THE WAKING OF THE WAIKATO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1903, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE WAKING OF THE WAIKATO.

ITS PROSPECTS AS A DAIRYING

DISTRICT.

Two Taranaki men, Messrs. Felix McGuire,. ex-M.I-LR., and Frank McGovern, hailing from Hawera, have been on a tour of the Waikato, and they communicated some-of the observations on their exploration to a "Star" interviewer before they went South a couple of days ago. Their opinions are very reassuring, and have added weight from the fact that they have bought an estate of 1140 acres adjacent to, and, it is understood, sorrounding, the Ta Awamutu railway station. This they are splitting up into small freeholds, and have already, they say, sold land adjoining the railway station for £50 an acre.

"Te Awamutu is the eye of the Waikato," said Mr. McGuire, "and before many years are gone I expect it will be one of the largest towns outside of Auckland. For it is on the Main Trunk line of railway to Taranaki and Wellington, and it will be the chief medium between this city and the King Country." "What have you been doing in the district?" he was asked.

"Wo have been through the Waikato. and from what I have seen of the country I am satisfied that some parts of it have been underrated. I am aware that at one time the value of the Waikato was over-rated, but latterly the tendency has been to undervalue it. Now it is graduly coming to be recognised that, in parts at all events, the Waikato is very suitable for dairying, fattening and similar uses. Creameries and factories are springing up all over the place, and the land in the vicinity of Te Awamutu is going to be the centre of a great dairying industry. Of course the Waikato is patchy, and it requires a practical man to go and pick the best parts of the land out; it is no use taking up the land haphazard, though one could not go very wrong at Te Awamutu. I have been rather surprised at some of the land I saw about Ohaupo and Te Awamutu, and it seems to me to be "the cream of the , country." "Well, you bought a lot of it, anyhow?" "Oh, yes. And I feel sure that if we had the same land in Taranaki, with values at their present standard, we, should have no difficulty in getting £30 an acre for it. The progress of the Ie \wamutu township , has unfortunately been retarded by the fact that the land there is Mission property, and therefore not available except as leasehold. Mr. McGovern and myself have decided to break up the 1140 acres we have bought into freehold farm settlements and town lota. This we are doing at the request of the local people. We think that the land in this neighbourhood will increase in value, because it is on the borders of the King Country, which is going to be rapidly settled in the course of a few years, and there is a great future ahead of it. I think that as tune goes on and the proper class of settlers comes into this district, and the right breed of oattie is developed, Auckland will reap great benefit from the thorough settlement of the King Country and the Wμka «The special breeds of cattle suitable for dVirying are, however, not found in the Waikato, are they? "Well, they are not the class we have in Taranaki, and the proper sort would hive to be introduced. But you may trust the dairy farmer to soon produce the cattle most suitable for the country besides which the Government could probably be induced to help in the production of the necessary type by introducing special stock. At present a large proportion of the Waikato cattle is fat stock, and not suitable for, dairying purposes. That is a thing rectifies and accommodates itself to the needs of the settlers. The present grade of cattle is good, and in thoroughly good condition, and the settlers seem to be able to winter a large quantity of stock on account of the real certainty of the root crop during the winter season It is also a fact that cattle are finding their way overland from Taranaki, and that will help the dairying industry along. I notice quite a number of old Taranaki and Wellington provincial people nave settled down here, and they appear thoroughly satisfied with their prospects, the land, and the. milder climate. Oh. yes, the dairying industry has taken root here sure enough, and in some parts of the district you might imagine yourself in Taranaki what with the dairy farms and creameries and factories. You have also the advantage of a -good local market for the settlers' stock and general products,. *y»d the communication with Auckland T>y rail is nearly all as good as can be desired. It is a thousand pities that the Mam Trunk line has not been carried through so as to bring the North and South together, and I think it is time the Government realised that the day labour system is a failure. ' The only successful and economic way of doing the work is by contract, for'the co-operative system' is 'fart too expensive. In small works co-opera-tive labour is right enough'," but where expensive and elaborate machinery liave to be used (as in bridge building) "thtf work should be done by contract. The other system is extravagant, and I have no doubt that the small progress made with the line is directly due to so much money being wasted on co-operative labour."

"Coming back to the Waikato lands: you know that the Assets Realisation Board have properties there?" "Yes, but I would not look at them, for the reason that the Board expects you to be buyer and seller at once. It is regrettable that they do not seem ready to dispose of their properties, because in my opinion it is a good opportunity to push their sale. But the way they expect parties intending to purchase to inspect the land, often at great expense, and then submit a price, is ridiculous. They will not quote you a price like any ordinary business concern, but they tell you to make an offer, and they'll consider it. I for one would not do business on those lines so long as any other lands lay open for purchase. 1 know a great number of people who would be glad to take up the land if they could get a figure named, but like me they won't be buyer and seller too.

"I will also say that I think the Government ■ might use a great deal more despatch in the settlement of Crown lands. I happened to be in the far North last year, and I found out that the country was being kept back by both (Jrown and native land. People were surrounded by that class of land in such a way that it was detrimental to them, and they get the most meagre assistance in improving their lands by roads, etc. In the Waikato there is a great quantity of Assets Realisation Board land, and the sooner that Lmd is settled the better it will be for the colony."