OPOTIKI, BAY OF PLENTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 58, 9 March 1901, Page 3

OPOTIKI, BAY OF PLENTY.

(By Our Travelling Reporter). Opotiki is a snug little farming district, situated in the Bay of Plenty. It has an inhabitants of about 2000 people altogether. THE CHIEF PRODUCT of this district is maize, which is grown more or less by every farmer here possessing a piece of flat land ; the principle kinds of maize grown are *• Horsetooth ” and “ Marygold.” AVe frequently hear of the Opotiki flats as rich, productive land. But the flat land about Opotiki is not of the continuous nature of the Poverty Bay flats. Neither can the new arrival in the town see much flat land until he has travelled about the district a

good deal; for the flats of Opotiki run up various valleys between the hills, or along the banks of the numerous rivers which empty their waters into the Bay of Plenty. The general appearance of Opotfld is that of undulating, more or less fern clad hills, with flats and crops of maize running up the valleys between the hills. The hills themselves round about

Opotiki are of medium quality, though said to grow good crops of turnips and fair grass land. Still, much of the hill country is yet overgrown with fern. Away at the back of these low-lying fern clad hills rise up the bush-clad, broken ranges, which run back, I believe, in ono continuous forest to the Motu. THIS BUSH COUNTRY

appears to be more or less fertile, and will, when cleared and sown in grass, make excellent grazing 'country for sheep and cattle. In fact some portions of the bush land on tho outskirts of the main forest have already been fallen, and laid down in English grasses. I rode through some of the country a few days agn, and notice that it has taken grass well. There was a fine sward, and abundance of feed, and tho cattle running therein were looking well. So far, I have not seen many sheep about Opotiki, but some day, when the bush land at the back has been cleared and laid down in grass, this will, no doubt, be a great sheep-raising country, and there will be a ready market in Auckland for fat stock at satisfactory prices. A party of surveyors are at present exploring part of this bush country with a view to cutting it up for settlement. “ Finances based upon a flourishing agriculture,” tho great Napoleon is reported to have said, “ can never be destroyed.” Bearing this fact in mind (the truth of ’ which has been fully illustrated in Now Zealand during recent years), it is a great pity the Government do not give even GREATER ENCOURAGEMENT

in tho future than they have in tho past to young men with moderate capital to take up sections of the still-remaining bush country. This could be done by giving grants of bush land rent free for a number of years to all who would bo prepared to live upon their sections and improve them, the Government even paying cost of survey, and charging only interest upon tho cost of same. If this method were adopted tho Government would bo repaid for its liberality byincroased revenue from imports such as wire, tools, clothing, etc., which tho occupiers of the land would require to buy, and by increased exports in tho shape of wool, mutton, etc., which would add to the wealth and prosperity of tho country generally. After all, so long as the Government obtains sufficient income from various sources for revenue purposes, it is its duty to assist the people to the best of its ability in becoming rich and prosperous. New Zealand was made for the people, not for Governments. At any rate, there ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS of acres of fertile bush land between Opotiki and the Motu lying idle year after year, not putting one penny into anyone s pocket. AVhy, then, when men wuth a little capital, or perhaps none at all, but possessing plenty of pluck, are prepared to turn the at present, valueless busli-clacl hills into profitable farms, should they bo expected to pay rent and thus contribute towards the revenue be,i? they have had time to make the land yield them a bare 'existence ? Surely the country generally, until these men get a start, is better able to pay the interest on the unimproved value of these laiAds, than the men who require every shilling they can got to buy food, etc., while they get the land into a profit bearing condition ? Land is after all only worth what can be made out of it, and until a block of agricultural land is capable of yielding at least a bare living to a man it is practically worth nothing. Therefore, until a man taking up new land is able to make .£SQ or ,-£6O per annum out of it, he is really not in a position to pay any rent at all. And, therefore, until ho is making this sum ho should bo exempt from all direct taxation. If A NEW LAND LAW

to this effect were brought into force, I am strongly of opinion that it would promote the general prosperity _of the country. Provided at the same time a clause was inserted to tho effect that occupants upon such terms would hot be allowed to sell any unearned increase in the value of the property, but only the value of the improvements put upon the property, and the Government to have the first right to buy these at a valuation, and charge interest upon the same to the noxt comer. Until wo have some such new law with respect to all Government leases the nationalization of the unearned increment is practically an utter impossibility. A number of the farmers about Opotiki aro going in for

dairying, in preference to maize-growing, or in conjunction with it. The maize crop is frequently a failure here, owing to the heavyfrosts, which cut down tho corn and prevent it ripening. Even in the memory of living settlers here, the Bay of Plenty has become perceptibly- colder, and frosts now occui as late as October and November, and occasionally later. In addition to tho frosts, the maize grower has to contend with caterpillars, which play havoc with the crops some seasons. To give an idea how bad these pests are, a farmer told mo that a neighbor of his having corn growing near his house thought he hoard it raining, but on looking out of his window saw a clear sky and no rain. Again lie was sure ho heard it raining, and this time went to the door. The sound of rain seemed to. come from the corn-field, and on closer inspection he found myriads of caterpillars climbing up the cornstalks, and falling to the ground. This had made the noise he took for rain. Another drawback to the maize grower is

THE HIGH FREIGHT

which it costs him to get his corn into the Sydney market. It costs him 4d per bushel to sell in Auckland, while it costs the Poverty- Bay grower about the same to sell in Sydney. Consequently, maize of equal quality is about old per bushel cheaper here than at Gisborne. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks, owing to a fertile soil, the farmers seem to be doing fairly well, and there is plenty of work about for young fellows. There is a cheese-factory and a butter-factory in the district, the products of which are shipped to England. There are THREE HQUELS

in Opotiki—the Masonic, the Opotiki, and the Royal. The Opotiki Hotel is the most commodious of the three, and is conducted in an up-to-date style by Mr aud Mrs Martin, who have had the honor of receiving patronage from Lord Ranfurly, the Premier, and other noted personages when on a visit to Opotiki. The Masonic Lodge also hold their annual dinner here, as well as the A. and P, Association. The Masonic is a quiet and well-conducted hotel, which is well patronised by the travelling public, Mr Donald being the proprietor.

PAPERS. There are two bi-weekly 4-page papers in Opotiki, which find subscribers at 3d per copy. THE SHOW. The Opotiki A. and P. Association hold their usual annual Show on the Sth of this month, a. race-meeting taking place on the 7th, and a large gathering is anticipated. -