TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 August 1925, Page 8

TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

COMMISSJLONER’S KEPOKT. Following is the report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Air. J. Cook) on the Taranaki Land District lor the year ended March, lff’2-5. General. —The past year lias been a good one for the farming community, and the increased, jnjool ;and sheep prices have brought about a more healthy tone as regards the demand for grazing country. The lessons of the slump, however, have not been lost, and a' cautious view is generally adopted as regards the future _ price of dairy produce and wool. Climatic conditions generally have been good. A drv spell was experienced during the summer months, but this did not seriously affect the returns of butter-fat. The price of dairy stock appears to have become established at about prewar conditions, and the accepted view is that calculations based on not more than Is 4d per poundi for butter-fat are safest from tho dairying aspect. The menace of noxious weeds is always present in the lighter country used for dairying, and will constitute an increasing problem to the community as time goes on.

‘Tho reductions .effected by the Dominion Revaluation Board in connection with soldier settlement, and the inquiry conducted by the committee set op to report on deteriorating land, have, created an air of expectancy among Grown tenants generally. The unimproved value of Crown, land ;in parts of this district may require investigation, but every case should be considered on its merits, having regard Lo existing mortgages and the depreciation of securities brought about by the reversion of pastoral land into second growth. A disastrous cloud-burst visited parts of Whaugamoinona County last April, land losses .wjere incurred M>y many settlers. Low-lying fences were either buried under debris or carried away altogether. The damage to roads and' tracks made movement of stock impossible' in some localities lor many months, the Mangare Hoad settlers, near Whaugamoinona Township, being the worst sufferers in this respect. Much of the damage to roads has since been repaired by the Public Works De_ pertinent out of flood-damage votes, but the piles of logs against bridges, and the scars on the hillsides caused by numerous slips, still bear testimony to the severity of the cloud-burst. Fortunately the damage was confined to a comparatively small and welldefined area, although the general damage caused by the consequent heavy flooding of river courses affected a much larger area of country. There is a n increasing inquiry from Crown tenants as to the possibility of severance of portion of their leases, with the object of handing back to the Crown areas not considered suitable for development. Where these rough corners adjoin existing reserves the desire may be; met, but the creation of unoccupied areas of Crown land, frequently without access, cannot commend itself. The survey and legal costs involved in arranging such partial surrenders are generally overlooked by the lessees. A disturbing matter is th e increase in the. number of rabbits seen in Southern Taranaki. The spread into the AVhangamomona County from the Olmra County has doubtless been effected through the Tangarakau Gorge, and every effort should be made to combat this added pest to the many under which Crown tenants and others in Central Taranaki are labouring. An established good price for mutton and wool for a period may, do more to solve the problem of deterioration than anything else. The necessity for fencing and! running dry cattle is generally accepted, and' the incentive to do this will he supplied through a healthy demand for grazing country, brought about by good prices for mutton and wool

Lands opened for Selection. —No new blocks have l>een opened during the year. The total area offered is 11,492 acres, comprising re-selections to a great extent. The cost of reading unopened areas of Grown land is in most eases a deterrent to the opening of such areas, as the surveyed blocks available are in localities remote from existing roads. The total number of new tenants during the year is 82, the area selected being 9958 acres. Land Board Work. —Meetings of the board have bee u held on 29 days during the year, the total number of items dealt with being 1083. Mr. C. J. Itvan was re-elected a member by the Grown tenants for a further term. 1 desire to record my appreciation of the assistance given me by the members of the board, whose local knowledge and experience have been of great assistance always. Revenue and Arrears.—The total Crown Lands revenue received for the year was 3)100,139. The arrears total £13,122, and postponements £8475, which includes rents postponed by the Dominion Revaluation Board. Generally the position as regards collection of revenue lias been similar to last year. Many tenants consider that a debt to the Grown is a matter for arrangement, andi forfeitures have been resorted to in a. number of cases. The Freehold Tenure. —In connection with freeholding under the- provisions of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act the sum of £28,504 lias been received. Other freeholds have been purchased to the amount of £8359.” This shows a substantial increase on last year’s returns for freeholds.

Lands Remaining for Selection. — These mostly comprise wooded country without access, and the placing of this land op the. market will require careful consideration. The Tau m a tarn all oe, Whakaihuwako, and Heao Blocks, near the Wanganui River, comprise papa nnd .sandstone ridges costly to road, and no demand exists at present for this class of country. There are other small blocks in various parts of my district, but the time is not considered opportune to proceed with the necessary acquisition of roads and construction thereof in order to open these lands for selection.