KARAMEA DISTRICT.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1924, Page 4

KARAMEA DISTRICT.

CorXTKY WITH A FETI'EE. NELSON. Fel.. 1. Mr X. C. Kensington. Commissiouer «t' Grown Lands, lias just returned from his first official visit to various portions of his district. extending well down the West C’oast. “So far a.s Karenina is concerned,'’ said the Commissioner, "I was very much taken with it from a dairying point of view.” The country was described as good. There are some very fine swamps in the district and it was just a. question whether or not a drainage, board should be formed to undertake the drainage of this land, and bring it into cultivation, lly this means a big area suitable for dairying would he made available. The main trouble around Westport and Karamen is the growth of rushes, on the Hats, hut with drainage this could be brought under cultivation. Many parts of New Zealand had met similar difficulties, but had overcome them. Tn addition to dairying the timber industry was going to he a big thing at Kararnea. Ibe trouble at the present time was lack of transport. The Kara men bar was not suitable for big vessels, and the only other outlet was the Little "Wanganui Hirer. The timlier available would run into many millions of feet, and was only waiting to he developed pending 1 setter transport facilities. At present the railway from Westport ended at Alokihinui. eleven miles from Little Wanganui, but if this stretch were railed it would he of great benefit to the Kararnea district, and timber could easily ho got out. Air Kensington considered that it would In' only a question of time before big mills would be operating in the district. During the course of his trip. Air Kensington visited a number of soldier settlers holdings, and said they appeared to have got over the slump and apparently were doing well. Providing a settler had good land the Commissioner was not at all frightened about their ultimate success.