A NEW PROVINCE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 169, 5 April 1923, Page 11

A NEW PROVINCE

THE TONGARIRO DISTRICT MAORI FARMERS OF THE FUTURE

The Tongariro district (writes a special commissioner of the “New Zealand Herald”) embraces tho widespread area of lands about the southern portions of Lake Taupo, extends westward as far as the Main Trunk line, eastward to the Kaimanawa Moiurtains, and southward to Waiouru. This forms roughly a great triangle with its base to the. north aii3 its apex to' the south. It includes great areas of level plains and undulating country, which is well adapted for settlement; vast stretches of valuable timber forests ; one of the most wonderful thermal regions in the world ; the majestic group of volcanic mountains which now form the National Park; some of the finest trout-fishing streams known to anglers, and' many other interesting and important features. At the present time it is one of the most sparsely populated parts of New Zealand, and is certainly the least settled or cultivated if one excludes the Urewera and the West Coast fiord districts, both of which are too mountainous for cultivation. and therefore not adapted for settlement. The altitude of all the Tongariro lands is well over 1200 ft. above sea-level, and much even of the level areas are between 2000 ft. and 3000 ft. Maoris and Settlement.

At the present time Maoris predominate in tlie population of the Tongariro district, numbering several hundred. '.They’ are principally the Ngatituwharetoas,? a tribe lainous in tradition and in our own history and noted for their intelligence and generosity. They gave to tho nation tins most valuable portion of the National Park, and not long ago gave the Ohaupo block of 45,000 acres for the benefit of returned soldiers. Mr. Dempsey, the manager of their dairy factory, .speaks highly of their capacity as dairy farmers, and. Mr. D. Blain, the manager of the Prison Department s farm at Hautu, told mo that quite a number of the Native landowners had inspected the work being done there and were eager to learn about the best methods of putting in grass and crops, and were already following the most modern systems. It is almost certain that we shall see in this district quite soon a great increase in agricultural production, and it will be- to the Maoris that we shall owe much of *it. But it will be through their own efforts and not through any help that the State will give, for the State is doing practically nothing to help either pakehas or Maoris to develop this great wonderful new province in the heart of the North' Island. The Ngatituwharctoas still own vast tracts of land in the Tongariro district, and have substantial revenues coming m from royalties on their great timber forests westward of tho Ip.lcq, but they lack . capital and financial organisation to enable them to prepare and equip new farms. Ownership of land is not the only essential to successful settlement; hard cash is absolutely necessary in order to provide implements, mu- • chinery, seeds, manures, stock build- ■ ings, etc., without which farming cannot be carried on. Quite recently 70 Maori families have had the titles of their holdings individualised in the. Tokaanu district, and have thus been' freed from the hampering influences of communal ownership. These people have the land and the necessary labour, and if they were provided with a moderate amount of credit or capital could quickly make 70 different farms. They can offer ample security, but what financial institution or business firm will advance them the money or the needed material? . The late Sir William Herries practically originated the Native Trust Office for the express purpose of doing this class of work—of helping the Maoris to become prosperous farmers. Is it fulfilling its proper functions in this direction, and, if not, who will come forward to see that this work is done ? The Isolation of Tongariro. The Tongariro district has 'ong been isolated lor lack of connecting roads, and even to-day vehicular communica'tion is almost impossible in winter time. The opening, of the AVaimarino road has been of great benefit and so has tho opening. of the road to Taupo along the eastern side of the lake, but these roads will bo of little cornmeij cial use until they are metalled, and this is a work that should bo undertaken as soon as possible. There are unlimited supplies of good metal in every part of the district; all the rivers on the eastern side of the ' lake run over wide beds of excellent gravely, one of the cheapest and best of materials for road-making, and between Tokaanu and Waimarino there is' no lack of either gravel or hard rock. The chief hope of the district, however, is the early construction of the Tongariro Timber Company’s line between Kakahi on tho Main Trunk and the shores of Lake Taupo, a few miles north of the Tokaanu. this line will simply revolutionise the Tongariro district, and in fact all parts of’ tho new province that lies within ten or fifteen or even twenty miles from the shores of Lake Taupo. At the present time it costs from. £5 to £l5 per ton simply to cart goods from tho nearest railway station to the most favourably situated parts, while further back the cost runs still higher. When Lake Taupo is linked up by rail with the Main Trunk line the railway freight will be very little more than it is now, and launches, or small steamers will be able to land goods on almost any part of the lake shores at a low cost. Since Taupo Lake has a shoreline of about 100 miles in length, and settlers could easily cart their own goods for distances of ten miles, it will be seen that the construction of the Tongariro Company’s line will benefit over 1000 square miles of country surrounding tho lake, apart from the country through which it runs, which will total nearly 800 square miles. High freights,' waste of time, and long bad ronds, have made insuperable barriers to settlement and land improvement. . Good and cheap communication will break down these barriers, and wo shall seq in a little while this Tongariro district entering the field as an exporter of dairy' produce and fat stock on a rapidly growing scale.