AOTEA-RAGLAN LAND.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1009, 30 July 1901, Page 3

AOTEA-RAGLAN LAND.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —A paragraph which appears in your issue of 19th iust., purporting to represent the views of a Mr Eastwood relative to the above cannot be allowed to pass without comment. While always pleased to have the opinion of outsiders in regard to our district we must depreciate this too common method which obtains amongst peripatetic landhunters of forming and publishing their opinions, basing their conclusion of a passing observation of a few chains on either side of the main road. Such criticism carries the less weight when it is known that these self-constituted judges have not even seen portions of the district which they praise or condemn with refreshing freedom and impartiality. From the ‘ inferior land of Whatawhata (where by the way a flourishing creamery stands) the traveller reaches the University Reserve, which he considers 1 first-class but of too large an area for a single holder.’ The Waitetuna valley is again inferior, with the solitary exception of one holding, the writer entirely overlooking the fact that to right and left within a few chains of the road is land of exactly the same character as what he has previously cailed first-class. A farm of 600 acres of the ‘ cold, wet and useless land,’ which next comes under review, carries 900 sheep, irrespective of cattle and horses. The whole country between this point and extending towards Te Mata comes under the same sweeping condemnation, the Kauroa valley of well-known stock carrying capacity, backed by a large tract of useful bush country, being completely ignored. Te Mata the writer generally characterises as * inferior,’ yet he votes similar country ‘equal to Taranaki.’ For the embryo factory there a probable failure is generously prophesied. If thetravcllerhad spent a little longer than half-an-honr in the vicinity and had not followed his stereotyped plan of judging the district from the main road, his views may have been modified. Up to the present settlers have had little or no inducement to cultivate their land, allowing it to remain as tough cattle runs, but cultivation and attention will effect a change, wifh a dairy factory a3 a motive. A paddock of swedes about a mile from the proposed factory, 18 acres of which have up to the present carried 750 sheep for 10 weeks, and representing nearly 50 tons to the acre, is conclusive evidence of the capabilities of the place, and equally satisfactory results in grazing and cropping can bo quoted. His cursory remarks on some native blocks at present leased by Mr J. H. Phillips, and opinions of other functions of the district, gives one with ocal knowledge the impression that ‘’e dunno where ’e are.’ In conclusion, we feel highly gratified tint our Aotea end has created a favourable impression, and acknowledge his complimentary opinion, in which we arc at one; but we cannot allow our neighbours to be unfairly criticised, and we would suggest that he or any tuture visitor should avail himself of the open hospitality of Te Mata (or Aotea) before summing up and passing sentence. —I am, etc., Aotea Correspondent.