HAURAKI PLAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 187, 8 August 1919, Page 6

HAURAKI PLAINS.

GOVERNMENT BUYS ORONGO ESTATE. FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS. ~ A £65,W» DEAIi. 2000 ACRES FOR SUB-DIVISION. The announcement is made that the Government, on the recommendation of the Land Purchase Board, has decided to purchase the Orongo Estate, Thames, consisting of over 2000 acres, for the settlement of returned soldiers. The purchase price is £32 10/ per acre, so that it will be seen that the deal runs into approximately .-CCa.OOO. The vendors 1 are Messrs. Newsham and Blomfield. The estate is part of blocks 7 and 11, Thames Survey District, and lies on the left bank of the mouth of the Wailiou River, due south of Thamee, from which town it is only a mile or two distant. The property has a sea frontage and a wharf. RICHEST ON PLAINS. The land is described as some of the richest on the Hauraki Plains, and is at present in a state of partial improvement, being ring-fenced and sub-divided to some extent. The country is drained swamp, but it still requires a considerable amount of further drainage, as well as a stop-bank to prevent sea encroachment. Koad-making will also have to be carried on in connection with the subdivision of the area. The land is now carrying a considerable amount of stock, and much of it is in a condition to be settled without j delay, but it is considered that this course will not be practicable until the cost of improving the property is ascertained and spread over the sections in due proportion. The -work of improvement, it is stated, will be carried out without delay. FORTY-ACRE FARMS. The intention of the Auckland Land Board, within whose area the block is located, is to cut the property up into small farms, ranging aa small as 40 acres Jin extent. The view of the Board is that I the land is sufficiently rich to warrant this policy. Indeed, the view is held that the property is one of the most (suitable areas yet acquired in the Auckland district for the settlement of soldiers, and its carrying capacity, when fully improved, will compare with the best on the Plains. ' The facilities for the di3p03.1l of stock and butterfat and for tho obtaining of supplies appear to be very satisfactory. As already mentioned, there is a wharf on the property. There is a creamery alongside the block, which is the centre of a good dairying district. A school is close at hand. It will be gome time before the whole of the block is available for settlement, but it is the intention of the Department to put the improvement work in hand almost immediately.