MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 27 June 1919, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

There is something in the nature of a land boom on the Hauraki Flatus, and farmers from Manawatu, Taranaki and the South Island are buying in. Sales have been rising steadly fill the las! fortnight, when deals aggregating £15(1.01)0 -were put through, these figures being taken from the actual transfer of 20 farms, averaging in the vicinity of £7O per acre. At present only one-third of the Hauraki Plains, 80,000 acre.-, has been, brought under (he ballot, and a good deal of tho occupied land is unimproved; yet last year the dairy production was over £150,000, and, in addition, large numbers of stock were fattened.

Further particulars of the coal outcrop which'Mr \V. Scifert is developing in the vicinity of Fcilding are published in the "Star." The property on which the outcrop has been found is within two miles of the Fcilding Fost Office. A mining expert estimates that there are 400,000 tons of lignite under the hill. The surface indications are only fair—the Government Geologist having described them as "poor qualify lignite,'-' but it is hoped that when the mine is opened up the quality will improve and that material suitable for suction gas plants and mixing with ordinary household'coal'will be found. A tram is being laid up to the facing and a scam of -three feet is being tapped, .Fcilding doesn't expect to suffer with cold feet this winter —coaled feet i' what if expects fo have.' ■ \ •■■-.-■