EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 4

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

AN AUCKLAND EXPEDITION, .(By Tekffraiih.-SBecial Correspondent.) Auckland, April 23.. I A large. Parliamentary'and Railwayl League party lias just returned from a.' •visit to the East Coast, under the leadership of Mr. G. L. Peacocks. lir an interview, Mr. Peacocke said:—"l. am perfectly satisfied with the result of the trip which, from every point of view, has .been highly successful. The objects set up to be attained have beeiu achieved by entirely convincing every member of Parliament who undertook the journey that the construction of the. East Coast railway should be immediately carried on from-the "Waihi end, and pushed through to Opotiki with all reasonable expedition. "What I particularly wished to obtain from the ■members ■ was their opinion as to the country between Waihi and Tauranga. Although this wag admittedly the iworest tract of country traversed, yet those possessing a practical knowledge of■ landand farming requirements were firmly convinced that every acre of it can be profitably'settled. Viewing the Bay of -Plenty district as a whole, the party has been deeply impressed by the immense extent of "exceptionally fertile country which is practically continuous from Tauranga all the way to Opotiki, : and from Matata inland "to Waimana. Evidence was afforded by; local residents well acquainted' with the back country that an enormous area of splendid grass country lies behind the front line of the Ilrewcra country, unfortunately still in the grip of the eternal Native land difficulty. In the Opotiki County alone, there is sufficient land of ■the first class to support a population 'of many thousands. In such blocks as .those of Taneatua and Oponriao. and the immense Rangitaiki swamp, when drained, 50 acres of land, when brought under cultivation, is ample to provide a handsome living for any industrious family. There arc several instances where as much as £1800 in maize has been taken off 100 acres of land in one year. Many dairy farmers, on the other hand, make as much as £12 per cow from their dairy herds annually. It will thus be seen that the Bay of Plenty settlers arc not confined to one industry. The 85,000 acres comprising the so-called Rangitaiki 'swamp, is .of such a nature that, when drained, it can immediately be put under artificial grass, as there-is no difficulty on account of sourness, as is the case in'so many of the Waikato swamps. There is not the slightest doubt that the Bay of Plenty district, as a. whole, comprises one of the largest areas of firstclass land in New Zealand."