NORTHLAND CLIMATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 256, 19 January 1928, Page 18

NORTHLAND CLIMATE

INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE INSPECTION BY MINISTER (Special to THE SUN.) OHAEAWAI, Wednesday. The wisdom of exploiting the climatic advantages of the Northland by the growing of a variety of crops has been frequently by the Hon. O. J. Hawken, Minister of Agriculture, during his tour. « In company with tho Hon. A. ID. McLeod, Minister of Lands, Mr. Allen Bell, M.P., Mr. J. B. Thompson, Undersecretary for Lands, Mr. O. N. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands for North Auckland, and Mr. T. H. Patterson, agricultural instructor for tho Auckland the Minister, at Kertkeri, Bay of Islands, on Wednesday, witnessed an effort to develop intensive agriculture and the growing of citrus and general fruits at the Alderton group settlement of the North Auckland Land Development Corporation, which has acquired 8,000 acres of undulating bracken-covered country overlooking the bay. The party evinced the keenest interest in the project. Th© corporation will commence al- , most immediately to plant 200 acres in citrus fruits. Passion fruit will be planted on an area of 50 acres and 1,200 acres will be used for afforestation. The remainder will be cut up into small holdings of 20 to 25 acres for general settlement for the growing of early market vegetables, citrus and general fruits, and other crops, and 20 of these sections have been taken up already.