PROGRESS OF PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4920, 30 December 1925, Page 4

PROGRESS OF PLAINS.

A YEAR’S RETROSPECTION. EVENTS IN THE DISTRICT. On looking back over the year that is just drawing to an end it is seen that for the Hauraki Plains it has on the whole been one of slow’ but steady and unmistakable progress. The outward signs of progress, have not been as marked as during some of the previous years, but individuals realise that the turning point after the lean years has been passed and the leeway is being made up. Unlike the previous few years, the rainfall) hats’ been below the average and no disastrous floods have been experienced. The rain has been fairly evenly distributed, with a good winter and spring, so that farms are slowly coming back to that state which made the Hauraki Plains famous,. An indication of this is the large increase in the ot'uput of the vari&us dairy factories, as compared with the decreased production of the Dominion as a w h ole.

One season is very Like every other normal season so far as farm work is concerned, and the past year on the Plains has been a normal one. There has been few changes in routine, though there its’ much less cropping this year than last year. This has not been thought necessary,-on account of the abundance of feed and the general improvement in the health of- the farm stock.

A marked change has been noticed in the attitude of settlers towards the question of flax farming, possibly due to the activities of numerous agents, who are endeavouring to sell jshares in flax-growing and milling companies that are being formed. Unfor’unately these public companies intend operating in other districts. Two- new flaxm'llp. have been opened on the Plains during the year, and further rapid and widespread developments are expected. Increasing areas are being planted in flax, and existing stands of native flax are being carefully conserved instead of being ' ruthlessly destroyed, as. in< previous years. . A flax-growers’ association was formed at Kaihere early in the year, and though so far it has done little, it is recognised as a step in the right direction. PUBLIC WORKS.

Compared- with previoub years, there lias been- less new road work undertaken, but what is better is that greater attention has been paid to maintenance of existing roads. Due to the grading and formation work undertaken on tlie clay roads at the latter end of last, summer, they were in better order during the winter than during many previous, winter;-. Tlie small amount of maintenance work done on the metalled roads has proved the wisdom of protecting tlie huge capital expentiture by a small annual outlay at the proper time. Much more maintenance .will have to be done in tlie future if the roads are to stand up to the ever-increasing amount of motor traffic, and ratepayers. will have to face an increase in their rates for thijs' purpose, for, although half the cost is met by motorists by way of the main highway subsidies, the county has. to spend money to earn these grants ; and there is no question that adequate maintenance its sx> economically sound that rates will be increased for that purpcee. The council’s quarry at Hikutaia has been reorganised and should soon be turning’ out large supplies of metal. Several moves have been made to have the roads of the Patetonga district metalled. So far nothing definite lias been done, but the matter is

not likely to be dropped. In Kerepeehi, however, an ambitious scheme of roading improvements was turned down, and so far nothing has been suggested in its, place. The notable steps in roading matters that have been taken during the past year are the sanctioning of a loan for Ihe Nctherton roads and the commencement by the Public Works Department on behalf of the Main Highways Board of the metalling of the Waitakaruru-Pokeno main highway. Slow progress has" been made throughout the year by the Lands Drainage Department with the metalling of the Ngarua road, and it is expected that the work will be expedited during the next few months. The claying of the Torehape road should be completed shortly. The bitumenbound road from Tuma to Orongo has been completed during Che year, and a iLtart will be made shortly with the work on Piako Road. The bitumensealing of Huira.u Road has been completed, and a small, stretch of the Kopuarahj-Orongo road has been metalled.

Bridging matters have advanced little during the year, and the prospect of a ferry at Pipiroa is about the same as at this, time last year.

Practically nothing has been heard during the year of the proposed water supply scheme for the district from Waitakaruru to Ngatea, except that the sanction of 'the ratepayers hais been obtained. This was a fo-regone conclusion. It will be remembered that ,the scheme was, anticipated to be in operation for the 1923-24 summer.

The Horahia Drainage Board lias functioned for a little over a year, and has maintained tlie drains in its area in belter order and at less cost than previously, and early tn the non year a poll of ratepayers "ill be taken on a scheme for providing increased drainage facilities. No amicable arrangement has been arrived ( at between the two drainage boards operating alongside each other, and it is probable that a commission will be set up at no distant date to settle the differences. A proposal to have a drainage district constituted west of ■1 lie Piako River was mooted early in the year, but so far it has not materialised, although tlie mere suggestion of the settlers assuming control has had a certain beneficial effect. G O VERN MENT DEPARTMENTS. During the year 1924 them was so much activity and extension in the Government departments on the Plains that- the requirements, of the year under review were provided for. Ngatea’s progress can be gauged by the fact that the High School was officially opened during 1924'and now additioiiis’ to the building are urgently required. The Ngatea post office w.as officially opened during the year, and a telephone exchange was established at Waitakaruru. Underground cables have been substituted for aerial wires at Turua and Ngatea. Kaibei’e will probably have a new post office in tlie near future. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. Building activity has been general all, over the Plains, but, except at Kerepeebi, not to the same extent as during the previous year. Two new shops have ben opened a*. Ngatea., and there are isho-ps under construction at Ngatea, Waitakaruru, and Turua. PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS. A new church has. been opened at Kerepeehi during the year, and a rcsidnee tor the Anglican, vicar at Turua is under construction. A Roman Catholic Church is to be built at Turua in the near future. A branch of tlie Plunket Society h.as been established at Turua, and there is talk of

a branch being formed 3 at Waitakaruru.

Early in the year- a building was provided at Ngatea for a school dental clinic tor the Plains, and it was anticipated that a nurse would be provided at the time .the schools opened, but so far no appointment hais bene made on account of the shortage of qualified women. Nothing has been heard of the proposed hospital at Kerepeehi during the year, and very little in connection with the Hauraki Plains A. and P. Association. THE FUTURE. This retrospection nas not shown the same rapid strides as in previous years ; l.mt something has been <:ttempted and something has been done, and so long as an elfoi't iis made to attempt something, tilings will be done. The future can be looked forward to with confidence.