THE ARIA DISTRICT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 2694, 21 February 1929, Page 5

THE ARIA DISTRICT.

THE PROBLEMS TO BE OVERCOME.

The Aria township is situated in the centre of a district which has many natural advantages. Most of the country is of an undulating character and a small portion is steep. The land has proved its capacity for pastoral purposes. ■ In the township is an up-to-date butter factory capable of producing 600 to 700 tons of butter every year, but not as yet working to anything like its full capacity. The quality of the output has been the cause of numerous congratulatory comments by English purchasers, proving that the land is eminently suitable for dairying, and that the suppliers and management are both capable and thorough.

FIRST SETTLEMENT AT ARIA. The first settlement at Aria W'as under the Improved Farm Settlement Act and took place in 1903. Most of the men were single and formerly employed by the Public Works Department. Each was allotted 200 acres at no charge to begin with. •If the allotments comprised bush country, they were allowed 25s per acre for clearing. A sum of £lO was allowed for a whare and 201bs. of grass seed per acre after the land was cleared. The only difference in the case of married men was that £3O was allowed for a home. In all cases a certain amount of fencing wire was advanced and the whole expenditure and the price of the land capitalised. These men were the pioneers of the Aria district. ' Until the war they were happy and contented, but many have had ups and downs since the fateful days of 1914, and these have been accentuated by the ever-increas-ing problem of unoccupied native lands. As the district becomes more closely settled many of these difficulties will dissolve, for like many other parts of the King Country, the main drawbacks to the Aria district are connected with idle lands.

IMPROVEMENTS TO ROADS. At one time a large quantity of cream came from Mokauiti to the Aria factory, but owing to the bad state of the road between these two centres the supplies from this source dropped off, the cost of cartage being l%d per lb. It is now proposed to metal this road, which should be the means of adding to the suppliers to the Aria factory. Another roa-d of vital importance to the Aria district is one giving a more direct route to Mahoenui from the Totoro Road. This work only requires four miles of formation, and will be the means of diverting a large amount of stock traffic off the main highway between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth. ,

THE IDLE LANDS. There are large areas of undeveloped lands lying idle close to the_ Aria township. A study of the Waitomo map shows that within a radius of five miles of the township there are approximately 5000 acres of unoccupied lands, the bulk of which is suitable for dairying or sheep farming. Lying about 8 miles to the west of Aria is what is known as the Mahoenui block, owned by the Maoris. Some forty or fifty years ago this block was ‘in a high state of cultivation, this being the work of the Maoris. Apples, quinces, pears, taro, and cereals grew in profusion, and some of the fruit trees are still to be seen there. This land, however, has now- reverted to nature, and in addition carries many of the pests introduced by the white man. The land, however, is equal to anything to be found in the North Island. Some time ago a deputation waited on the Hon. Mr. Coates, the late Premier, to have this block acquired by the Government and thrown open for settlement, but no action was taken. NATIVE LANDS AND NOXIOUS WEEDS. There is not a great deal of unoccupied Crown land in the Aria district, but like other parts of the King Country, the native lands are a continual source of worry and anxiety to the settlers. On these Maori sections gorse and ragwort at this time of the year are to be seen in every direction. There has been an agitation throughout the Auckland Province to have decisive steps taken to stop the spread of ragwort, but a visit to the Aria district will show how impossible it is to cope with this menace effectively unless something is done to deal with these Maori lands. On the Totoro Road can be seen Maori sections one solid mass of yellow bloom four to six feet high. Where sheep alone are pastured the European farms are quite clean and there is no trouble with ragwort, but the dairy farmer, during the height of the season has to exercise the utmost vigilance in keeping his land clear of the pest, and this entails work. from daylight to dark.

THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF IDLE LAND.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. Notwithstanding the many handicaps the dairy farmer has to contend with, the output from the Aria factory will show a substantial increase this year. One well known farmer one and a-half miles from the factory has taken 12,0001bs of butterfat from 190 acres with a herd of 60 cows. This is not a singular case in the Aria district. A large portion of the Aria lands is eminently suitable for dairying, the bulk being limestone and papa country. There is no doubt that the Aria district is one that appeals for close settlement. The district has an abundant rainfall, and the land is easily worked and healthy. There has been no stock sickness in the district through soil deficiency. The 5000 acres close to Aria and the Mahoenui block does not represent the whole of the idle lands suitable for settlement in the Aria district, for along the Kumara, Totoro and iMokauiti roads there are tens of thousands of acres which can be brought under cultivation and made productive.

THE PARAKEKA VALLEY. Lying within three miles of the township of Aria in the Paraheka Valley, a sight that would give pleasure to anyone imbued with the farming sense. From a rise in the Kumara Road can be seen miles and miles of rich undulating, clean and healthy country, which is yet capable of further expansion in + he sheep and dairying industries. The farmers in this valley have evidently done well if the smiling homesteads and well kept farms are indications of prosperity. From a bird’s eye view, there appears to be no noxious growths in this valley, and this may be due to the fact that the settlfers stock sheep with their dairy herds.

COAL AND LIMESTONE. An imposing background tO’ the Paraheka Valley is the Waitewhenua Ranges. According to the Geological Department these ranges contain the largest coalfield in the Dominion, and the coal is the best of its kind. These coalfields are situated about six miles from Aria, and when proper access is provided, will become a valuable asset to the district and the Dominion.

Around Aria exists abundant quantites of high-grade limestone, and that along the Totoro Road is not to be beaten in the world, the Government analyst characterising it as containing 98.5 per cent, of lime. With the Wairere Falls, the present source of electrical power for the district, within three miles of Aria, these coal and limestone deposits must in time prove a source of wealth for the district. It is estimated that 1500 horse power can be obtained from the Wairere Falls, but less than a fourth of that has been developed up to the present for local requirements. It Is worthy of note that the Wairere scheme, at the headworks, is the cheapest of its kind in the Dominion.

OVERBURDENED WITH LAND. Like many other parts of the King Country, there are settlers in the Aria district who have taken up land, all of which they cannot farm. Acquiring Maori leases when the cost of bringing land under cultivation was less than half what it is to-day, these men found themselves faced with the impossible task of breaking in land at heavy cost while the value of their products slumped. They could not dispose of any part of their leases, and there was only one thing to do by concentrating on a portion and leaving the rest to nature. A case in point is that of a man who has leased 2400 acres, and is only cultivating 200 acres. On the balance he has to pay rates and rental, and it is a continual struggle for this man, besides many others in a similar position, to keep their heads above water.

FUTURE ASSURED. It might be said that one of the drawbacks to Aria is its isolated position. It is certainly off the beaten track, but with improved road communications and transport, this handicap will disappear. The reopening of the saleyards at Aria has been a boon to the district. Through the enterprise of the Aria and Pio Pio settlers the many advantages of electricity are available. The dairy factory is the most modern type, and capable of handling three times its present output. There is an abundance of limestone and rubble for roading purposes. There are no rabbits in the district. With all these advantages there is a great future for the Aria district when a land settlement scheme is put into operation and steps are taken to deal with the idle Maori lands.