THE OPOURIAO BLOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 74, 29 March 1899, Page 6

THE OPOURIAO BLOCK.

One of the most successful settlements established by the Government on Crown Lands is that on the Oppuriao block, about ten miles up the valley of the Whakatane River, inland fro:-i) Whakatane, Bay of Plenty. A report from Air Bailey, Crown ranger, regarding this block and the cultivation of maize, which, is the staple product of the district, was read at the meeting of the Auckland Crpwn Lands Board yesterday. In his report the ranger said the maize crpp this year was a very good pne, and some exceptionally heavy yields were anticipated from some of the sections on the Opouriao settlement. It was expected that the yield of wheat frpm Opouriao this year •would total about SO.OOO bushels. Wheat-growing had been tried, but owing to the nature of the ground it was not a success. It was, however, proposed to establish a cheese factory there, and as the land was admirably adapted for dairying purposes it was expected that the proposal would be very suecessfol, and offord^ a v gopd stand-by for the settlers in the event of maize ■■ crops failing. / . . The Coimnisioner of Crown Lands said that this year the maize crop from Opouria should be worth about £12,000, Mr Lundon said that he; expected the price next year would be about 1/6■ a-bushel, owing to. the increased area under maize this year, and the quantiy of grain sent in from the South. •;■* The ranger recommended in his report that the settlers at Opouriao should Ye allowed to raise an additional crop of maize on those places where the crop had been destroyed last year by frost, and had to be fed~ ofE to stock. He also recommended that the settlers be requested to take steps to eradicate the California thistle and other noxious weeds. The Board agreed to both recommendations. Mr Lundon said the California thistie would be one of the greatest pests as far as that part pf the country was concerned.