POTENTIALITIES OF THAMES.

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18409, 1 August 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

POTENTIALITIES OF THAMES.

A PROSPEROUS FUTURE ASSURED

Just to accentuate the splendid potentialities of the Thames are appended some interesting details of the various assets possessed by the district, which have been compiled by out well known townsman, Mr Frank H. Claxton : —

The apathy of the Thames in matters pertaining to its interest has in the p;ist been the cause of serious losses to the community, and the want of unanimity of action hae hampered the progress of the town to no small extent. If for the one object of securing ta the

town tho trade that wil' arise from the settlement of

THE HAURAKI PLAINS,

the interest of the peoplo should by every means possible be aroused. In -iddjlion to the amount already expended by the- Government on the drainage of t'iese lands it is proposed to allocate £40,000 for tho completion of the work. 21,530 acres have been taken up, representing a capital value of £101,780. It is sale to assume that even before these hinds have been fully improved, the capital value will bo more than double the original valuation. The splendid manner in which these lands have responded to development work leaves no doubt as to the future success of the undertaking, and in a very short time the income thai will accrue from farming operations m this district will reach considerable dimensions. Allowing only 10 per cent, as the gross return on the improved value of the sections already occupied, an annual return of eomething like £20,000 is arrived at, and while hoping that a large portion of this amount will remain in the stockings of the deserving sot tiers, there will still be a considerable amount left that Thames people wi;i be glad to handle in. the chape of trade. The action of local bodies and others interested in endeavouring to secure

DIRECT COMMUNICATION for this trade is Morthy of the support of every man with the interests of the Thames at heart, and even if an extra rate has to bo paid for the privilege, the eventual returns will amply repay any present outlay. The Government engineer has approved the site f«T a

ferry advocated by Thames, and it remans now for the district, to press for the tomp.etion of the connection with the least possible delay. '

ANOTHER AGRICULTURAL ASSET, of very great importance to the Thames is the large area of pastoral lands along the Coast that has recently become availab'.e for settlement under "The Hau. raki Pastoral Leases Act." Although a proper reconcilialtion of pastoral and n.-ining interests on these lands has per. haps not yet been arrived at, it is hoped that the difficulty will be overcome shortly, and that advantage will be 'taken of the lubusanda of acres of sheep grazing country that will be available at a nominal rental. The Importance of an asset of this k'nd at our . doors cannot lie over-estimated.

COMING TO THE MINING INDUSTRY

the opening up of ithe field is being pro* ceeded with, but it is to be remembered that so far but an infinitesimal portion of the deep levels has been tested. Gold has been found at the 1000 ft level, and there is still reason to hope that Thames may yet again sustain its reputation as one of the richest patch pr>ducing areas the world has known.

ENGINEERING.

.H ia gratifying to note the stea-iy progress that is being made in the engineering industry. The, Government locomotive contracts have been responsible for the employment of a large nunibet- of hands, and the excellent class of work turned out by both foundries is a matter of no small importance to the Thames.

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

The advent of the motor launch has brought new life to the fishing industry. A very large number of boait® are now employed in this trade; the motor power enables the boats to go further afield for Vi.eir catches, and the supply of fisii seems to remain satisfactory. In addition to tTie two freezers already opei iting, a third has been built, and the trade promises to provide steady employment for a large number of peopie.

FRUIT CULTURE.

A potential industry for the district' to which I would like to draw particular attention is that of fruit culture, especially in reference to apricot culture It would appear tbait it is only in very restricted ateas throughout the Dominion that this fruit really thrives, and we are assured by experts ithat there is no more suitable locality for its culture than that immediately surrounding the Thames; This culture has been taken up successfully to. a small extent by local fruit growers, but with good prices and a practically unlimited demand for .n*ch the fresh and the tinned fruit, the industry is one that is capable of wonderful expansion.

UNIMPROVED AREAS,

Daring the coming year the attention of the public vrill bo directed to the necessity of taking steps to free the town from the leasehold incubus which now rests over a great portion of the southern end of the borough and were an improremenit effected in this connection I am confident the Thames district would progress by leaps and bounds. It has great possibilities and that ft prosporous future awaits it is assured.