LANDS REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1925, Page 4

LANDS REPORT.

CONDITIONS IN WESTLAND. ANNEAL REVIEW. The Commissioner of Crown Lands for Westland (Mr W. T. Morpeth) in his annual report to the .Minister states: — THE WEATHER. Weather conditions in Westland for the year ending March Al, 192:>, have been favourable for farming operations. The rainfall for Hokitika was 133.38 m., and there were 2,024 hours of sunshine. The average rainfall may lie put down at 120 in. and the average sunshine at ‘2OOO hours. The rainfall is thus 13in. and the sunshine twentyLliroe hours above the average. The winter was mild, and there was an average spring, with the result that green and while crops are very good, ami there is an abundance both of gras, and winter feed. It is to be regretted that the Waitalia Dairy Factory lias ceased operations, the local cream being now sent to the central factory at Hokitika, -Id miles distant. It is an instance ol the growing vogue ol motor-lorry traction that the company should collect, supplies so far away from headquarters. At the same time it seems strange that the settlers should not prefer to have the factory ill their midst and on the spot. There has been an advance of from As to os a hundred for ox beet on last year’s prices, hut none on heifer or cow beef. Prime ox brought up to -10 s, medium ox from 25s to A,os, prime heifer from 2.s (id to A.is, medium heifer from 25s to AOs. and cow beef linn', l.ls to Ags (id a hundred. Yoalors and runners imnle exceptionally goml prices for the year, in many eases up to A2s lid a hundred. The average would he about 255. One teature ol the vear's entries was the exceptional number ot tat cows yarded, which is regarded as an indication of several farmers going out ot dairying. I here has keen a very firm market for sheep. Only in a few cases farmers have increased their stuck holdings Inr mutton purposes. ’Hie latub increase was absorbed by the free.-ittg works in Christchurch, and for the first time in the history of the West Coast growers sold lamb at per pound in the paddock, in mtinv cases receiving up to 12.1(1. In the local yards wether mutton made up to Sjd per pound weight, and very little, if any, brought less than (i.UI per pound. Ewe mutton ranged in price from old to ATd per lb. Lambs in open market did not fetch prices equal to those received from buyers lor 1 feezing purposes. LIME WORKS. The lime work's al Ross and Kokatalti are still in active operation. It is satisfactory to note that many tanners have discovered that lop-dressing by lime, etc., will produce better results in this district than heavy cultivation. The Ross Company has had a hard struggle to keep going, hut a policy of careful management, energy, and economy has been inaugurated, and under die present management the success of. the company should he assured. TIMISKR. The total output of sawn timber from all mills operating in Westland for the year was 7A.1A7.A10 superficial feet, being an increase of 5.213,910 superficial feet over the previous year, ; oji| ;i record for any one year. The niai ki.'l uiiiard* the end ot the year, however, was -liim-W hat dull, as the following summary ol the quarti-rlv returns will show: (blatter ending -I it no :;u. 1021. 15.11H6.135, slip. It.; quarter ending .September AO. 102-1. 20,001.000 sup. It.; quarter ending December Al. 1021, !0,-Hi7>. 11)0 sup. ft.: quarter ending March Al. 1021, 11,721.700 sup. 11. The timber comprised 50.322,1 * II t. of Hum. 21.*2*.957 ft. of kahiksitost. 2*0,3971t of Eagtts In sea. 96,00011 of silver pine. 7O.A<toft. of 1.-tarn, and 111.1 t)ot t. of nuit-ai. (11 this output. A7.OM .S.lltt i. wore out I min Crown in,,A-. 22.(b 17.20011. tmm private land', and i A, lAS.S*2IT. Imni State loi esl. The quantity of limber exported beyond New /(-aland during the year was 21,-101.012 sup. ft. comprising llie following:- Kahikatea, 10.*23,0.u slip, ti ; rimu -L'lAA.oSti sup. It : 1-agus lusi-a RIA.AAO supcrlicu-.l !eet. I his return sliows a decrease ol 2,014.."d0 sap. It. in comparison with the previous year's return. In addition to the above quantity exported from Westland, there were -1 (1. < 1 sup. ft. from the Nelson district exported to Australia via Creymotit h. The return from the Nelson district shows an increase ot OOi.DA sup. It. over 111-' previous year’s return. I he timber exported to Australia was classed as follows: —l-1 per cent, clean ' O.IL, 00 per cent, rough O.l!., 2-1 per cent, "shorts.” There is a steady demand lor limit in Australia, more so than in the Dominion. There is no 1 1 11 ii1 11 at all that the opening of the (Kira Tunnel stimulated the industry. | During the year IA.OAAJMI sup. ft. ' passed through the tunnel. Present ' prices of timber per 101.1 sup. It, Grevmoiitli. are as follows, subject to trade 1 and cash diseounts: Kiinu, clean heart 1 ASs to -t 1 s ; dressing quality heart, 20' (id to A2s ; building heart . 21s (id to 235; clean O.IL, 25s to 2l!s (id; ilress--1 ing quality O.IL, 21s (id to 22s (id; 1 O.IL. l-ls (id to Los (ifl; .kahikatea ' firsts, 255; kahikatea seconds. 15s (id. Four new mills started cutting during 1 the year, while three were closed and ' one burnt, making eighty-two mills in operalinn. COI.D-DR EDGING. 1 'There Inis been a notable revival of gold-dredging in the district during the ye;u-. Probably encouraged I>v the success of the American dredge operating at Rimu Elat, mining experts from Auckland and Dunedin have made application for prospecting areas in South M ost hi lid and in 1 Inh.onu (list riel. These have been granted, olid in one case a a dredge is being erected. Other local parties have applied for prospecting areas at Okarito and Gillespie's. The . American company has recently eom- > pk-ted an exhaustive test tit Awatuna ; ) but, though the ground is definitely > auriferous, results did not justify the i erection of a dredging plant, the margin i of profit being too narrow. I understand the company propose shortly to t make application for further prospect- ' ing areas. 'The amount of gold re--1 covered at Rimu Flat, during the year was 99300 z., valued at X' (2,000, and an area of 1* acres lias been dredged. The total amount of gold recovered to date by this company is valued at XI 65,000. HON EY-P RO DECTION. During the past year many inquiries have been made and areas applied for for apiary-sites in Westland, consequent no doubt, on the successful operations of those already engaged in the honey industry. One apiary at Berrytown turned out 9 tons of honey, valued at £SOO, whilst others have had quite a successful year. The native Lush, especially rata and kainahi. of which there is practically an unlimited quantity in Westland, is the main source of the honey-supply. From present indications this industry, which mav he considered to la? permanently established, promises to he an extensive and profitable one. REV KNEE AND ARREARS. The total gross revenue for the year from all sources (including Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account) amounted to £61,973. The rent roll amounted to £3,760. and the arrears of rent £1.696. an increase on last year’s figures. due mostly by soldier settlers. •

Every effort is being made to collect amounts outstanding. LAND OPEN FOR SELECTION. Arens totalling 3,037 acres were opened for selection by ballot during the year, and 3,133 acres were taken up under various tenures utt permanent title. LAND HOARD. Twelve monthly meetings were held during the year, as scheduled, occupying one full day each. Tim Hoard dealt with 101 applications for land, 132 transfers and exchanges, 97 applications by discharged .soldiers for advances, transfers, postponements, etc., together with an exceptionally large volume of miscellaneous work. LAND REMAINING FOR SELECTION. An area of 1,705 acres resumed from Run 2715 is now being prepared lor selection and will he available some time during the current year. ’The land is situated close to the Main South Road, between the Fox and Cook Rivers; it is all level land of good quality, and trill he offered on renewable lease tenure. A further area of 333 acres, comprising good swamp and at Harihari, over which drainage opcTatiotts hv the Land Drainage Engineer were completed during the past year, is now available for offering. Tn addition to the above, an area of 2,208 acres, comprising isolated areas and township sections, will also he available almost immediately.