GOOD PROGRESS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 494, 30 March 1933, Page 5

GOOD PROGRESS

TWO YEARS' WORK REPORT GIVES DETAILS OF SETTLEMENT OF MAORI LAND BIG AREAS OCCUPIED The report of the Native Lands Department makes available some very interesting particulars with regard to the development of native lands in the Rotorua district. The facts revealed prove most convincingly that some very fine work has been accomplished and that a large area of good land has been put into profitable occupation. The results achieved are not only important from the standpoint of district progress, but they are of outstanding importance to the Maori race. Land has been made available in suitable areas for individual farming operations and it is gratifying to . see that the natives are "malcing good" in the great majority of cases. A few years ago this land was wilderness; to-day it is supporting many families and contributing largely to the wealth production of the country. Details of the development show that the following areas have been broken in up to March 31, 1932: — Horohoro. — Developed, 10,896 acres; still to he developed, 6150; cost, £34,114. Parekarangi. — Developed, 2868 acres; still to be developed, 1570 acres; cost £4570. Peka. — Developed, 1364 acres; still to bo developed, 1100 acres; costs, £2940. Mourea. — Developed, 3019 acres; still to be developed, 2800 acres; cost, £12,769. Maketu. — Developed,- 1204 acres; still to be developed, 1150; cost, £7159. Te Puke. — Developed, 422 acres; still to be developed, 400 acres; cost, £1638. Motiti Island. — Developed, 852 acres; still to be developed, 800 acres; cost, £298. Brents Farm. — Developed, 335 aeres; still to be developed, 330 acres; cost, £2948. Waipapa Bush.— Developed, 91 acres; still to develop, nil; cost, £3461. The Pioneer Block ^ The Horohoro block was the pioneer block of the whole development scheme on the pumice lands and it was able to show for the second year of its development and the expenditure of £34,114, sufficient enclosed pasture for twenty-three settlers and ground prepared for eleven more; cottages for 28 families; nearly eight miles .of internal roading to give aeeess to proj'ected allotments formed 'without the assistance of the Public Works Department; ring fencing and sub-divisional fencing amounting to 445 miles; nearly two and a-half miles nftshelter belts double-fenced; 450 tons of hay and 152 acres of swedes in readiness for dairy herds, and a selected farm population of 50 men, of whom more than half were in occupation of grassed and enclosed allotments. The total population was 140 and in two years there was not a single death. Parekarangi block adjoins Horohoro and is situated about six miles from Rotorua on the Atiamuri Road. The land here is fairly steep iand loose, and a policy of consolidation by heavy cattle grazing is being adopted. The Peka block is a continuation of the Parekarangi and carries the Maori land development in the district riglit down to the Hemo Gorge, within two miles of Rotorua. The Mourea and Tikitere areas are of a different quality of soil and the cost of breaking in has been higher than on the purely pumice country, but better results are expeeted when in full cultivation. The land has been well stocked with sheep and cattle. General development work is being proceeded with at Maketu, which is a place of much historic value to the natives. Still Further Progress It must be remembered that the report quoted covers operations nearly

a year old. Smce it was written much further progress has been made. The areas developed have been enlarged, more families have been settled, farming operations extended and improvements effected. On Horohoro, dairying is in full swing, the milk from nearly 500 cows reaching the market. Dairying has also commenced on the Tikitere block, but is so far only in the initial stages. With the continuance of the steady progress hitherto made it is not diffieult to forecast a growing volume of production from these erstwhile barren wastes in the very near future, which will he of immense benefit to the 'native race and the town of Rotorua.