PROGRESS AT PATEA,

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 8

PROGRESS AT PATEA,

. DAIEY"OUTPUT INCREASING!' _ Business at Patea, the port of South Taranalci, accoi'dirig to a. resident, Avho spoke with a Dominion reporter yesterday, has made great strides in tlio last 18 months, s During this period it lies been impossible to rent houses at anything like a reasonable value, and an empty liouso_ has been ..an utterly unknown quantity. To the casual visitor a number' of empty shops are on eyesore, and sc-em to "afford evidence that the "town- is going, back, but in instances theso premises arc of. indifferent rjuality. They are offered on'lease without .'valuation for improvements. In past times the country round about Patea 'was chiefly, held by largo holders for grazing, but- 'it is now gradually being applied.to dairying. Of lato the change from grazing to • dairying has been proceeding apace. The output of the AVhenuakura factory, which lies close to Patea, has almost doubled during the last twelve months. La. l :-: season supplies from jbont 1000 cows were handled at the factory, aud this season tho milk- from some 3500 cows is being dealt with.. Other factories situatedcloso to Patea, at Karamea, Alton, and Mountain, has also cach largely increased their 'C'utpnt during .tho same period. Thero has been, of. course, a 'corresponding reduction in the arijount of wool grown in the district. Freezing works at Patia, which changed hands early in 1010, are rapidly increasing their turnover. Tho Patea Company is of a co-or>erative character, and is a successfully diverting business from proprietary firms at ports north and south. The pfospccl's of flie district at the present time sire brighter than for .jnnny years past. In Patea Borough the brisk demand for buildiiv; sections is exemplified in the fact that they are almost unobtainable, and numerous cottages aro how in course of erection.'-At the port a larrr? bonded store is' being built by a well-known mercantile firm. A question greatly discuss-rd by, those, who lnve the advancement of'the borough at heart is the great proportion cf its area set asido as public reserves. These were delimited when Palea was an important centre of operations at about the time nf file Maori war. and are now somewhat disproportionate. The little town, with a population of about 10C0 souls, lias considerable acres fc et . aside as boroueh, educational, hospital, and Harbour Board reserves. Borough reserves nre mcst- considerable cf all. and their future offers an acute problem In these who have tho management of tho town in hand.