A BRIGHT PROSPECT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1110, 25 April 1911, Page 9

A BRIGHT PROSPECT.

A.TOUR IN THE FAR NORTH. IDLE NATIVE LANDS. Mr. Harold Beauchamp, chairman of the Bank ql' New Zealand, who lias just returned from an extensive tour through tlio country to tlie north of Auckland, returns with a very glowing idea as to its future. "These gum lands," says Mr. Beauchamp, "which were a few years ago considered of little account, are being found to be of great value. It has been found that the psspalum grass grows readily all over the. gum-picked lands, and as it is a good feed-grass, lug developments may bo looked for. Formerly north of Auckland only worried about two things—timber and gum; but with tho diminution of thosb interests they are beginning to think of developing the land itself. It is quite a wrong idea to- suppose that there is no good land in the North Auckland district. I found round Whangaroi, Ohaeawai, and Kaikoho land equal to that round, Palm'erston North for dairying purposes. 'The dairying industry is exceedingly active, but the settlers have been hampered by bad' roads and indif-ferent-means' of transit. With the railway lino.extended from Towai to Kawakaiva recently accomplished, and the next extension to' Kohukohu, those disabilities in transit will be largely removed. Another discovery has been made of no small interest. That is that these lands are- being found to be excel- • i n * f ol n fr «it-growing. One noted apple which flourishes there is the 'Northern °PSi, "great red-cheeked apple; which 1 thought was very fine. .It is going to .bo.a. big apple-growing district with" m a few years. On tho whole, I think .there is a very bright'future- for North of Auckland lands. What'is wanted i more than anything is a more active policy of settling'the lands now lving in' a state of nature. There" are largo areas of. Native lands not being touched which should be thrown open to settlement without delay. Speaking at Kawak-awa the other day, tho Hon. Mr. Uirroll said he had arranged with the owners to throw open about 40.000 acres ?* .Ktt'Kohe. But in tho vicinity of Kohukohu and Horiki, on the shores, of itoluangai Harbour, thero'aro 300,000 acres of Native land, and 200,000 acres ot U-owii lands in bush—excellent lands, I u sa n\! for slieep. That "should not D e._ The earth-hunger was still strong m Auckland andin other parts ot the Dominion; "and if those • lands wero made available they would bo eagerly taken up and made productive "