EXCELLENT DAIRYING COUNTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1925, Page 1

EXCELLENT DAIRYING COUNTRY

A Vi SITU It’S IMPRESSIONS. A representative of the “Guardian” yesterday waited on Air D. C. Bates of Christchurch, who besides taking an interest in legal matters has taken a life-long interest in stock and general farming. Air Bates who is at present milking his second visit to the Coast during the past few months is very much impressed with the possibilities of the country) for grazing and dairying purposes, lie lias very carefully investigated the class of land found round Kokatalii and Koiterangi, and is astonished that- so little is known in Canterbury about the real value of such areas as grazing country. Another matter that he thinks is not sufficiently understood on the East Coast is the geniality of the climate in AVe.stla.ml. For instance, the fact that the snow line on the West is about "00ft. higher up than on the East is a guarantee that the temperatures are milder than those of Canterbury. This, together with the steadier rainfall easily accounts for the remarkable greenness of the whole countryside and the luxuriant growth of grasses and clovers on the free soils predominating. As to Koiterangi, Air Bates was emphatic regarding the possibilities of much closer settlement. The land lie thought was better than much about Kaiapoi and more like- the best to he seen near Tni Tapu. The fact that a shingle road has already been commenced near the Gorge, and that from the main road, in tlie other direction, the local authority has already commenced the making of a real I v good drain, was evidence. he thought, that the County Council recognised the great- importance of good roads in tlie development of rich pasture country.

With the building of comfortable homes the output of the district could he tremendously increased. That the land would respond to cultivation was evident in many directions, and. that settlers, already established, found a profitable return for their work was clearly in evidence hy the comfortable type of dwelling they were at present living in. Dairying and glazing were permanently productive industries as compared witli mining, and Mr Bates expressed the opinion that no C.'.nulv Council would refuse reasonable help in the reading oT such prospectively productive blocks ol land. Hie general appearance of stock was most gratifying. Sheep, cattle and horses all seemed to he. doing well in the abundance of feed. Tn some cases, perhaps, the rigid kind of stock was not always selected, hut this could easily he rectified and hy the introduction of mole sturdy types, excellent, herds could he developed.

Hesides 'tin' sprout natural advantages of climate. soil anil accessibility. there wore at least two other features that would' encourage energetic moil from Canterbury. Ou(' was certainly tli<> hospitable welcome always extended bv the West Coaster, and the other was the grandeur of the scenery. The forest clad mountains and the snow clad peaks of the Southern Alps made the strongest appeal to the blast Coasters. The views to be seen from the districts near Hokitika were amongst the finest in the Dominion, and the time would eomo when the successful settler would have more time to give to that appreciation which this feature of the West Coast so richly deserved. In Mr Dates’ party was MV 0. D. Allen, the headmaster oi the Sumner District Hi fill School, who is a great admirer of the rare pictures to he seen at almost every turn of the. road in Hie journey from Cass to vheWaiho Gorge. Mr Allen accompanied the pa,-tv in their trip to the pasture lands up the Hokitika river and was greatly impressed with the wealth of herbage at present calling for herds of stock.