BAY OF PLENTY RAILWAYS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 26 July 1915, Page 2

BAY OF PLENTY RAILWAYS

PROSPECTS OF THE DISTRICT,

A deputation, consisting of Mayor Bennett (To Puke) and Mr. P. Keegan (Pan'eatua), representing the settlers of tho Bay of Plenty, waited on the Hon. tlio Minister of Public Works in connection with tho railway between Tauranga and Opotiki. In view of the large amount of money (£60,000) voted for this line last year and the remarks made by the Minister to the deputation, it would appear tliat the Government recognises the possibilities of this rich and fertile district, and is alivo to tlio necessity; of opening it up by railway communication, and giving it access to its ports. Mr. Keegan, who has been farming in the Opouriao Valley for tho last twenty years, provided Tni; Dominion with the following information regarding the area and possibilities of the Bay of Plenty:—

Mr. Keegan stated that the Bay of Plenty district commences at Katikati and extends to Cape Runaway, a distance of about 150 miles. It has an area of about half the size of Canterbury, and contains some of the richest land in the Dominion. The To Puke district has long been famous for the thousands of fat bullocks tlmt have been sent away to the markets each year. The Rangitaiki area, which has recently been drained, consisting of 100,000, acres, has been. proved to bo fully equal to the Opouriao flats. These flats are now; giving a return of £10 per annum in milk alone. Altogether there are about 179,000 acres of this class of land in. the Bay of Plenty, which in a feiv years will be giving a yearly return of £1,790,000. In addition to this there is the Urewera Country, of about one million acres, which, when properly developed, will run over two million sheep. This is all good bush country, and when in grass will give a yearly return of well over a million sterling. In addition to this, there is a great tract of rich bush country, running from Opotiki out to the East; Cape, .a distance of over sixty miles, which is now being brought in, and is carrying thousands of slieep and cattle. This area, wheal grassed, will add another million yearly to the national wealth. Apart from this, there is a great stretch of light, ploughable country between Rotorua and Taupo, 011 the one hand, and Galatea on the other, which contains over two million acres. This country has been proved to grow good turnips and clover, and is at present in much the same condition as the land in the Upper Waikato was before the advent of the railway. The outlet of this great area is by rail, via Paengaroa to tho deep water-port of Tauranga. It would bo hard to estimate tho returns from this country whon properly handled. At tho lowest estimate the Bay of Plenty, when properly developed, will yield a yearly income of seven million pounds sterling.

Tho railway which is to open lip this great stretch of country starts at deep water on the Tauranga harbour, and tho advanced earthworks have extended to Matata. a 1 distance of forty miles. Another vote this year equal to that of last session will carry the lino through the centro of the Rangitaiki Plains, across the Wliakataiie Valley and nearly up to the boundary of the "Urewera Country.

Tho Bay of Plenty is well endowed by Nature with fairly good harbours. Tauranga can now admit vessels up'to 26ft. draft, while inside the heads there are two miles of water frontage, giving a depth of 40 feet. A comparatively small expenditure would deepen this harbour sufficiently to tax any Homo boat. Whakatane has a good river port, which is under the control of a Harbour Board, and which is being improved sufficiently to accommodate any coastal boat. Oliiwa and Opotiki are ports of something tho same nature. These ports .will some day be connccted by ■ rail with the main line, and will provide the outlet for a largo volume of produce. Cheese and butter factories aro still being established throughout the district, and a. freezing company has been floated, which will be put into active operation as soon as tho. railway reaches tho Rangitaiki River.

The Bay of Plenty is destined to become the garden of New Zealand. A rough estimato of the cost of developing this great district would be about £2,000,000, and the yearly income after this expenditure would be from seven to ten millions ; The trade arising from all this will go to those who are bold enough to stretch out their hands to grasp it.