ROTORUA DISTRICT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 122, 16 February 1921, Page 8

ROTORUA DISTRICT

VISIT OF PARLIAMENTARY PARTY LOCAL NEEDS AND GRIEVANCES EXPLAINED By Telecrranh -Special Correspondent. Rotorua, February 15. The various public bodies of Rotorua had a field day to-day, when opportunity was taken to place before t'he visiting members of Parliament every need and every grievance of the district. Yesterday, during the trip ro tho Waiotapu Valley, the visitors heard a great deal about the need of a railway to Taupo from Mr. E. Vaile and others. Today, more was said on the subject. Mr. T. Al'Dowell said that this lino, while being a. great, settlement line, could be made to pay from the outset, for apart from the freight on settlers’ requirements there would be great quantities of timber no be carried from t'he State plantations, besides a large and growing revenue from passenger traffic X> Taupo and its scenic resorts. A complementaiy* work would te the construction of a line io connect Rotorua with the main East Coast line, so that it could use the port of Tauranga, which was only 40 to 50 miles away, whereas Auckland was 170 miles distant. He added tliat but for dhe fact that there were differences of opinion among the people of the wide district necessary for the formation of a railway board, the project would te started without delay. Mr. J. Al. Alar'.iin, chairman of the Rotorua County Council, said that the port of Tauranga, upon which a very large sum was to be spent immediately, was the natural port of the whole area to Taupo.

Many other masters were mentioned. Members were not entirely surprised to hear complaint of lhe difficulty of collecting Native rates, nor of t'he grave dangers existing owing to the' spread of blackberry. They also appeared to be familiar with the complaint that the county council had to maintain roads which were cut up by tourist motorcars. They were a little surprised, however, to 'hear that the Waimangu Road and other roads used daily by tourist traffic had to bo maintained by the Ipcal body. On account of these facts the members were .asked to support generous grants for these roads When they came before the House. Another matter brought up was the difficultly of farmers getting financial assistance for operation upon national endowment lands, it being claimed that they should have t'he right to acquire r'.be freehold of this land as had been given recently to soldiers. Use of Pumice Land. A number of tflie members of Parliament now in Rotorua nave been greatly impressed with the extent of the idle lands stretching between that centre and Taupo and at t’he splendid results which Have followed cultivation. At to-day’s gathering several local farmers gave facts as to the results they had obtained from land, which, for long had teen regarded as useless. One man produced samples of potatoes which 'had just been dug from land in which the pumice was only four inches from the surface. He said he Bad farmed in a number of places, including Canterbury, but he had never had ground which equalled the land he now had for results. Another man said he had got a crop of swedes which work, ed out at 56 tons to the acre from “first furrow” soil. „ Air. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) said ho had seen as good clover pastures during t'he visit as he had ever seen. Air. G. Witty (Riccarton) said that he had been amazed at the extent of country to the south of Rotorua. One had to gd 'tlfrough "Hell’s gate" to get there- ( laughter)—but when one did get there he found land growing as good clover as he had ever seen. The land was not all good, of course, and for its development goo'd means of transport were necessary. The question was raised by Mr. A eitch (Wanganui) as to whether the agricultural possibilities of Kaiangaroa land would not be improved by the planting of wide belts of trees across it. One local farmer said that if a man had .300 acres of this land it would pay him to plant 100 acres in trees, because he would then be able to make more from the remaining 200 acres than hom the total area if there was no shelter. Hydro-Electric Power. The touring members of Parliament visited Hie 'hydro-electric power station at Okere this morning. This is the pioneer hydro-electric power station ot Hie dominion, and is now obsolete. Air. C Weir (the acting engineer) explained lhe proposals for the initial scheme which is to te carried out with the recent Government vote. The proposal is to cut a tunnel 38 chains in length and divert, the stream by an adjustable dam to the ridge above the trout pool, an from there to the power house by a. pipe line 400 feet long. This would give a capacity of 1250 horse-iwwer. It is estimated'that the whole of this power would be required by Rotorua and district in three years time. In the same period the total capacity of the river, 5000 k.w„ could te developed and the surplus fed into the Horahora supply. In the afternoon the party heard local representations, and in the evening was entertained at a concert in the grounds of the sanatorium. Early to-morrow morning Ahe members will leave foi Whakatane by motor-cars, and during the day will make a tour of the Rangiataiki swamp.