An Index of Banks Peninsula.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 5531, 24 September 1929, Page 4

An Index of Banks Peninsula.

Some Interesting Facts and Figures Regarding District Banks Peninsula with an area of 267,901 acres, comprising the Lkaroa, Wairewa, and Mt. Herbert Counties and the Borough of Lkaroa, is a rich volcanic district, noted for some of the finest ;razing land in the world. Its proximity to Canterbury s capital, Christchurch, and its early settlement, together with the richness if its soil, abundance of water everywhere, and great productiveless have made it a favoured district, which as years go on should ead to it carrying a large population. Projecting, as it does, into he sea, it enjoys an insular climate and its country is warmer and nore sheltered than the Plains country around Christchurch. The many hills and valleys serrating the landscape, make J 3anks Peninsula very pretty country with its Bays and ridges, >$| jreen hills and valleys. Akaroa, therefore, is a favourite tourist W 'esort, while motorists find many enjoyable trips among our hills. COMMUNICATION. Daily return car services, and train and car service from Little River provide Banks Peninsula with excellent communication with Christchurch both ways. POPULATION. The Official Year Book of 1929 gives the population of the three Counties and Borough comprising Banks Peninsula as follows:— Area. Square Miles. Acres. Population. Mt. Herbert County .. 59 57,760 515 Wairewa County . • 165 105,600 Akaroa County • • 163 «in Akaroa Borough .. 221 oil) Totals .... 387 267,901 3,970 Total estimated population of Banks Peninsula in, 1924-25 was 394 °' VALUATION. There was every need to reduce the inflated valuations.of early post war days and the following are the figures for 1928-29. Capital Value. Unimproved Value. Wairewa County £1,515,689 £1,246,219 Akaroa County £2,362,120 ■ £1;940,400 Mt. Herbert County £700,665 £573,213 Akaroa Borough o £168,543 £74,541 • £4,751,017 . £3,834,373 PRODUCTION. V The chief primary production which engages the attention of , Peninsula farmers includes Fat Lamb, Sheep and. Cattle' rearing, the production of Cheese and Butter, and the growing of Cocksfoo£ Seed. The Peninsula supplies Christchurch with most of its beef. Number of Sheep and Lambs trucked at Little River in 1928 was 138,000. Fat and Store (approximately) 6000 head per annum; Wool (approximately) 780 tons per annum. Cheese (approximately) 1000 tons made by seven co-operative cheese companies' factories at Little River, Pigeon Bay, Little Akaloa, Okain's Bay, Le Bon's Bay, Takamatua and Barry's Bay. Home-made cheese is made on many Peninsula farms where it is not possible to reach factories and the ( estimated production of home-made, dairy cheese, is- about 200 tons. Butter and whey-butter are made at £he Akaroa Co-operative Butter Company's factory at Akaroa and by the various' cheese factories. A number of farmers also supply Christchurch Dajry Companies. The total Peninsula production of butter is estimated at 450 tons. |g Cocksfoot production .is from approximately ,9000 acres and thej|||l annual return is about 20,000 sacks. J||||| Other production in the district is from in Wairewa County, pigs, of which there are approximately; reared annually,-walnuts, fruit, etc. „ t A WELL ROADED DISTRICT. - . ¥^3 The' abundance of good hard metal available everywhere,for!, JjjjS road making has enabled Peninsula people to construct splendid surface roads and besides having good wide welLsurfaced main highways from Christchurch to Akaroa; there are -also good metal :'xroads along the Summit and to all the Bays. In the Akaror' County the Road Boards, Pigeon Bay, Okain s, .Le Bon s ana Akaroa ; and Wainui Road Boards control all except the Main ana Suipmit roads and they have metalled and constructed the roads in their districts and have brpught them up to a fine state of perfection. Every Bay is accessible and the grades have been greatly improved in recent years. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY SERVICE. Banks Peninsula' was one of the ffrst country districts in Canterbury and in fact in New Zealand, to instal an electric supply service which extends to all the B&ys and Akaroa, only isolatec. districts not being yet supplied though this is being done gradually. The Banks Peninsula Electric-Power Board are the supply authority with its office at Little River and engineer, at Duvauchelle. Although reticulation of the district has been expensive and rating is necessary, the ever increasing _ demand will ultimately eliminate the rate. The electrical service has been a great boon to Banks Peninsula, light and power being available everywhere. EDUCATION. Banks Peninsula is well supplied with Primary Schools in every part of the district. Secondary Education is provided m Akaroa at the Akaroa District High School and arrangements are made to board pupils, outside Akaroa, attending the school. In Little River and districts-beyond school children can either use the Akaroa school, or the train service to get secondary education in Chnstchur(*- STOCK SALES. . Stock Sales are held at Duvauchelle, where the Peninsula Sale- / vards Company have their yards and hold a monthly cattle and sheep sale holding as well fortnightly sales of springers m the early . part of the dairying season. Special sales are also- held occasionally. An Annual Lamb and Ewe Fair is held at Messrs H. Matson and Coy's yards at Little River in March and Cattle and Sheep Sales " are also held occasionally. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATIONS. Two annual shows are held on Banks Peninsula, one at Little River by the Banks Peninsula A. and P. Association and the other at Duvauchelle by the Peninsula Horse Show and Pastoral Association The annual shows are held in November. Both Associations have schedules of classes which provide for the exhibition of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Dogs and Domestic Produce, Flowers and School Work, etc, AKAROA. Akaroa is a town of 600 inhabitants with a fairly large additional population outside the Borough boundary. The town has all modern convenience in the way of septic tank drainage, high pressure water supply, electric light, etc., and has all other institutions which go to make up an up-to-date Borough. The tourist business is one of its chief industries and the town is well equipped with hotels and boarding-houses that provide the best accommodation for tourists. Its beautiful harbour and surroundings attract thousands of holiday makers and in recent years it has become th'c most favoured watering-place in Canterbury. The charm of the run from Christchurch and the beautiful scenery and sheltered bays and valleys are the admiration of all who ,are privileged to enjoy them. Tourists are well catered for in the way of gatnes, tennis, croquet, bowls, golf, etc, while launches do fishing and pleasure trips down the harbour all through the busy season. Akaroa is the business centre of the Akaroa County, as Little River is the business centre of Wairewa County and shops and 1 business places provife for-all modern requirements. There art also stores at Duvauchelle, Pigeon Bay and Oram's Bay,