PUMICE LANDS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 21, 17 March 1913, Page 4

PUMICE LANDS.

A VISIT TOTAUPO.

QUESTION OF SETTLEMENT

Mr G. J. Anderson, M.P. for Mata.ur.l, who has just' returned from a visit to Taupo and the lands concerned in the petition of the Taupo Totara Timber Company, which was enquired into last session by a Select Committee of which Mr Anderson was chairman, was interviewed in Wellington by a 'Post' representative. Though lie did not inverse the whole of the country, Mr / aderson saw a good deal of the pumua land, and gave some of his impressiwMS to the reporter. Most travellers oh the Main Trunk line, he said, have a very good idea of what the country near Waiouru is like. It is probably of better quality, than most of the pumice country, and on a station near there held by Mr Chapman there is fine field of oats, but I have no idea what kind of manure was used. However, they looked very well, as did also a field of turnips on tho western side of the road. There is really no cultivation along the road until you get to the Tokaanu flats, but, judging by the growth and vegetation the land there should be of very good quality, fTho first field', I saw was at Wa'irakei, where the 'Graham Brothers had put a small paddock in oats. For 10 years it was cropped continuously, and then allowed to lie in grass for some three years. It was then ploughed up and put in oats and the straw that I saw was about sft high and the oats were very well headed. The fields of oats and grass were originally ordinary manuka scrub and fern,'and there is no doubt, judging from their appearance, that a very large area could be brought under cultivation with excellent results. At Mokai, at the terminus of the railway, the workmen at #lO mills have small gardens about their places, which show clearly that the land is capable of being cultivated. At Urenui there is an area of 10 acres under cultivation by the Department of Agriculture and the company, and sown in various grasses, some be'ing sown with manure and some without. Those grown with manure are, of course, better than the others. Those which show the best results are clovers, cocksfoot, sevoral fescues and poa pratensis. At the crossing of the Waikato River Mr Phelan, working manager of the company, has taken up a farm, and on the river ilat the grasses are very satisfactory and. a hold of oats has given a very good return. On tho terrace face, which is probablv as poor land as any to be seen between Taupo and Putaruru, an area of 10 acres has been fenced, ploughed and sown. The only vegetation oir it before it was broken up was manawai scrub, with very little fern and a kind of moss. It was ploughed, disced, and harrowed, and rolled, and then three cwt. of basic slag to the acre was drilled in. Cow grass was then broadcasted over it, and the result is very satisfactory considering the quality of the land; the cow grass being in some cases 18 inches high, and of luxuriant growth. Tho total cost of bringing those 10 acres into cultivation was. estimated at £3 an acre, including fencing. When one takes into consideration the class of land of which the terrace is composed the result is simply astonishing. The land from the Waikato River to Kopoc is very rough, and, after passing that township, a considerable area is under wiwi tussock. This 1 land lias been experimented on by some Canterbury settlers, .who find 'that' it responds in the same way as other pumice country to cultivation and manuring. As to the country about Potaro and Lichfield, the possibilities of cultivation can only be gathered from pergonal inspection, and certainly the fields of oats; clovers, and grasses are very fine when the class of country is taken into consideration. To a.Southlander. Mr Anderson added, the pumice country does not appeal at first sight; but when the results of cultivation, reasonable manuring, and judicious treatment are seen, one's opinion is considerably modified. 1 am, therefore, of opinion that a great future lies before the pumice country, but I do not agree witli those who consider that it is a poor man's country, i believe that capital will have to be found for any settlers with limited means who are induced to take up land there. Another factor that has. to be taken into consideration is the fact that in the vicinity of Putaruru sheep do not thrive; after two seasons they contract bush sickness., and other similar diseases. While T was at Putaruru I was informed that the Agricultural Department is experimenting with some lambs which have shown signs of wasting. Cattle thrive all through this country, and settlors told me they never recognised any signs of bush sickness among country must, to a large extent, detheir herdsi

The proper treatment of the pumice pend upon the experiments of the. Agricultural Department. It would certainly he a wise course for the Government to carry out extensive experimental work here, and to assist in every way to settle the enormous area of lands surrounding Lake Taupo, both to the north and south. The native lands in the district will also be a big handicap and, whatever is done to promote settlement by the Department, the native owners should bear some of the cost of the work, which will add greatly to the value of their lands. The most important factor in opening these lands must be # easy and cheap means of communication, in order that settlers must obtain fertilisers for the land at reasonable rates. I am fully convinced > that the recommendation- (if the committee last year was a wise one. The railway from Putaruru to Mokai suits the purpose for which it was made. It opens up a very large area of country, and serves the purposes of the settlers admirably. It is, however, sinuous and very, light,. and if it were taken over by the Government pressure would be immediately brought to bear to bring it up to the' sanie standard ns the main line's, 6'n account of the desire of the public to travel quickly. A company can resist this pressure much more successfully than a Government, and, besides, a fast service is not required. The committee recommended that the company should be allowed to take the line on to TaupO, and that the Government should guarantee its debentures for £.50,006. I believe that this would be the best thing under the circumstances. As to fares and freights, they would, have to be subject to the ..Government regulation, so that the compa!hy could not impose extortionate charges upon the puhliti. but it is only reasbnable that the compariy_ should be alloWed to charge slightly higher rates than are charged on the Government railways l ,

In conclusion; Mi* 'And&'son reniajlied that in the' Taupo district there is an area of between three and four million acres, and if it only carried half a sheep to the acre it would add enormously to the productivity of the country. The land must he sold Amp .. would even pay the country to give it awav and assist the settlers as well. If the' Government allowed it to pot into the hands of speculators it would be a had thing for the comtry.