SETTLING RANGITOTO TUHUA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 184, 23 August 1909, Page 5

SETTLING RANGITOTO TUHUA.

Sections lo be Opened.

The lands en the Eastern side of the railway, stretching from close to Kihikibi right op to Taumarunui. form a

very considerable portion of the King Country. Hitherto, settlement, both on Crown and Native lands, has chiefly been confined to that portion of the district which lies between the Main Trunk line and the Western seaboard. Within the past few years, however, portions of the Eastern lands have been gradually acquired by the Government from the Natives, and in one or two instances lands have been leased direct from the Native owners by Europeans. Still, it may be said that settlement in the tru* sense of the term has not yet touched the great block of country known as the Rangi-toto-Tohoa. Roads are foreign to it, and Maori occupation is practically unknown except in one or two localities on the fringe of civilixstion. A great fertile country watered by beautiful streams has lain for countless years awaiting the efforts of the 1 settler to transform it from a wilderness—albeit a fair wKderncss— into a productive land sustaining hundreds of families and contributing towards the general prosperity of the country. Considerable portions of this country having now been acquired by the Government, settlement ia at last to be commenced, and various survey parties are at present hard at work under Mr Galhraitb. .subdividing the blocks and laying off roads through them. The area at present being dealt with ag- ' grcgates about 10,000 acres, and the sections will average from 100 to 200 i acrt-s. Tbe land for the most part consists of mixed fern and bush. and. according to quality and position, will probably be valued by the Government at from 25s to 40s an acre. It is intended by the Government to have the sections ready for opening early in October, and the work of road construction can be pushed ahead vigorously during the succeeding summer months. The sections are to be open for application by the retrenched civil servants and the unemployed, and will be offered under improved farm settlement conditions, with the optional tenore. The assistance rendered to the settlers under this system, together with work at road construction, should enable the right class of man to progress satisfactorily, and win a home and independence for himself under reasonable conditions. It means work and frugal living, but the man who is afraid of either cannot be provided for by any mortal agency, and Providence has proverbially no use for those who wilt not help themselves. An important feature r>f the new settlement is the manner and position in which the roads will give access to the railway. and it is to be hoped the new road system will provide for tapping the chief railway centres, and giving the new settlers proper access to the local markets. As far as the lands at the Southern end of the projected settlement are concerned the natural centre is undoubtedly TV Kuiti, and a main road will probably be constructed through Te Ahuroa to that centre. A road already projected by the County Council from Te Kuiti wilt trover** the Te Kuiti and Kainpntka block? : towards Te Ahuroa and by laying off a road from the new settlement to meet , this road a fine stretch of country would be tapped, and the best possible access to the railway obtained. The ten thousand acres at present being opened op is comprised of a number of small blocks, varying in size < from about SOO acres to aboout 3000 acres, and dotted ov.-r a very large | area. Some idea of the distance sen- , arating the extreme ends of the settlement may be gathered from the fact that altogether about fifty miles of roads are now being laid off. In the vicinity there still remains j much unsettled land, both Crown and Native owned, the Crown areas aggregating, it is said, about sixty thousand acres. As to tbe result of the ? ettling of these lands, let those who would form a correct estimate ride round a few miles to study the quality and contour of the district Then let them study a map showing the extent of settlement yet to be undertaken. To those possessing any knowledge of the growth of districts the experience must carry conviction that this district is pregnant with immense possibilities. Our pioneers can take heart of grace, and carry on tbe good work of development to the otmost of their capacity. W* are but on the threshold of pro- j gress, and with each succeeding year, ani each further acre of land brought under the influence of intelligent human effort, the prosperity and importance of our district will increase; our town centres will develop into thriving and populous centres, and our rural lands will become famed throughout the country, not as at present for their potentialities, but for their actual producing capacity, and their contribution to the National wealth.