PUMICE LANDS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 16, 18 July 1918, Page 7

PUMICE LANDS

"SUCCESSFUL SETTLEMENT

POSSIBLE."

Of recent times a good deal of experimental work has been dons on pumice lands in the central districts of the North Island. In this connection the Board of Agriculturo has reported as follows to the New Zealand Council of Agriculture :'■ —"The enormous area of land on the central plateau in the North Island, which may be classed as puiiiice Innd, justified a further considerable amount,of attention being paid to the best and most economical way of dealing with this question. It has now been shown that successful settlement can take place and good returns be secured from lands which in earlier times were looked upon as useless. Certain pioneers have done great work in demonstrating.their value. Large areas, possibly, are only suitable for the growth of timber, but other areas which come within a reasonable distance of the railway system, or its likely extension, are clearly suitable for setting aside for. settlement purposes, and the board.' thought it possible that some further experiments in the way of • grassing, manures, and the system to be adopted should be carried out. To that end we requested that tha Department report upon the subject..'-