EARTHQUAKE AREA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1930, Page 12

EARTHQUAKE AREA.

PUBLIC WORKS RESTORED. INSPECTION BY MR. FORBES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. After a few days' tour in the Murchison earthquake area, in which he inspected the worst centres of damage, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, has returned to Wellington. The farming prospects of the district, which were poor before the great shake, are not hopeful, though the settlers have been assisted greatly to replace themselves where they desired to do so, and those who were Crown tenants prior to the earthquake'are -receiving very- substantial rental concessions.

The Minister found that the local bodies were well-satisfied with the Government's work in restoring roads, bridges and other public works damaged in the earthquake. "A deputation at Murchison," he remarked, "declared that they wanted to say how well they had been treated by the Public Works Department in-regard to their roads and bridges. They had received a very pleasant surprise, not only in regard to .the expedition 7 shown, in the work, but f, ie substantial nature of the restorations." ... ... Fertile Motueka District. Outside the damaged areaj Mr. Forbes found on the Motueka and Riwaka Flats ample evidence of the wonderful fertility of the soil and its peculiar adaptability for small farm crops such as hops, fruit and tobacco. The outlet is the small port of Mapua, which ten years, ago handled 6000 cases of apples annually, and this year will ship about 210,000 eases. Tobacco is being grown under contract to large firms operating in NeW Zealand, the seed being supplied in accordance with their requirements. Tobacco for cigarettes is cultivated in a different manner from tha*; for pipe smoking, the latter needing a broad, heavy leaf, while cigarette tobacco plants prow tall, furnishing a long, light leaf. Good returns are expected this, season, and an extremely good hop crop is being picked. ' ;