MOKAU DISTRICT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 127, 22 February 1921, Page 6

MOKAU DISTRICT

VISITED BY MINISTER OF LANDS SOME GOOD COUNTRY Last week the Minister of Lauds (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) travelled from AYaitara through the Mokau district to Awakino, and on to Te Kuiti, on the Main Trunk line. Ho traversed a partially developed district, whore a number of soldiers have been settled lately. Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, the Minister said that he had been very favourably impressed by the country he had seen. The land in the Mokau district was better than many people believed it to -be; much of it eventually would be used for dairying, and he had been very pleased to see how well the settlers, including some returned soldiers, were doing already. After arriving at Mokau, Mr. Guthrie proceeded up the river for about fourteen miles by launch to see a new settlement where nine soldiers are breaking in land. He found that they were making good progress. Replying to some requests from the settlers, he advised them to concentrate on the improvement of tho river communication, rather than attempt to get many roads made at the present time. Tho settlers,str< ngly urged the Minister to undertake further subdivision in the district. They stated that some very good land was 'held in large blocks. ’They drew his attention also to the immense deposits of coal and lime that have been discovered in the district, and suggested that the Government should encourage the development of this natural wealth. The Minister promised inquiry, and mentioned that be was sending a surveyor and a Crown lands ranger into the district to examine its possibilities from the settlement point of view. Ono of the suggestions made to the Minister of Lands by the Mokau settlers was that certain scenic reserves along the banks of the Mokau River should be abolished. The settlers stated that these reserves were interfering with their operations, particularly in the construction of roads along the river banks, Mr. Guthrie undertook to convey the settlers’ representations to the Scenery Reservation Board, but he stated that in his own opinion it would be a great pity to permit the destruction of all the wonderfully beautiful bush along tliq river.