TE PUKE AND MAKETU GOOD AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8616, 13 June 1924, Page 4 (Supplement)

TE PUKE AND MAKETU GOOD AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS

tu A!-,ng the banks cl this liver arc some of the richest Hats in the Auckland Province, whi h a; c umurpassablt for dairying. c .title fattening 01 maize growing. The Kaituua at onetime flowr rcu; at Maketu, but as (ho result

business centre. It is within easy teach of the Kaituua waterway and (lie Maketti beach, with which it is connected bv good roads. Paengai ■ i, is not for away from the flaxndllhig areas and is the nearest centre to the Waihi Swamp, a. fertile' area, which is now being drained by means of cuts made by the Government dredges. Some of the- Waihi Swamp lias already been taken up by new settlers and more land will shortly bo available for settlement. The. PeenguToa township serves an imp:--riant section of the Pay of Plenty and ''the closer settlement that is steadily going on must certainly enhance its prospects of b n siness dovelopmen t. Between twenty-five and thirty years age Maketu was a place of some importance. It was the headquarters cf a large Maori community and at cue time was on the travelling route between T’attranga and Rotorua —that was before the Oropi Read was made. The Kaituna River in those days emptied its waters into the ocean at Maketu, and vessels from Tauranga and elsewhere used to trade regularly to the- port. About seventeen years ago. as the result of a heavy flood,

t ( a h - avy lived seveneen years ago a n< w month was tern cut near Te Tumu. end if i-reul years the cutlet has steadily moved towards Mak.du. The liver is navigable for many miles and also provides goad trout fidiing f.-r angles. The Paraiti and many ether rivers intersect tbßiding and cfiVr an excellent means cf draining the li-ah flat lands as well as providing water supplies f( v live stock and many home-ster-ds-.

Adi joining the Waiaii River is iho Tc Matoi district, which in previous vears was a- large estate contrc'lha' by the Bank cf New ZeaImd, and was famed for the excellent quality of fat cattle raised on its pasture-'. Subsequently the land was offered for sale and is now a thickly-settled flourishing area, doing its full share in contributing to die p reduction cf the country. Close by is Ranginrn and both places have long since proved their.

that could be profitably subdivided and also native-owned lands which arc certain to be brought into cultivation later on.

TE PUKE RIDING. The Te Puke: and Maketu Ridings make up the eastern portion of Tauranga County and extend from Tauranga Harbour cn the west to the neighbourhood of Matata on the east. The To Puke Riding lies between the harbour and the Waiari River, and comprises the districts of Mount Maunganui, OJiauiti, Welcome Bay. Upper Papamoa, Lower Papamoa and Te Puke. This Riding is one cf the most prosperous in the Bay of Plenty and there is considerable activity in dairying and general farming operations. Mount Maunganui is a wellknoyn watering resort, and is referred to elsewhere. Opposite the* town of Tauranga are two peninsulas, Matapihi and Maungatapu, which to-day are chiefly inhabited by natives., but before long these localities arc likely to become residential areas, being nicely elevated and poafssing charming outlooks. Already a number of Europeans have secured land at Matapihi and Maungatapu. To the south of Maungatapu is the Kailirnako Block which is being gradually developed, and adjoining is the Ohauiti Settlement, which was acquired by the Government seme years ago' and made available for closer settlement. Most of the present owners at Ohauiti are engaged in dairying and mixed fanning, and one enterprising settler, Mr W. Kay, has established cno cf the finest lemon groves in the Bay of Plenty. Eastward cf the Kaitirnako Btock are the Welcome Bay, Ngapeke and Wait on areas, all cf jfhich have frontages to Tauranga harbour, and are connected with the town by the Main East Coast Road.

The, Bay cf Plenty Co-operative Dairy Association’s factory is in the Te Puke, town district, and draws supplies from a very extensive area. '"The cream is brought in by motor vehicle and railway, lire factory being in close proximity to the railway station. 'The factory was established in the year 1902 and has progressed until to-day it is one of the most important industrial concerns in the % Bay of Plenty. The old factory was destroyed by fire in 1919, and was replaced by a fine concrete structure, equipped with all thei latest machinery, which is driven, by elecric power.

Adjoining Papamoa is the Te Puke disrtict, a well-developed area, which comprises numerous nicely kept farms and homesteads. The. laud is cf excellent quality and supports many firm herds of milking cattle, while the- fattening of bullocks and cropping is also carried on. Nearly all the. land is closely settled and in profitable occupation, with the result that the community is on© cf the most prosperous in the Bay of Plenty.

TE PUKE TOWN DISTRICT Some years ago about one. thousand acres was taken out of the To Puke Riding for the purpose: of forming the- Te Puke town district. Tins area, lies, approximately, between the No. 1 and No, 3 Roads, and is controlled by the Te: Puke Town Beard, which has been active in promoting streets and other improvements. The East Coast Read runs through the- town district and the portion of it in the business area is permanently-improved and nicely set eff with trees and grass plots. A good water supply—with the .source in tire bush country to the southwest—has been established. The Town Board has an arrangement with the* Tauranga Borough Council fet the supply of electric current, ■to the town district, which is well reticulated, and the residents are now enjoying the full benefit cf the electricity service.

Thc business premies cf the town include many permanent buildings. The railway station is close 1 to the town, about, thirteen miles from [Tauranga and the same distance from Mount Maunganui. __ By the iEast Const Read routs Tauranga and Te Puke are seventeen miles apart.

Upper and Lower Papamoa. comprise a very extensive area of farm lands in Te Puk-s Riding extending from the seaboard to the bush country. The Papamoa No’ 1 and No 2 settlements were acquired by the Government from the natives and

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Cc , Ltd., and the

when offered for selection ever a quarter of a century ago were readily taken up and have since been converted to a high producing state. .The chief industry is dairying and ’some fine herds are owned in the .district. Turnips and maize grow well and yield heavily*. The fattening of cattle and sheep is carried on and breeding of draught horses also .-receives attention from a number cf settlers, including Mr A. B. Morton, who owns a number of goed Clydesdales. ‘Paparuoa has some of the richest land in the Bay cf Plenty and is giving good returns where the farms are treated in a husbandlike manner. The East Coast railway runs through the district and railway stations are provided at Otaimatua and Paparuoa. All the districts from Tauranga tc Paparuoa have the benefit of the Tauranga Borough Council’s electricity* supply. There' are excellent prospects for development in the Papamra district, as there arc numerous areas

Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Co., Ltd., each own vp-to-date- saley*ards at Te Puke. Stock sales are held regularly* and special horse fairs in the spring and autumn. An important industry that contributes to the prosperity of Te Puke is ilax-milling. Th© flax is cut off areas in the Te Puke and Maketu Ridings and treated at various mills. The flax industry* means the employ*ment of considerable labour, principally natives. The working of Muir’s Gold Reel’s Ltd., has given much impetus to the industrial life of T<- Puke. This mine is located in the southern part of the Te Puke district. Gold and silver, representing a substantial value, have been won from the mine, and further development work is now in progress. The power requirements of the mine are supplied by the Tauranga Borough Council’s hydroelectric works, the current being conveyed to the mine by* a special transmission line.

The .educational requirements of T© Puke arc met by several schools, the main cue—which is a district high school—being handy to- the railway station. There are several churches in the town. The whole district is well served by telephone. Golf links, a bowling green, tennis courts and football grounds meet, the sporting requirements <T the community. A new maternity hospital is now being built by the Hospital Beard. The business premises ctvler in every respect for the wants of (he European and native population. MAKETU RIDING. The largest defined area in Tauranga County is the Maketu Riding, which extends from the Waiari River to tire western boundary cf Whakatane County. It comprises open country of fine quality, fertile: drained swamps and heavy buaU lands. Its settlers are an energetic community who arc busily engaged hi winning wealth from the soil by means of such pursuits as dairy farming, flax-milling, cattle and sheep raising and fattening, and the growing of crops. The. Riding has a long frontage to the ocean and is served by the East Coast Railway. There is a considerable area cf land in the Riding owned by natives, and. muck of this is in an uudevolcp-

ed condition. Many of tliei European holdings are extensive. The lands cf Maketu Riding will hear much closer settlement and when these are subdivided and all the native lands are available for use the Riding will be capable of supporting a much greater population than is the case to-day. The Kaituna River, one of the largest in the Bay of Plenty, rises in the Hot Lakes district and ’finds its way to the ocean through Make-

value fur dairying, cattle fanning and Uie breeding of draught horses. To the southward is the Ngatipalul«, district, where the owners have converted the bush lauds into smilnig paddocks. A fertile area northward of the main road, between the W atari and Iv ait mi a, is kirown as Kenana, which consists mainly ol rich swamp land. There is some splendid territory between the Ivaituna River! on the west, and Kaikokopu River on the east, which embraces the Mauugarangi, Paengaroa, Pukaingataru, Tmnu-Kaitunai and Maketu districts. There are scores of splendid farms in this area. PlerU the pastures produce great quantities of butterfat. and maize, and turn off hundreds of fat bullocks every year. Much of this land has been wen to a productive state by systematic drainage operations. The Parngiv roa township is the centre! f or these districts. It is located at thei junction cf the Ret orn a,-M ake tu-East - Coast Roads, sixty chains southward of the Paengaroa railway station, and about twenty miles by railway from Tauranga. The township has a number of business premises including general store, post office, butcher's shop, two boardinghouses, and two. halls. Recently the settlers built a commodious hall, which is under the control of a committee. There is also a large school in the township, and a recreation reserve of six acres. Considerable traffic passes through Paengaroa township, especially between the Coast and Rotorua,' there being good road communication with the! Hot Lakes capital. Per some years there has been strong advocacy for railway connection between the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua Many people advocate Paengaroa as the point of junction for this railway, and if the project materialises the Paengaroa township is certain tu grow into an import ant

Township of Te Puke Growing in Importance and Serves Large Area of First Class Dairying and Grazing Country

already referred to, the valtu of the place as a port disappeared. Of recent ycais the month, of (he Kaituua has again commenced to work hack towards Maketu, and may eventually reach the vicinitv cf the former cutlet. Maketu is a pleasanty situated place and has fine beaches, which attract patrons irom inland districts as far as Rot uni a. The sea fishing is splendid and the kingfish, hapuku, schnappor. trevnlli and smaller fish of many specie:; abound and provide excellent sport. The remaining portion of Tauranga Ccnmy from the Kaikokopu Riven to thei Whakatane County boundary embraces an extensive area of good land, and includes the districts of Pougakawa, Pukehina, Ohincpanea, and Otaumarakau. Many cf the farms are in a- good state of cultivation, and contribute to the prosperity of the county. Dairying, grazing and cattle fattening are the chief fanning industries, while -cropping is also carried on. Many of the: properties are large and to-day land may be: bought in the district at a very reasonable price. The bush areas are nciw being worked bv the Bay of Plenty Timber Company, Ltd., which is handling some of' the finest-grown mountain timber. The Company has expended co-niderable money in laying

down tramways and installing an up-to-date plant. A large portion cf the sawn timber is railed t‘> Mount Manuganui and shipped to An.klaml. The Company’s activities mean the employment cf many men ami will be a material factor in the further development of the eastern pert ion of Tauranga County. THE COUNTY’S PROSPECTS. As indicated in the references to the Ivatikati, Te Puna, Waimapu, Te Puke and Maketu Ridings these areas arc all suited for dairying, stock raising, and general agriculture. Tire wfjole-.area. lies within the maize-growing belt, is protected from cold winds, has a sea frontage from end to end, and enjoys cne cf the most salubrious climates in New Zealand. Much of the laud is still withheld from production by native owners and absentees, t lie

native lands pay little or no rales and this is a matter which camut bo tolerated. To deal with tho absentees the Government might well consider the advisability of bringing in legislation tc super-la* land that is net in occupation or growing grass. The unimproved value system is operating in the county, but if the tens cf thousands of acres of unproductive- land is any criterion the system has not made the absentees let go. The tailway is now running through the greater part of the county and in the course o' a- few years i likely to b? linked up with tlic Dominion system. The farmer who is in search cf a good locality to settle in can net dc better than visit Tauranga County, which when fully developed should be capable of supporting a very large rural prpu’ation, and ultimately rank as one of the most flourishing territories in New’ Zealand.