LANDS AND SURVEYS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1924, Page 4

LANDS AND SURVEYS

WFSTI.AXD HFPOHT.

) Ly ’\\ . I. .Morpeth, ('ommissimier of * Crown Lands.i i 1 Conditions and Progress of Set.tljo-, nieiit. Weather conditions in Westland tor the year ondiny .'list March, 111-’I, have been exceptionally yood, and very favourable to farming o])erimis. I he rainlall for the year was h-'l.-i!) in. for Hokitika, which is about -d in. below i he- nvoraye. There were 2.Ufa hours of sunshine—one of dullest records in the Dominion. Turnip crops have been very yood. Potato crops suflored somewhat from bliyht, ami owing to unfavourable weather conditions at the time not so much hay was saved this year as usual. The fanniny community in tin's district | should realize the value and importance of producing ensilage for winter feed. An indication of the gradual expansion of the dairying industry is the establishment of the new Central Dairy Factory in Hokitika. This factory is an up-to-date building with every modern convenience and appliance, including an elaborate coldstorage plant. The range of suppliers extends to as far north at the Tara- 1 mnkau Settlement, and south as far as j Waitaha. I understand that the Mat- ; ainui Dairy Factory at Watijoa, and j the Tnter-Wanganui Factory at Here- ■ £31.633. The rent roll amounted to |

po, arc contemplating a chanee of policy—tlie new proposal being to drop th production of cheese altogether and concentrate on butter.

Compared with last year, prices for stock have gone hack a little, but there is a notable advance in wool. •Summer prices for ox beef were 2(>s to 31s (id, heifer beef lids to 27s (id. and cow beef 13s to 21s a hundredweight. Winter prices were respectively 2's to .'iSs, 2,3 s to 3.3 s (id, and 20s to 27s Gd per hundredweight. Wether mutton summer prices were f>* 1 to Old per per pound, winter prices (id to 7!d. Ewe mutton, od to (id and !j\ and l>2d. summer and winter prices respectively, and land) (id to 71d per pound, liutterfat lelclied Is 7d per pound. Crossbred wool, 13d to llkl, and three-quar-ter-bred 13d to 22d per pound. Store sheep ran from lls to 2on (id a head, and store cattle from 22 to 23 10s for steers, and 21 10s to .20 for hoiiers.

Dime-Works.—The lime-works at Itoss and Kokatahi are in active operation. The importance of these industries can hardly be overrated, particularly in Westland. In the renewal of worn-out pastures ploughing is usually considered to be an essential operation. In many parts ol Westland, however, experience has proved that belter results are obtained bv limine and topdressing only, and that owing to local soil conditions ploughing lines more harm than good. This view, ol course, seems quite contrary to precedent, but it is nevertheless strongly held by many experienced dairy-larmers in tnis district. There is no doubt whatever that exhausted pastures have temporarily crippled many soldier settlers, and that the maintenance of the feed in healthv condition is ot vital importance. 'flie ditference between exhausted and healthy pastures, is in fact, the difference between failure and success.

Timber.—Considerable progress has been made in the timber industry during the past, year. 'I hree new sa .t* mills have started, and there are at present eighty mills operating in the district. There is no doubt that this is to a great extent the result of the railway connection with Canterbury opened tit) in August, 1023, b\ the completion ol the Otira luiiuel. At the present time there is a good demand for rimu and kahikatea. which the sawmillers have no ditiiculty in meeting. 'I he total out [tut of sawn timber for the year was (11,021,030 superficial feet, being an increase ol 17,713.133 over last year. The timber comprised .13.07)7,33(1 sup. ft. of rinni : 21.7)17).200 of kahikatea: Kagus fusen. 170. GOO; silver-pine. 3.3,000; totara. •11,300; and. matai. 2(1,100. 01 this output 30,(171,203 stio. ft. came off Crown bands, 10,7)7,7,101 from private land, and 3,(;07>.031 from provisional State lore.st.

The total quantity of limber exported beyond New /.calami during the year was 23,7)70,77)7 sup. ft., consisting of rimu, haliikalca, ami bag',is I'usea, which shows an increase id 2.21 1.020 sup. ft. over last, year’s figures. In addition to the above quantile exported t rum Westland, a total o|' 1.312.230 sup. ft. was sent to Australia via (1 rev mouth from the Nelson Hist riet.

The following quantities of timber were railed to the east. enasL through the Otira Tunnel: (.hinder ending 3tltb September, 1023,. 2.100.000 sup. ft. ; quarter ending 31st December, 1023. 7.1 10.200 Min. ft. : quarter muling 31st .March. 1021. 3.120,300 sun ft. ; total, 17.032,000 sun. ft. Timber nriees tier 100 silt). It. i. (I rev imuil It are as Oilin',vs: I’imu - Clean heart. 30s 32 s ; d ressi tig-qua til V lieart. 2"is t(i 20:-: imildiug heart, 20.. t,, 21s: it '.in O.l!.. 2Us 1 21 s : ilressing o.l!.. ISs m 10s : 0.1’,.. 13- lid In I IsOtl. Kahikatea-- Kir-ts (average), 27)s : seconds average Ins Oil.

(mid-dredging.—’flic American tmldd ('edging Company, operating at Ilium flat, obtained I 1 .37,H0/.. "t m’bt dur in;; (hi* yrar. Am men «'i -•*' acres was «1 1'» •«1 1 '* *ll - I I"' c:-i ••• J dm .*loniii'jnt.s at- \ alhejdta n *■* dal put 11 *;»1 «.*i‘lo 1 i:.e, I >i: L it is tnulcrlsood lha! the <•' >i* * - p;mv in:iy shortly i: n« 1« *ri:* !i t url Im*i* «.;<)!({-ini imj; onerat ions mi an area jnsl smith ol Hess. The IJinm Hal operations an* expected to cuntiimui* lor at lea * t thirty hvo years to come.

Land op:*n lor srlortioit. Xo lain! was opened lor seleel ion l»y ballot during tin* year. An urea ol ‘2.2 IS acres was taken itt) imdi*r various tenures on permanent titles. Land Hoard Work.—Twelve monthly meetings wore hold during the* yoar. as scheduled, oroiipyin;.; ono lull day each. The Hoard dealt with ihroo applications lor land, l.’U Iranxiers, liliy-live applications i» y discharged soldiers lor advances, tratislors, postponements, etc., together with an exceptionally larj.;e volume ol miseellaneous work.

Revenue si ml A rreni's. —The Intel jrross 1-ovi‘imc* from .-ill smims (ineludine; Disehurgod Soldiers SolDemoni Ar(nimt) during the your umountod U>

CP.PfM, and arrears of rout 21.100, being a. slight decrease compared with

last year's figures. A fair proportion of tile amount is dt.e by - discharged soldiers. Every effort is being made to still further reduce the amounts outstanding.

band remaining for Selection.—An area of 3,G27> acres of bush laud has been selected for offering anil will he open for selection shortly after the end of the present financial year. The land is situ.i 1 oil on the Old .Marsdeu Road. neat' (,'reymnuth. It is level and hilly, of fair quality, and will be offered on the renewable lease tenure. Drainage operations at ilarihati, tinder cite control of the Chief Drainage Kngineer, in respect of an area of 333 acres of Crown land, tire almost complete, and, a scheme of subdivision having been approved, the land should be available for oecumtiion in the near future. The area appears to be drying up well. The preliminary lielii-work in , Dunecliuu with an investigatieu of large swaiito areas' in the far south has now been completed, and nlaiis ami reports are in the course of preparation. The on!v settlements in the Westland are Kokatahi and I’oertta. Doth these have been very successful. All 1 1.,, settlers arc engaged in dairying. They are in a nourishing condition, most of them being now practically independent.

PANDER AND SON’?'. KI'CALYI’TI EXTRACT can bo obtained at a! chemists and stores. There is m reason for putting up with inform: brands, because von can obtain “SANDER’S,” which is not only recognised by the highest. Medical Authorities, but proved by the Supreme Court, Melbourne, the best. SAN DER’s EXTRACT is unequalled for colds, influenza, diarrhoea, flatulence: locally for wounds, burns, ulcers, piles itching, and chilblains. Insist on SANDER’S, and benefit.