DEVELOPMENT AT TOKOROA.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 44, 21 August 1924, Page 2

DEVELOPMENT AT TOKOROA.

the matar aw a company. Sixteen Dairy Farms. The Matarawa Land Co.’s clearing* sale at Tokoroa on August 5 and 6 was noteworthy in more ways than one. Firstly, according* to the auctioneers, Dalgety and Co., Ltd., it was one of the largest sales of dairy stock held in the Waikato and would probably hold the record for some seasons past, but, secondly, and of' far greater importance, it marks a very definite measure of success in a bold pioneering* venture in the Upper Waikato. The sale was the result of the Matarawa Company having* sold a big* area of its improved country, subdivided into separate dairy farms, to individual dairy farmers, mostly from Taranaki.

The company, which has so far been the leading* pioneer venture at Tokoroa, took up a total of BSOO acres there.. In i.f; virgin state this was by far not the most inviting block in the Upper Waikato, but it was of very fcasy contour and the Taupo Totara Timber Co.’s railway ran right through it. The township of Tokoroa was cut out of the block, and starting* operations at the far end, the company put large areas of this rather desolate looking* ground under the plough. With phosphoric manure, it gave good crops oi* swedes and also very heavy growths of clover, while with top-dressing* and stocking* good mixed pastures were established and followed swede and clover crops. On this pasture t-he company undertook dairying, subdividing* the land, erecting the necessary homesteads and outbuildings, providing water by bores where streams were not available, etc. These individual farms were later sold. Altogether, the company has now sold , a total of 2400 acres to 16 settlers, an average of about 150 acres per settler. In all the company has put about half its block in grass now, and is proceeding* with the work of breaking* in the remaining* 4000 acres. To this end some 500 to 600 acres were ploughed out of the virgin state during* the past winter. Hawke’s Bay capital and enterprise comprise the Matarawa company, of which Mr. J. B. Campbell, Havelock North, is the chairman, and for which Mr. J. Campbell is manager at Tokoria. Following* the success attained by this company in handling* land of this ! nature, capital is now being sought in England for similar development on a large scale on further country in this locality, and also for timber milling* and afforestation.