Northland’s Progress Amazes Waikato Man

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1939, Page 4

Northland’s Progress Amazes Waikato Man

Revisiting Northland after an absence of 36 years, Mr H. Gadd, a retired business man from Hamilton, is greatly impressed with the progress of the province.

Accompanied by Messrs C. H. and H. J. Grimmer, also of Hamilton, Mr Gadd arrived in Whangarei yesterday afternoon by car on his way to Russell, Kerikeri and the Far North. Improved Highways. “The improvements to the Northland highways are amazing,” he said, when chatting with a “Northern Advocate” representative. “I remember having to ride on horseback from Wai'pu to Whangarei 36 years ago. The roads then were disgusting and were ankle-deep in mud.” Mr Gadd likens the changes in Northland to those which have taken place in the Waikato district, but considers Northland’s rate of progress much swifter than that in any other part of the Dominion, • Early Impressions Misplaced. “On my last visit I contemplated entering into business in the Whangarei district, but considered this part of the country so backward and lacking in enterprise that I concentrated my activities elsewhere,” he said.

“I now have no hesitation in admitting that my judgment was at fault. Northland’s progress is amazing.” Northland’s farm lands and cattle compared more than favourably with that of the Hamilton district, Mr Gadd considered. This was in spite of the fact that Waikato is considered to be the foremost dairying district of the Dominion, and good farming land commands prices from upwards of £7O per acre.

“Delightful” and “amazing” were words Mr Gadd frequently used in his comments on Northland’s expansion over* the past 30 years or more.