THE OPOURIAO ESTATE.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 165, 29 January 1896, Page 2

THE OPOURIAO ESTATE.

Mr Gerhard Mueller, Commissioner of Crown Lands, arrived here unexpectedly on Wednesday night from Whakatane, where he had boon engaged in furthering the arrangements for the leasing of the Opouriao Estate, applications for which will he received up to 12th Fohruary. At Whakatane Mr Mueller was joined by Mr Reaney, district engineer, awl together they made a tour of the whole property for the purpose of ascertaining which of the roads intended to afford the settlers access to the existing main road ought to be first undertaken. The homestead is situated about ten miles from Whakatane and communication is established by means of a well-formed cartroad. The estate comprises 6,504 acres, and has been subdivided into -1-1 sections, of from 00 to 300 acres, and 15 ranging from (> to '2'2 acres. Tt is nearly all level land with the exception of a small portion at the back and is well watered by the Waiinana and Whakatane rivers and numerous creeks. The fertility of the soil is vouched for by the fact that, from 40 to HO bushels of maize is the usual yield. The natives grow maize extensively on the other side of the confiscation boundary, a recent visitor having noticed over 400 acres under cultivation in this fashion. The road now under construction from Rotorua to "Whakatane, via 'Te Teko, wiil enable settlers to supply the Waikato and Auckland markets with stock easily and profitably. The distance to Rotorua is about 55 miles. Messrs Mueller and Reaney also inspected the Waimana Block which lies to the cast of Opouriao, between it and the coast. They left Opouriao on Tuesday morning at 7 o'clock, and proceeding up the Whakatane Valley to the Ruatoki native settlement they crossed over by the Raugi-taiki-Ruatoki road into the Rangitaiki Valley and so up the river to Galatea. Mr Mueller then came on to Rotorua, but Mr Reaney, being joined by Mr Knowles, chief accountant of the Lands and Survey Department, went on to Te Whaiti, each having business in that locality.