ONE TREE POINT

Northern Advocate, 6 May 1930, Page 3

ONE TREE POINT

SETTLEMENT OP DISTRICT. MINISTER MAKES INSPECTION. The Minister- of Lands, the Hon.* (t. ■\V. Forbes, visited One 'free Point on Sunday afternoon, and made a. thorough. inspection of between 3000 and 4000. acres of land in the vicinity, the settlement of which the Government is being asked to expedite. The launch party (which had previously visited Bream Head) were met at the One Tree Point wharf by a large number of residents, including ladies. Mr W; H. Cbetham, chairman of tlio Ruakaka Ratepayers’ Association, welcomed the Hon. Forbes in a few happy words. Ho said that the Hon. McLeod had given the district a start, and it was hoped-that the present. Government would hurry on the work of settlement; There were something like 3090 acres awaiting- development, and some of the settlers hqd. proved that the land could bo brought to profit at comparatively little cost. It was-hoped’ that Cm Minister would gO over the arpas and see for himself the-laipl and its, possibilities.

Mr John Main,, then read the*following, signed’ by Mtossrs.- J. Main,. K.. L. Paddison, W. M. Main, C. D. Neale, A, Itussek, J-. Olsen, E. Main, Sidney i B’ood. and W. H-. Ghetham: I haye been requested by eight residents and iproperty qwimrs- nqt as yet members q£ the association. at this end, of the dis- ; trusts,, thp waterfront, to sincerely ithank Mr Forbes for his kipdness in coming; to help us,, also Mr Murdoch, .for past, assiatanpe and for bringing Mr iForb.ea along. ‘ T may .say, that these, I:eight—nine- including myself—petitioned Mr. Murdoch on. duly S last to hasten the metalling, of the One Tree Point Bond and also to assist us in. having an area of. swamp country drained and thrown open for settlement. Now this area of swamp Country, some 400 or JOO acres, me I

tnist wo can prove to you to be worthy of opening.. if is really an. old river bed self-reclaimed, and. the ridge of it, along the foreshore, in, farms, qre prqctieglly carrying g, eow to the aero, my, farm about KKf acres in pasture, the balance undeveloped, carrying 50 headi mostly cowsr The farm adjoining, of 2Q acres, has; boon carrying 17 cows, one horse and q, bull. The next farm of ten acres is carrying eight cows, and two acres are in vineyards. All that separates these three farms from the virgin Crown swamp is a 4ft by 4ft drain. This ■’swamp runs parallel and close- with ithe now- One -Tree Point road". It has a good’ fall to- the beach, and we think that all that would l bo required is one big drain up the centre. This Crown swamp is free of all noxious weeds. When your Mr Loekie, Government Valuer, valued; this locality about six weeks ago his valuation of the pasture wa-s £2.5 per acre. He said: it was really good country. The 20- acre farm above mentioned was sold auvonfh ago. at £SO: per acre cash dow,n. Iji conclusion, wo mnst say that at the itim.fi we approached Air Murdoch we did. not know- that Mr Murdoch him•self had. -advocated this drain up the ic.eutre of the swamp many years ago, 'so should you, Air Forbes, look at this i)with approval, it. is really Mr . Mur;do,eh who -should receive double credit'in farsce-ing the necessity for this .drain. i

Mr M. Pirihi, on. behalf of the Maoris in. the district, extended a gracious welcome to Mr Forbes. He .said it gavo’ them great pleasure to see him in the district, and hoped that lji« visit would give him pleasure aipl result in tile hastening-of settlement.

Mr For.b.os expressed, his thanks to the people of thg district for-: giving him sp'warm a welcome. His visit to the North was- for the purpose of opening up land, The Ooverument had ipajie provision whereby people who honestly wished to become farmers could be ass|sted to bring their land; into production. His object, wan to ’find, out what areas were suitable, and then to get the officers of his department to push on the settlement of them.

The party, were then taken to waiting., motors and driven over the whole district, the examination occupying about- two hours. A visit was first paid to the farm of Mr -T. Main, who surprised the Minister by the developmont which had taken place in five years. All ho had, done to the soil, which was exactly Die same as the bare ground in the . next paddock, which had not- yet been touched, was to top-dross will) ill c.wt of super each winter. It was improving every year. Paspaimn and clover were the grasses lie had grown. Mr .Main, referring to the swamp area, said there were between 400 and dOO acres Drat would make six dairy farms consisting of equal areas of high land and swamp.

1 Mr Campbell, the Commissioner of j Crown La mis, said the idea of the de- ! partment was to sortie first the move aeeosslbie andi drier positions of the district and then see what oonld be done with the other. “I may say,” eon tinned Mr Campbell, “that there will be 1000 acres advertised this word: or next.” “J'haf is very satisfactory,vein a rite d a settlor, I j A. vir.lt was then paid to the pvoj perty of M-’rs Maras, who. on ten acres lot land-, inns eight cows, which were j looking very sleek and contented', and makes about 170 gallons of wine per ' annum from a vineyard- which occuI pies about half an acre of land.

The Minister, ami his party were given a glass of most excellent wine, the product of the vineyard.

Speaking after his tour. of. the distinct, Mr Forbes said hK had had a most interesting' experience. Ke had not known what to expect, hut had .boon, most agreeably surprised at what ;l)ad been done in the district and at the prospects for future development. As a. farmer, lie saw difficulties in ■veloping the land, but the possibilities justified the confidence of the settlors. Ho would do what- ho could to further Ihp settlemept of the district.

Tn concluding, the Minister- made an announcement which mot with hearty approval. “Straight away,” he -said, “we will have our engineqrs report -on the -swamp so -as to get definite information about it. ’’ i

The members of the Euakaka Eatepayers ’ Association ware heartily thanked by Air Murdoch for the provision of cars.

The party- then anotored to the residence of Air Chetham, where a sumptuous afternoon tea. was provided by the ladies.

Air Forbes thanked the ladles for their hospitality, -after which the party returned to the wharf,, where, after ‘.farewells the journey to Whangarei was resumed, the town wharf being reached just before 7 o’clock.

Votes -of thanks to the Minister.,, the member for t-ljo. district, Alessrs Gardner and' Eeynnlds, Air Fraser and others were passed, and the pqi'ty dispersed.