LAND FOR SETTLEMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 13

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT

THE PUKEKURA BLOCK. WELLINGTON, June 26. The Minister of Lands (Mr E. A. Ransom) said in an interview that final arrangements had been made for offering the Pukekura block, near Hastings, which was formerly included in the well-known Te Auto Station farmed by Mr C. Athol Williams. “ The opening of the block has been delayed pending the completion of drainage works, which included the lowering of the level of the Poukawa lake to give sufficient fall for the main dredge cut which passed through the adjoining Crown land,” the Minister said. “These works have recently been satisfactorily completed, with the result that a valuable area of swamp land eminently suitable for dairying is now available for settlement.” The block, which is situated about two miles from the Opapa railway station and post, office by a good road, comprises about 3165 acres, subdivided into nine holdings, three small sheep farms containing approximately 500 acres each, and dairy farms ranging from 84 to 146 acres in area. The rentals range from £77 to £95 per half year in the case of the sheep farms and from £3l to £64 in the case of the dairy farms. The general quality of the soil is good, the hills being of limestone formation, and the flats which Border the large swamp area at the head of Poukawa Lake contain for the most part heavy rich soil now well consolidated. The land. has. been grazed under sound farm management in the past and the pasture has in no way suffered from exhaustion by over-stocking.