TRANSFORMING WASTE LANDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3702, 11 October 1927, Page 2

TRANSFORMING WASTE LANDS.

WHAT CAN BE DONE.

For many years the Target Reserve, between the Round Bush and the racecourse had proved of little value from a revenue point of view to the Council, comprising for the great part, sand drift. A few years ago., however, Messrs Evans Bros.

leased this reserve and subsequently sub-leased portion of it to some Chinese! for the purposes of market gardening. The Council in approving of the sub-lease, stipulated that the lessors should deposit the sum of £SO with the Council as a bond that the ground would be revitalised at the termination of the sublease. At last month’s Council meeting Messrs Evans Bros, made application for the return of the deposit, and the matter was referred to the Reserves Committee. At last night’s meeting that Commitee reported that they had inspected the property, and recommended the return of the deposit. The Mayor said that the transformation of the Target Reserve from a. waste to good farm land was little short of marvellous. The lessees .deserved praise for their excellent work on the reserve.

The report was adopted. The above is an indication of what can be done by scientific treatment- of so-called poor land around Foxton when occupied by enterprising settlers. Messrs Evans Bros, now have a largo area of the reserve sown in Algerian oats and grass, which is coming away well.