STEADY PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 97, 21 October 1932, Page 6

STEADY PROGRESS

LAND DEVELOPMENT

I UNOCCUPIED CROWN AREAS

Steady progress with its programme of land development was made by the Lands Department during the last financial year. The annual report, submitted to Parliament to-day, indicates that the expenditure to date on development works associated with the several areas of unoccupied Crown lands on hand is close on £.400,000. ■The expenditure to date on the blocks covered is £.172,342, made up as follows:—Wharekohe, £4657; Ngakurli No. 1, £21,506, inculding £1010 for live stodc; Ngakuru No. 2, £42,268, including £2135 for live stock; Te Kauwhata, £32,744,. including £3141 for live stock; Onepu, £8571, including £383 for live stock; Koromatua, £2824; , Galatea* £17,559, including £7500 for live stock; Whangamarino, £2261; Mangatutu, £2525; Tapuwae, £14,477, including £3717 for live stock; Kakariki, £11,237; Ngamahanga, £10,809, in addition to which there has been expenditure on roading, surveys, and development, apart from roading costs payable out of the, Public Works Fund of £196,050. No developed allotments had been disposed of at 31st March, but 38 sections were to bo disposed of early this year. Loans to Crown tenants for the development of their sections up to 31st March numbered 324, representing actual advances of £67,227. -These were for bush-felling, ploughing, grassing, fencing, drainage, provision of water supplies, erection and repair of buildings, and purchases of manure and grass seed. , The report indicates that the system of granting development loans to settlers holding or taking up undeveloped land was producing good results, resulting in the selection of numerous areas of more or less inferior country by a good practical type of settler.