An Index of Banks Peninsula.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 5533, 1 October 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 Akaroa, Wairewa, and Mt. Herbert Counties and the Borough of Altai oa, is a rich volcanic district, noted for some of the' finest grazing land m the world. Its proximity to Canterbury's capital, Unristcnurcn, and its early settlement, together with the richness oi its soil, abundance of water everywhere, and great productiveness ) ia y6 made it a favoured district, which as years go on should lead to it carrying a large population. Projecting, as it does, into the sea, it enjoys an insular climate and its country is warmer and more sheltered than the Plains country around Christchurch. many hills and valleys serrating the landscape, make .:, Banks Peninsula very pretty country with its Bays and ridges, M green hills and valleys. Akaroa, therefore, is a favourite tourist resort, 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 tbiee L/Ounties and Borough comprising Banks Peninsula as follows :— Area. tt i, j. r> . Square Miles. Acres. Population. Mt. Herbert County .. 59 57,760 - -515 Wairewa County .. 165 105 600 1045 . Akaroa County .. i 63 104',320 S . Akaroa Borough .. 221 : 610 • Totals .. .. 387 267,901 3,970 ' 3 Total estimated population of Banks Peninsula in 1924-25 was , 3949. VALUATION. t There was every need to reduce the inflated valuations of early . post war days and the following are the figures for 1928-29. i 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 £168,543 £74',541 I i £4,751,017 £3,834,373 y PRODUCTION. 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 Cocksfoot 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 Bo'ri'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 the Akaroa Co-operative Butter Company's factory at Akaroa and by the various cheese , factories. A number of farmers also supply Christchurch Dairy,. Companies. The total Peninsula production of butter is estimated at 450 tons. Cocksfoot production is from approximately 9000 acres and the * annual return is about 20,000 sacks. Mmj Other production in the district is from barley and oat cropsy| in Wairewa County, pigs, of which there are reared annually, walnuts, fruit, etc. A WELL ROADED DISTRICT. ' IS The abundance of good hard metal available everywhere road making has enabled Peninsula people to construct splendid u surface roads and besides having good wide well surfaced main highways from Christchurch to Akaroa; there are also good metal v roads along the Summit and to all the Bays. In the Akaro< County the Road Boards, Pigeon Bay, Okain's, Le Bon's and Akaroa and Wainui Road Boards control all except the Main and : Summit roads and they have metalled and constructed the roads in their districts and have brought 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. y Banks Peninsula was one of the first country districts :jn . Canterbury and in fact in New Zealand, to instal an electric supply . service, which extends to all the Bays and Akaroa, only isolated- * 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 in 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 Christchurch. STOCK SALES. Stock Sales are held at Duvauchelle, where the Peninsula Saleyards Company have their yards and hold a monthly cattle and sheep sale, holding as well fortnightly sales of'springers in 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 ana Coy's yards at Little River in March and Cattle and' Sheep &a e are also held occasionally. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATIONS. Two annual shows are held on Banks Peninsula, oneat , River by the Banks Peninsula A. and P. Associatepli+Lfll A<?sociaat Duvauchelle by the Peninsula Horse Show and Pas . .. • tion. The annual- shows are held in November. Bo have schedules of classes which provide for Flowers and ■ 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 boundaiy. Ihe town has all tion a i population outsiac uil. septic tank drainage, high modern convenience in the«J ht \ tc . P and has all other insti.pressure water supply, dettni 'Jit, j tourist tutions which go to make up an »P t town is we ll equipped business is one of its chief mdustnes ai , , , „„„ nTT)n>n j with hotels and boarding-houses that pi surrounding's attract tion for tourists. Its beautiful thousands of canterbury. The charm of the most favoui eel watciin„ ■ - beautiful scenery and sheltered run from Clmstchurcan d the B bavs and valleys arc the aamiiauun „ nTTIOc , enjoy then, Touriste are well do 3n°/ WM'o™ thi harbour' all through the busy season. . River is the 1■ of aII mo( iern requirements. There are business pl^;)", Pigeon Bay and Q kain - S Ba v.