TARANAKI'S GROWTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 135, 29 November 1911, Page 7

TARANAKI'S GROWTH.

FIGURES BY THE PREMIER. At his meeting at Inglewood on "Men--day evening, the Premier Rave a comparative statement re the TarnmVki fiistriet, showing the following increases in tiro last five years:— Population, '8770unimproved value, £3.410,470; valne of improvements, .€1,548,570; capital value of land and improvements, .€4,9ir8,V40; number of holdings, 230; area in cultivation, 103,504 acres; horses, "31O0; cattle, 24.247; dairy cows (mdnfleU in above), 9)22; sheep, 71,337; pigs, 0354; total imports. .€80.002'; totals exports, .€708,802; butter exported (3532 tons)i £22,411; cheese (182.591 tons), £41)7,014; frozen meat (90.W13 cwt.),£122,168; wool (S9S.47'.)lbs), £44,752; registered factories. 132; employees, 501- -wages paid, £40.374; honey produced, 'J2,OS3 lbs. ROADS EXPENDITURE. In regard to roads expediting since he became Prime Minister, the total amount voted was .€3,450,060. For the current year the amount voted, in addition to the above, was .€753,840. The •backblocks for the same period were voted €090,920; for the current year (in addition to the above) .£301,434"was (voted. From 1901-2 to 1010-11, the amount voted for roads and bridges, exclusive of backblocks, was £7.773,400. The amount voted included £452,2.95 for 1011-12, the unexpended portion of which was not ascertainable. In addition, the amount for roads on goTdfields •r-'ring the same period amounted to "■ ',124.049.

'Regarding the above figures it seldom " ipened that the expenditure wifii the 1-■ uncial year was anything like the lull amount of the vote. Usually public works votes were not obtained until November, and it was clearly impossible to disburse the whole amount voted More March 31. Moreover, it would be distinctly inadvisable to do this, even if it were possible, as it would mean that we would have no money for expenditure between March 31. and the date that fresh votes could be obtained, say, the 'November following.

LAXD SETTLEMENT IN TARANAKI. Talking of land settlement in the Taranaki district, Sir Joseph Ward said that during the last fi(ve years 595 selectors had taken up 235,540 acres of Crown lands in the Taranaki land district. The particulars were as follows-: Year ll!M(7. selectors 153. acres 90.452-; 1008, 06 and 45.432; MOD. 105 and 30.132-, MlO, 215 and 52.831; 1911, S6 and ]<!,639. LAM) TO BE OPENED.

Regarding the lands now being prepared for settlement in the Taranaki land district, a part of the Whakaihuwaka block of 7000 acres will be opened for selection earlv in the new year. The balance of S'iflfl acres, situated in the Wellington land district, also in the Stratford electorate, will be opened shortly afterwards. A total of 15,000 acres to the north of this area was the Raomouka block of 12,334 acres, in the Waitotara county. 'These are the lands of special interest to Taranaki.

The Taumatamatalioe Crown land is to be opened as soon as tlie surveyors complete the survey during the coming summer. Every section in the Huinga and Clandon estates, purchased under the Land for Settlements Act, is in profitable occupation and settlers are doing well. In the Taranaki district are 19 improved farm settlements-. The area held at March 31st, 1911, was 51,320 acres, by 365 tenants. One thousand persons were in residence on the land. The amount advanced by the Government for effecting improvement* was £31,453. The native lands in the Tar.in.iUi district were approximately ItiO.O'-'.t acres, a very large portion of wlltt'li is now under negotiation.