ruatoki, with an area of 31,308 acres, of which some 8000 acres have been settled and about 600 acres are being brought into pasture annual;ly, is the major scheme on the production side. A survey from the developmental angle throws into vision the Putiauaki scheme, near Te Teko. The total area of the block Vs 9565 acres, of which 2000 acres are flat. The solving of 1000 acres in grass this season will bring the developed portion to 3000 acres,, and this may complete the job for the time being • More Flats Available. However, a topographical survey lias been made of some 3000 acres of adjoining land that is capable of being worked with implements, and there is thus the probability of ex-, pansion at an early date. Seventeen unit holdings have been settled on. the older pasture and their very satisfactory results are a happy augury for the future. Except for 300 acres of swamp the whole area has a coating a Tarawera ash, the natural herbage being scattered manuka and light fern. Discing Ash Surface. To preserve what natural consolidation of the surface has taken place the plough has not been used. The seed-bed was prepared by trao j tor discs which have given such efficient service that the grassing programme of the last tiwo years has embraced much larger areas than) were originally contemplated. As on Edgecumbe, where country of f? similar type is being handled by the Lands Department, the response of the soil has been remarkable.

Waiohau, a block of 7425 acres, is situated 28 miles from Whakatane up the Rangitaiki River. Nine settlers are dairying on unit holdings and sheep farming is expanding. Tlve large flat which opens out from fContinued at foot of next column)