PAPAITONGA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 October 1911, Page 2

PAPAITONGA.

THE NATIONALISATION PEOPOSAL.

For some time past 'Mr W. H. Field, M.P., has been making, active endeavours to induce the Govern iiient to secure lake. Papaitoriga as a scenery resort. We aro given to understand that a purchasing privo of £10,000 has been fixed by the. Trustees of tlie Buller Estate, and that the matter has been referred to the. Scenery Preservation Commissioners, who report that the price submitted is too high. They recommend that the. Government' should not givo more tlum half the amount. The Mayjr of Levin (Mr B. R. Gardener),' who lias lived in tbe district many years, was yesterday interviewed on tbe .matter. He said without, doubt every effort shiould be ini'de to secure the lake and its surroundings for the benefit, not only of Levin, but'of the wbole district. To his knowledge, it was always recognised by the people liv[ing in the district tbnt it was one j of" the first pi act* they took visitors to see. It was one of the most, beautiful native spots in the cnimI try. The question of price proIbably .should not be a great obstacle I in tlie. way of the Government securiii" the property. Ho underj stood" that the lmul without tbe 'Inke comprised somewbere flbmit 200 ! acres. The bnildnngs all were of .a siibstoniial character, and ought to bo utilised in many different ways. They would fetch in a good income, which would assist to pay the interest upon the purchase. Tnqucstion-ibl.Y the land surroundino' the lake would be splendidly adapted for fruit growing, and was well fitted to lie cut up into small sections for this purpose. One 0! the most serious question coneerninp the lake and its surroundings w.iTs Lho question of drainage. It bod been said nv several se.ttleivs tlint without lands were pnrcihaseel so n.s to pnuibit drainage, it would <bo a. verv en>v imtter for several holders of Innd adjacent, to tiro lake to en?npletojy drnin it of its waters, j Tll his 'opinion some measures of law 'should be t-f.lcen.wihe purchasing of some portions of the surrounding properties fchould be- made to prevent- tbe drainage thnf- would ultimafelv (alee place. Tbnt was a v.>ry important matter, and .should lie ' taken into deep consideration, if'there is -my intention of the Government, to ir'iike rbe purchase, befiuse the sceiierv without the water vonld Up of little value. Coneeniine the price the Mayor said land in the smut" estate had retched up to -P-10 an acre for farming purposes. "Base it," continued the Mayor, "for argument's sake, without' ineludins: tbe lake area, say upon n ClO per acre scale, including the building, which, in my opinion, would ivot be valued at less than i GIOOO it would brino; the purchase up to -CBOOO. In view of these 1 facts tbe extiv- money for the lake does not seem exorbitant. Therefore, tnkiin all things into consideration, and the valuable asset which- a reserve of this kind would be to .a town and district like ours, every endeavour ,-:bonbl. if a reason-

able' price is a'-:kod. l;o in:i f V to secure tlio property. Ft must not he forgotten flint little lmsh from the scenic point of view is available between "Woli nstoii nmi Palmerston Xorth. and that what there is is fast difnppearino;. Tt will only moan a fp\v years when there will bo loft in'iio f 'f tnr> native busihi and .cppiiorv like tlift which surrounds the lalc(\ Finally, ifc must not lie overlooked, without expressing an expert's opinion noon tlio land value, that every 200 acres could ho lmspfi for small rattle farms or fmit purposes at CI an aero, which would iv\y th-r- intovost. snv at o nor cent, upon 010.000. and therefore every eflort si wild lie made to iinrc-liji^o'fclie lake and surrounding property at a. reason-able prion. "