NOW LYING IDLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 44, 23 June 1947, Page 8

NOW LYING IDLE

LAND FOR MORE FARMS THE T AUR AR AN GAIA BLOCK With a view to furthering land settlement in the Whakatane County’s back areas the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce resolved at Tuesday’s meeting to write once more to the Minister of Lands asking if anything further had been decided about the future of the Taurarangaia Block in the Ra'ngitaiki Valley. This is a Crown block of 7000 acres of gently undulating land about 25 miles from Whakatane, said Mr H. G. Warren. The desirability of throwing this block open for settlement had been brought to the notice of the Chamber last year by Mr A. L. Luke, who had for some years been developing a section of 600 acres.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands had advised the Chamber some time ago that the 7000 acre block was portion of a large block which had been transferred to the Conservator of Forests in order that he might deal with the timber thereon. On District’s Life-line The block was on the life-line of the Whakatane district, being on the main road to Galatea, said Mr Warren. Recently the Minister of Works had mentioned developments in the district, including a railway to Murupara and possible flood control and hydro-electric works on the Rangitaiki River. The Chamber took the matter up with the Minister of Lands last year, but there had been no further correspondence since February. Many years ago a six-foot road had been put through to Ruatoki from the Rangitaiki River, and it would be easy to make a good road. This would give easy access to the rolling country of the block. Alongside this block was a large area of Native land. If this block were developed there might be inducement to the Native owners to develop their land. This block, had been suggested as a suitable area for ex-servicemen seeking land. The County Council had taken up the matter with the Minister of Lands, whose reply was that it was the policy of the Government to proceed with the development of land already in production before bringing in more land. The future of the land in the upper Rangitaiki Valley- was a matter for expert opinion, said Mr Warren. He realised it was opening up a big field to discuss what should be done, because it involved river control and soil conservation.

Good Land Mr J. Creeke said the 6ft. track had been put through years ago when he was a young man. He had been halfway across from Ruatoki to the Rangitaiki. Excellent production had been obtained from the Ruatoki area. Land that was fern country when he was young was now producing well. He agreed that the whole of the area was more suitable for pasture than for trees. Mr A. J. Canning though it might be difficult to induce young settlers to take up sections on this block if they could get land near the towns. The Chamber decided to write to the Minister again asking for information about this block.