PRISONS DEPARTMENT.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17700, 28 February 1923, Page 3

PRISONS DEPARTMENT.

SUCCESSFUL LAND DEVELOPMENT WORK.

(FMSS ASSOCIATION rELEGKAK.) WELLINGTON, February 27. Enquiries made from reliable sources indicate that the Prisons Department is progressing very satisfactorily in the work it has undertaken in connexion with the development of a large area of public land in the Hautu Block, near Lake Taupo. Although the actual work of development was only commenced about May of last year, after a camp had been established, much valuable work has been done. The initial block upon which the camp was established has been ring-fenced, the boundaries have been planted with trees, chiefly Oregon pine, while divisions have been made for different classes of crops. Upon latest advices it appears that a good crop of oats is now in evidence, while potatoes and other root crops are proving most successful. The camp is now being fully supplied with vegetables grown on the property, while the general development in the few months during which the camp has been established ip most striking. So , much is this the case that the Maoris in the district have decided to adopt the methods of the Department in breaking in and cultivating their own land adjoining the area that has been allocated to the Department. The work on the Hautu Block is beinor carried out on the most economical lines. possible. The whole of the fencing posts ara being cut by prison labour from the neighbouring bush, while the erection of buildings, stables, etc., is all being carried out by the same agency. In carrying out the somewhat ambitious programme that has been laid down on the Hautu Block, the Department is guided to a great extent by the experience its officers obtained in breaking in and developing farm areas in the Waikato and elsewhere, while the experience gained by its officers in the past when occupied in tree-planting enabled them to carry out planting operations successfully. Although the camp at Hautu has been established for such a short period, the Department was able to plant 4500 shelter trees along the south and Bputh-west boundary fences during the past planting season.

The properties belonging to the Department at Waikeria, in the Waikato, at Templeton, near Christchurch, and at Invercargill are all being developed and farmed with considerable success. On its various properties the Department has now fully 500 cows, from which a considerable return of butterfat is being obtained, while other products are all helping the revenues of the Department. (SPECIAL TO "THB PBE88.") WELLINGTON, February 27. Olose to the famous fish river, the Tongariro, flowing into Lake Taupo at Tokaanu, there is a belt of country covered with titri, fern, and tuhi, that has lain neglected since the early settlers first passed that way. The land is capable of cultivation, but under Maori ownership little was accomplished. On the alluvial lands of the delta, the Maori "Poaka" rooted at will in the tall manuka, and the blackberry became a pest. Much of this land is capable of intense cultivation, but it remains almost as unproductive as it was when the great Te Heu Heu went to the land of his forefathers, buried in a mountain landslide that descended from the pinaroles above his village. Across the river on the eastern side there is land of less promising quality, yet capable of improvement. On one block in the Hautu blocks there was recently established a prison camp, and there a transformation is slowly but surely being effected. The prisoners have been engaged in fencing, in planting Oregon pines, and in sowing crops. The example of tho pakeha has set the Maori thinking, and he now is following in their footsteps; the result must add considerably to the productiveness of the Dominion.