Bay County

Northern Advocate, 30 July 1949, Page 4

Bay County

An incredible amount of undeveloped acreage in Bay of Islands County alone was shown by figures in the thesis presented by the county chairman (Mr H. T. Atkinson) at the idle lands conference in Kaikohe.

There is a total of more than 217,000 acres of land in the county which could be better developed. Of this, 101,653 acres are land occupied by Maoris and partly developed, yet capable of more intensive development.

The remaining 116,059 acres is purely “idle lands." EXTENSIVE CROWN LANDS: Idle Crown lands total 68,255 acres; 36,341 acres capable of development, 31,914 suitable for afforestation only. MAORI LANDS: Maori land lying idle totals 47,804 acres; 30,557 acres being capable of development and 17,247 acres suitable for afforestation. Thus, 66,898 acres of Crown or Maori land are lying idle but could be developed and 49,161 acres of Crown or Maori land is idle but could be afforested.

EUROPEAN - OWNED: Europeanowned land at present unimproved but capable of improvements totals 16,684 acres. Another 5028 acres of idle European land is suitable for forests. Total European land in the county is 289,503 acres, of which 267,791 acres are improved or under improvement. IN KERIKERI RIDING: Kerikeri riding is well out in the lead for unused spaces. It possess 26.280 acres of Crown land not being used but able to be developed, 4000 acres of similar Maori land and 9000 acres of similar European land—a total of nearly 40,000 acres. In addition, it has 2107 acres of Crown land suitable for afforestation.

Improved or partly-improved lands under all titles in Kerikeri riding total just under 42,000 acres. THE IRONSTONE BLOCKS: A considerable addendum to the Bay of Islands report dealt with the ironstone land at Pungaere and Kapiro, in the Kerikeri riding and extending well across the county boundary into Whangaroa. In the Pungaere block, it was stated, there are 12,000 acres of ironstone land, undulating and suitable for tractor cultivation, well watered by streams, possessing good road access and overlooking the sea. These 12,000 acres adjoin a further large area extending to the county boundary and beyond. In the middle of it is a Government experimental block which has been established—like an oasis in a desert—over a period of 15 years, showing splendid results. The Kapiro block of 2500 acres is similar to Pungaere. The Wiroa block of 3432 acres, also similar to Pungaere, has the Kerikeri aerodrome in its midst. It was noted that aeronautical authorities have found a major problem on their hands in subduing the clover growth on the drome.

The Rangitane block of 962 acres, situated on a peninsula of the sea, has soil heavier than that of Pungaere. The Puketi block of 986 acres adjoins the Puketi State Forest on the KaeoOkaihau (Waiare) road. Its soil is the same as that at Pungaere. The Pukewhau and Okura block of 6400 acres slopes from the Bulls Road down to the sea at Kerikeri Inlet. It slopes to the sun, is well watered and has a warm situation. The soil is of a friable clay nature and, when well limed, grows good grass and clover. It is well timbered with puriri, totara, etc.

In the riding there are also 4000 acres of Maori and 9000 acres of European land of similar description, interspersed in tine Crown blocks.