IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 414, 15 November 1911, Page 5

IMPROVED FARM SETTLEMENTS.

VISIT OF COMMISSIONER. A PROMISING OUTLOOK". Mr W. A. Armstrong, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Taranaki, and Mr Healop, a member of the Land Board, are in Te Kuiti to-d3y. Both gentleman have been on a visit to the Tangitu and Mapara Improved Farm settlements. The object of the visit to the former place was to report on the subject of financing the settlers with cows.

Chatting with a reporter this morning both gentlemen gave as their impressions that the Tangitu block would be one of the finest dairying pieces of country in Taranaki in a few years. The block comprised 20,000 acres consisting of hiliy country of no great altitude. There were over SO settlers who would be dairying in J912. and they anticipated that from 500 to 600 cows would be milked the first season. In addition to that Mr Erickson, who holds a large area adjoining the visitors heard, was going to milk 200 cows next season. They had no dobut but that in a short time there would be a couple of well equipped factories running in the district. In dealing with roais, the Commissioner pointed out that there were two essentials for the success of the dairying industry. First the reforming and pumicing of the road from Waimiha to Tangitu; second the formation of the interior roads of the settlement.

Both gentlemen were of the opinion that the settlers had arrived at that stage when assistance was necessary to enable settlers to carry'on, and make the settlement a success.

Mr Heslop remarked that there was grass in abundance, and he was certain that it would prove excellent grass country. In some places the grass was fully three feet high. The party also visited Mapara, and were very pleased with the progress being made there. We understand that the Public Works Department intend to pursue a vigorous roading policy through the Tangitu block. Up to the present the work of roading has been confined to settlers, in order to give them an opportunity of earning some money, but this proces3 has been found too slow, and it has been decided to employ outside labour to push on the work. During the summer a consideraile amount of money will be spent on roading in order that things may be made as easy as possible for the commencement of dairying.