Government To Develop Kapiro Ironstone Lands

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1947, Page 4

Government To Develop Kapiro Ironstone Lands

(Special) KAEO, This Day. KAPIRO Block, near Waipapa, in the northern corner of the Bay of Islands County, is to be developed for farming by the State.

This is a revolutionary step for agriculture in the North. Kapiro is an area of roughly 3000 acres, mainly ironstone with a loam overlay.

It is already Crown land, part of a'huge area of rolling, well-watered land that has proved in small experimental areas its ability to hold good pastures and carry healthy stock.

Development of Kapiro has been a favourite proposal in the Middle North for many years past. Farmers and local body men have long seen its possibilities, but have realised that to bring the land in from its present state of low scrub, hakea and gorse would be far beyond the resources of individual settlers.

ling wire, give rise to serious problems in bringing in new land. “For this reason the department has been compelled to pay more attention to those blocks which do not require the large-scale use of such materials as are in short supply. “It is appreciated that the development of Kapiro would prove a worthwhile contribution to farming progress in this district. “It has accordingly been decided to put in hand at once the scheming of the block, with a view to starting its development as early as possible. The necessary instructions in this connection have already been issued.”

Kapiro has a long record of visits by Government Ministers and representatives. Before the war, the Prime Minister stood on the experimental area—which motorists will recall as the last clean paddock to their right as they travel nortn from Waipapa along the ironstone highway towards Kaeo—and discussed its prospects with the chairman of the Bay of Islands County Council (Mr H. T. Atkinson). Two other Ministers, Messrs C. F. Skinner and E. C. Cullen, have seen it only this year. Reports have flowed into the departmental pigeonholes in Wellington. And this week the Whangaroa County Council, v/hich, in March, took a hand in a local deputation waiting on Mr Skinner in connection with the area, received advice from that Minister that Kapiro would be developed.

STEEPER COUNTRY NOT YET With regard to Omahuta and Nisbet’s blocks, the Minister said that, after an inspection, it had been concluded that the time was not opportune to undertake development work on that class of country. “After country of easier contour, such as Kapiro, has been brought into full production, the farming potential of the steeper and less attractive lands such as Omahuta and Nisbet’s will possibly be improved, but as the situation exists at present the bringing in of this type of country is not considered to be an economic proposition.” Chairman of the Whangaroa council (Cr T. H. Hayes) remarked that, in his opinion, Omahuta was beautiful farming country and would come in splendidly. However, he was very gratified with the Minister’s response to the representations on the subject at Kapiro. It would unquestionably be a tremendous benefit to the North.

MINISTER’S LETTER “During my visit to Kaeo on March 12 I met a deputation which suggested development of the Kapiro Block, also of two areas in Whangaroa County known as Omahuta and Nisbet’s” wrote the Minister. “On returning to Wellington I had investigations made arid I can now report on the position. “Kapiro is of an easy contour and the experiments which have been conducted there prove that pastures can be successfully established on this type of country. “At the present time, difficulties of materials essentials for large-scale development operations, especially fenc-