Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 565, 18 January 1929, Page 2

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN’S Correspondent*)

INSPECTION OF CROWN LANDS NORTH AUCKLAND TOUR Mr. O. X. Campbell. Commissioner of Crown Lands for North Auckland, accompanied by Mr. J. Steedman. Crown lands ranger, and Cr. F. Wordsworth, riding member for the Hobson County Council, made an inspection on Wednesday of the Te Kuri block of Crown land, comprising over 8,000 acres, situated near Tangaihi, with a view of obtaining firsthand information of the value of the block. The party, under the guidance of Mr. G. Schick, made a 35-mile tour through Messrs. Schick and Rikys’s properties and the Crown land area adjoining, as far south as Tangitiki. Yesterday they inspected the area along the foreshore, and last evening Messrs. Campbell and Steedman left for Whangarei where, with Mr. R. D. Campbell, Conservator of Forests, they will inspect the area of sand dunes between Ruakaka and Waipu, which the Forestry Department has been planting as a protective measure for the Crown Lands Department. Next week Mr. Campbell will attend a conference of Commissioners of Crown Lands called by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. G. W. Forbes.

KAIPARA RIVER BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED The Kuipara River • Drainage Board, election look place ill the IVoodhill Hall yesterday. The successful candidates were:— Messrs. A. Burrell, of IVaimauku: D. T Hyland, of Rewiti; s. Phillips, of Wliarepapa: J. King, of Woodhill; J. G. J[a< Donald, of Woodhill. Unsuccessful can didates were Messrs. T. Loughnap and AV. Neil. The object of the board is to clear the Kumen River, the bed of which has x—rapidly raised by the growth of willow sandhiUs.* 5 “” d W * Shed db ™ palaf r^ r dh^ d -;,',d rS R4 r ftlf a a'„d Wl ;r: maifl-*u eXtent areas in Huapai and ’Wai- ** is thought it will be necessary to ns* a dredge to remove the silt for abom three miles south of Helensville it i c intended to straighten the river ’ In nn, instance a canal a quarter of a mile in mSfily TwL mnest" river bv NORTHCOTE NOTES Advice having been received by the Northcote Borough Council that the members of the 'Slain Highways Board will be making a tour of inspection in the North and that they will include Northcote in their itinerary early in February, the council has decided to hold a Special meeting on January 21 with the object of making arrangements for the inspection of the main highways in the borough. The council will also formulate thr policy to be laid before the members of the board in respect to the increased subsidy required to complete the permanent laying-out of the Lake and Onewa Roads. The decision of the Birkenhead Borough Council to permanently lay down in concrete Onewa Road, and also /ha: of the Waitemata County Council tb do Lake Road to where these two roads enter into their boundaries, has added greater interest to the question, and th*council is hopeful of a favourable viewbeing taken of the importance of link ing up, and thus completing the whole of the highways in the borough. ♦ * * The Northcote and Birkenhead branch of the Labour Party met last evening. The social activities of the v>arty win be a feature of this year’s activities. A large number of members and friends are anticipating a pleasant reunion with the Auckland Centre at th* annual picnic to Pine Island on Sunday Prepaartions are well in hand for the completion of the footpaths on that section of the main highways which ha> been laid down in concrete. The necessary material is tn hand, and in the course of a few days the sprayer for sealing purposes is expected to be delivered when the work will then be proceeded with at once.* • m * The strawberry season is practically over, and although growers have had the advantage of copious rains, which resulted in larger crops, the trices have been disastrous, and the season is described as the worst for years, owing to the latter cause. In very few cases have the growers shown receipts above expenditure occurred up to the marketing of their berries, while several large growers have shown a deficit. Already several growers have abandoned growing for the next reason, but the calling is of such a speculative character that the vacancies are fi’.led by new gvowers, who realise that with a good season the chances of a remunerative return are worthy of the work that the cultivation entails.