PLAINS GOSSIP.

Patea Mail, 11 August 1882, Page 4

PLAINS GOSSIP.

(prom our correspondent.) Manaia. Tho approaching land sale is bringing speculators about this district, and already I could mention several who have taken houses here and in Hawera for their families, and are looking about for properties. There will be keener competition, judging from what we hear, than at any previous sales. After the first sale of land cn the Plains, it will be remembered that the prices were considered voiy high ; but there have been instance where the purchasers have sold out at double the money they paid. Indeed there’is not a single section on the Plains that could now be purchased at within £2 per acre of its original cost. It must be remembered however that the land is not, taken all through, of such quality as that which was sold at the former sale. The OeoTangatara land, for instance, is mostly covered with short flax, is very level, and at this time of year water lies on the surface, making it cold for stock. Surface drainage can be done in most places, but the creeks and watercourses ore rather sluggish. In the summer time tho grass is very good ; indeed I have seen fatter cattle running on parts of this land, especially near Tangatara, than anywhere on the coast. I should say, from my knowledge of the Oco block, that the greater portion of it has a cold bottom. At tho northern end it is in places somewhat stony. The Okaiawa land is, in the opinion cf good judges, the best on the coast, and there is a general sameness about it. It is partly bush and partly open land, with pretty .clearings interspersed,

The Otakeho land is much tho same as that beyond Oeo, but if anything has better natural drainage. The settlement of Pihama is, so far as drainage is concerned, better than all the rest ; but the bush settlement of Koinga, in from Eltham and Kaupokonui, is in a wet locality, and at present is hardly approachable on account of the bad roads.