FROM SWAMP TO FARM LAND

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 123, 17 February 1921, Page 5

FROM SWAMP TO FARM LAND

RANGITAIKI TRANSFORMED PARLIAMENTARY PARTY IN PROSPEROUS DISTRICT (Bv TelMrranh—Special Correspondent.) Whakatane, February IG. At aix o’clock this morning the Parliamentary touring party left Rotorua. in motor-cars for Whakatane. The morning was dull, but not grey enough to diminish the charm of the glorious scenery. Swiftly the cars sped by the wonderful lakes, the smooth waters of which were frequently disturbed by jumping trout, and into the Avenue through one of the most perfect pieces of bush in the region. Then they’ went down the long, rough, winding road, the line of the historical track taken by Hongi’a warriors when they hauled their war canoos across the country to attack the Arawae in their island stronghold in Lake Rotorua, through a stretch of land still lying under a deep layer of Tarawera ash, and finally on to tho southwest end of the wonderfully fertile

Rangitaiki plains, through which the party moved by devious courses after breakfasting at Teteko, where Mr. Frank A. Moore (Mayor of Whakatane) gave a formal welcome to this part of the province.

Many of the party had believed that the flat expanse of 87,000 acres lying between the two ranges of hills stretching inland from tho sea was actually a swamp. This description is often used, but no longer may tho Rangitaiki be correctly termed a swamp. . Since the dammed-up waters of the Rangitaiki ■ River were released by the mile cut to the sea in 1914, and similar operations were carried out at the mouth of the Tarawera stream, and the drop in the ordinary water levels turned the one hundred miles of drains into fast flowin’ rivulets, huge areas have become solid land, upon which sleek herds graze and marvellous crops of maize and oats bring wealth w'ith little effort. Those of the visitors who had never before seen this vast area of fertile land were immensely impressed, and the stretch of rusty rails from Matata to the vicinity of Taneatua, upon which no traffic train has yet run, emphasised the importance of the great settlement line of the Dominion being pushed on with all possible speed, so that the vast resources and untapped wealth of this land may 'be , exploited to their full capacity. A southern member was heard to say that ilhe "swamp” would one day carry a population of half a million people. Ono car came to Whakatane, via Tepuke and Matata, the occupants travelling part of the way by a Public Works train. The rest of the party ran by various routes on the west side of the Rangaitiki River,, crossed by the bridge over the cut at (the mouth, and returned on the odder bank to the railway, and thence by the main road to Taneatua, nine miles inland from Whakatane, where everyone gathered to attend the Whakatane show. Here inagTiificentl specimens of dairy and fat cattle were to be .seen, but what was the most obvious sign of the prosperity of the settlers was the ring of about 150 motor-cars outside the enclosure. Everyone appeared to travel on wheels, yet in 1913 only four cars were registered by the local authority. Impressive facts were gleaned. One farm of 100 acres, for instance, carries 110 dairy cows, and a carrying capacity of 80 cows to 100 acres, over and above cultivation, is frequent:. It was stated that the return was tremendous. Exceptional crops of up to 110 bushels were quoted, and rarely was manure used on this land.

After th© show, t'ho party went to Whakatane, where a social gathering was held in the evening and there the night was spent, most of the M.P.’s being billeted among the Tomorrow's run will bo via Ruatoki and Nukuhou to Opotiki, where to-motyow night will bo spent. The final list of members going' on with the tour is:— Messrs. E. Kellett; G. Witty, H. Atmore, G. Mitchell, J. P. Luke, G. R. Sykes, W. Glenn. W. Veitch, O. J. Hawken, R. Masters, sV T . H. Reed, F. Hockly, K. S. Williams, A. I). Lysnar, and the Hon. A. T. Ngata. Tomorrow Mr. Hockly’s duties as official host will end, and Mr. Williams will take them up. Everyone is appreciative of the success of the tour to date, Mr. Hockly and his helpers having made the most complete organisation.