KARAKA DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 3

KARAKA DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT.

A cr.F.AT industry seems to be in. store fori the above district in the near future. Mr. William, the proprietor 'of a jarge portion of the district, extending from Drury to , Mauku, on each, side of : the road, by judi- ;< , ciously expending capital anil/employing »;* large amount of labour, and converting hill and valley into pasture land, has quito changed the whole feature of that country, which used, only a few years ago, to he at' ;•.:' dreary ride of 13 miles. Now it is an everchanging scene of grass paddocks, v turnips, ; : and large stacks of oats, some 80 acres having been grown at Hie Drury end of tho. block. The main road lines are fenced, and there are subdivision fences in every direction. Near what is known as "The Black Bridge, a good homestead has been erected,' with outbuildings, sheep pens,' and stackyard--. Sheep are also on the property to .',; the number of thousands. Having gone this ,; far, Mr. Williami calls a hilt, and with hias usual far-sightedness, considers there is now i something in it for the small settler, and so."-'. he hits determined to let them have the y benefit of it. if they are so inclined, having made up his mind to cut up his largo estate into mi table farms of about 100 acres each. On each farm he will, erect- cottage, cowshed, yards, and buildings suitable for .dairy farming. He will also lay down at once a few acre* -on each lot in rye grass for cutting the following season. He will also see that a creamery is erected .in a .suitable locality to inert the / requirements of the farms. f This he is prepared to do through some company, but failing that he will do i; it. himself, for on that depends the future success of the farm owners he Lopes to get to take up the property. On the lower end of the Wo."!;, near the salt water creek, Richmond Park, which he purchased from the late Mr. William A itken, he purpose* turning into .-. stud farm for the careful breed- . ing of stock. Having determined to carry- ! out the above ideas, Mr. Williams has mad-: no delay, foi the work of laying out the l farms is now proceeding, anil ploughs are turning over the land on ieaeh section that ' will be put into rye grass. The farms are, I believe, to be leased on easy terms, with the right of purchase, or they can be bough* right out. The proposition of Mr. Williams is indeed a work of great importance, as it must mean the exnort of more produce from our colony, and the locating of morn industrious settlers on what was at one tirno considered to be very inferior land, and had a bad name for years, but Mr. Williams, by the use of capital, and under the judicious management of Mr. J. Flanagan, lias shown the capabilities 'of the Karaka lands, and as time moves along we may hope to see comfortable homes and a good population, which will be change throe in thnt, district. The first condition was. hills and valleys covered with scrub and fern; the socond, grass having taken the plape of the scrub, affording abundant pasture*f6r,largoflocks of sheep; and the third, sheep replaced by milking cows, happy homes for"' men, women, and children. After all theso beneficial changes, who will dare to call » capitalist a "Social Best?" All honor. J say, to Mr. Williams. A few more , lik» him would be good for our "over-loaned" colony.— Correspondent.] .'