PUMICE OKCHARDRY.

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 9

PUMICE OKCHARDRY.

UTILISING THE LAND

Discussing "Traveller's" recent article on the afforestation of the Kaingaroa Plains, Mr.' H. Hill, of Tahorepo, Taupo, in a letter to "The Post,' > advocates the utilisation of the pumice lands not so much for trees'as for production that will support settlers. He^strcsses the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. He wishes "Traveller" had called on him, to ,see his stone, pip, and berry fruits, also representative vegetables, all growing to perfection. American science has made- the Sandwich Islands' volcanic country ("almost identical with Kaiangaroa pumice") an unlimited producer of pineapple, sugar, tobacco, grapefruit, etc. Irrigation enabled that to be done there, and could do the same for the puniice plateau. "The waterless plateau" has no meaning, as there is plenty? of artesian water. "Our officials' want a transfusion of the spirit and intelligence of the Hawaiian experimental instructors, and I feel certain that a settlement of young men could be established on Kaingaroa near to Opepe for example. Galatea to the north of the Kaingaroa is awaiting settlement, and I know no reason why settlement should not bo formed down tho whole length of the Rangitaiki River, from Loch Invcr right away to Galatea on either bank of the river. And how much better to expend twenty or thirty thousand pounds-in settling young men for homo-making instead of keeping them lolling and hanging about because, forsooth, no employment is available beyond two or three days a week." Mr. Hill proceeds to quote from a paper read by him in I-lawke's Bay:—■ "The whole of the plateau is dry and waterless. Hundreds of canal-liko channels run through tho country. They are waterless, but suggest that at one time streams of water passed down them. The plateau is surrounded by mountains varying from 3000 ft to 4000 ft in height, the south-west corner being occupied by Lake; Taupo, 25 miles long by 16 miles broad. The mineral volcanic product familiarly known as pumice, is seemingly storilo and useless for industrial purposes. From Runanga to Taupo, a distance of 35 miles, the characteristic material that does duty as soil is grit and pebbly pumice.... Notwithstanding the generally supposed sterility of pumice, its constituents contain every essential ingredient that goes to the making of plant food, except lime. "The greater part of a mass of pumice consists Of silica and alumina, which in a state of chemical combination form clay. The same-mass of pumice contains soda and magnesia, which go to form a part of every rich soil. Again, the same mass contains potash, which is another essential of soil fertility .... It is a district where there is available material supplies for tho production of light, heat, and power, and where sulphur areas await the utilisation of hydro-electrical power and help of the chemist to prorlucc fertilisers for the volcanic lands."

The International cable Dews appearing In thla Issue la published by arrangement "with the Australian Press Association and tUo ["Sun," "tfctald," Kcwa Office, Limited,