The MINISTER of LANDS.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 45, 17 January 1902, Page 5

The MINISTER of LANDS.

IN THE RIWAKA DISTRICT.

[communicated.]

Mr Daniel Bate, Chairman of the

Riwaka RDad Board, met the Hon. T,

Y. Duncan and party at the Waiinea County boundary, Riwaka-Takaka hill road, on Monday afternoon, taking charge of the Hon. gentleman and driving him through to Motueka. The Minister was agreeably surprised as to the quality of the land from Upper Takaka to the top of the hill, and judging by the quantity of feed on the road side as well as the large patches of oot and white clover, knee deep Hon the hill sides where- fires have ocsaid he was quite satisfied as to The sheep carrying capacity of the said country, if felled and grassed. MiBate pointed out to the Minister that the land on the hill side, excepting the freehold near the foot on the Takaka side and a considerable area on the Riwaka. side, had been set apart as a forest reserve. Unfortunately, fires have made breaches into it in numerous places, and is now more liable to be further fired, which lias destroyed its usef nines-; as a forest reserve. He (Mr Bate) reeommended to the Minister that it be again thrown open .for selection. The Minister, seeing that it would be useless now as a reserve, concurred, and said when arriving at Nelson he would inspect a plan of the locality and approach the Com - missimer of Crown .Lands on the subject. The Mini-ter was very much pleased with.the quality of the laud at Banfield's and Pattie's clearings ; the abundance of grass at each of those places, and on road side between them, was, he said, really marvellous. At the latter place a halt was made tolenable Mr Duncan to enjoy the magnificent view t > be obtained from that point, of Kiwaka, Motueka, Moutere, aii'l last, but not least, the sea, which at this spot has the appearance of an expensive lake. The Minister at this place selected a piece of marble to take f nil with him. Oa nearing the foot of \ the hill at Riwaka, Mr Bate drew his [ attention to the Riwaka valley, where \ two sawmills are in full operation, ! pointing out the necessity for Government assistance being given by grant- ; iag a sum of money to improve the )' t v >ad. to enable the industry to be suc- ?/ ces-tfullv carried on. ; Mr Bate also po'nted out the advi^a- * bllitv of extending the Road (a bridle track) up the s uth branch of the Riwaka river, to ope i up a large block of O own laud, rough but good sheep c >u ltry. The minister intimated that, where Crow 1 lands where available, it wii-i the p >liey of the Government to m ike it acje-is ble by roads. needful works required in the M )tueka riding were also pointed out: —Kiiteriteri Riad.togive access to lease in perbeturity lands and other Crown sections : bridge at the Baton ; alsi bridge at Alexander's Bluff. Vote-; have bee 1 placed on the estimates for these works, and Mr Bate fie est > oil the Minister that authority uld be give 1 .for the commencement thes*. work-; .it.au early date. Oa a riving at Riwaka and viewing the hop gardens, raspberry plantations a \d other fruit gardens, fields of grain a. id green paddocks, with neat, well b lilt homesteads, the Minister remarked " lucky people whose lot cast them on such a fertile spot." Another short halt was'made at Mr Bates, to enable the Minister to look at a large walnut tree growing in the gr-den, a splendid specimen and without a doubt the largest in New Zealand. The Hon. gentleman said he had travelled t.ie c >V>ny pretty well all

over-, and had seen some very fine ones, but this one capped them all. He thought it well worth his while if he had made the journey on purpose to see it.

Resuming the journey through Riwaka, he noticed with pleasure the neat buildings, well kept gardens and fine orchards, with a good show of fruit. Special notice was taken of Mr Budden's small but well kept nursery. A slight halt was made on the Motueka bridge, and here Mr Bate pointed out to the Minister the river encroachment on the Riwaka side. The grant for this work, Mr Bate was informed, has been re-voted. After a few more minutes' drive the well known Motueka Hotel was sighted, where Mr R. McKenzie, with Mr Duncan's private secretary, had arrived a little earlier.