TAURANGI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18026, 27 February 1922, Page 10

TAURANGI

LAID OP PKOMISE, WELL-FOUNDED PROSPERITY CENTOH Of Bid DISTRICT. LAND AWAITING SETTLERS. POPULAR BOLLDAY RESORT. Tauranga is the principal town in the Bay of Plenty Mid favoured with a splendid climate and outlook; it haa aptly been named "Tho Laud of Promise." In spite of drawbaclts due to its temporary isolation Tanranga stands to-day, by reason of its geographical position and its rich and incomparable endowments, as a town and district old in 6tory yet on the eve of great expansion. Lying practically midway between the 37th and 38th parallels of south latitude—six degrees nearer the equator than Nico, only a little further away than Tunis, nearer than Tokio, as near as San Francisco, and on the same parallel as Melbourne—Tauranga faces the rising sun without any impeding hills, and enjoys a maximum of sunshine throughout the year. This advantage is enhanced by a range of hills which encircle the town except to seaward. From the town itself the country rises gradually for some 20 miles, until it reaches the summit of this range at a height of 2000 ft. The hottest days in summer are invariably followed by delightfully cool nights, and the winters, though sometimes keen, are never severe. A review of the climatic records reveals the fact that Tauranga lias a most genial climate comparing favourably with all and excelling many of the noted cities throughout the world. The average annual rainfall is 50.09 in., the average temperature in the hottest month is 65.6 degrees, and the average in the coldest month 50.6 degrees. The town of Tauranga is situated on a sheltered peninsula running north and south in tho beautiful land-locked harbouv which r, prote:tcd from the Pacific by an island 18 miies long. At the comparatively narrow 'rat deep entrance stands Mount Mnunsauui, which rises to a height of 762 ft. The summit, which is easily reached, affords a splendid view of land and sea, and at the base of the mountain there is a safe and extensive beach where surf-bathing is enjoyed by the visitors who come from near and far. Tauranga is an ideal residential town, and is continually attracting newcomers,

especially from the South. It is well placed an a distributing centre, and with its excellent electricity system offers special facilities for the establishment of many profitable industries. Its country lands are admirably adapted for mixed farming and fruitgrowing add are responding generously to cultivation. The rich natural endowments, the genial climate, and the large areas awaiting workers must ensure further expansion. The local people have shown commendable enterprise, and are now itioving for the construction of a light railway from tho port to Mamaku as a means of opening up thousands of acres of new country. The town is the natural port for an immense area of fertile country, extending over 120 miles coastwise in each 42 miles bland to ißotoruaj and 50 miles to the Waikato. The Bay of Plenty has only three people to every square mile of country, and if New Zealand's entire population were distributed throughout the fine areas in the Bay every man, woman, and child would nave about two acres each. Tauranga is one of the oldest settlements in New Zealand, Prior to the Maori War considerable busineaii was transacted by the early traders, who bartered with the .Maoris and shipped the produce thus obtained to Auckland by sailing vessels. Then war broke out and Tauranga became a military centre. Warships made regular visits to the port, and British troops were quartered in the town. The ; opposing forces fought battles in the locality, notably at Gate Pa and Tcranga, and the fortifications still visible 'and the memorials overlooking the harbour near the town bear . testimony to the ' fierceness of the strife. With the advent '' of peace the town steadily developed, and j laUr, when the tourist traffic to jßotorua ' passed through the town, there was con- 'i ••'-able business activity.' The .railway ( ntorua, however, diverted lhat traffic, | a period of depression ensued. Fol- j lowing on this the development of the dairying and farming,industries ushered'' in a reign of prosperity that laid .the foundation for the progress which has con- , hGTOd to tie present day. Hundreds of ww hemes have been built, and thousands £ w 0t ™S>n county ha ™ been made to bear crops and fatten herds. ProgreH l Jsf "» Peopk and the increE ! population has enabled Taaranga to main- e torn .te position as the moet thickly pmra. lated town in the Bay of Plenty/ P * ■In th 9 borough of 875 acres there were * 2254 people at the last censuT Tht r borough was constituted Li 1882 atdfZ < 1910 gas maintained such t atitnowhidsfairtecompetlS l^ other r-w y wrfi? centres of thi Kcrtn. i__l. i'k »• I

bowagh is £655,408, and the ratable valu's, on tiie annual value system, is £37,0257 A general rate of Is 6d in the £ is being collected under the above system with special rates totalling lid and a drainage rate of 7d in a special area. The town area haa a good drainage system connected to septic tanks which discharge into the sea. The water supply, which is brought from the Waiorohi River nine miles away, is plentiful and pure, the water being exceptionally soft. The supply is also laid on to districts to the southward of the town, including Gate Pa, of historic fame, a closely-settled area outside the borough. The hydroelectrio scheme, owned by the borough council, is very extensive, the system embracing over 60 miles of reticulation. The water power is obtained at the Omanawa Falls 18 miles from the town, where a 1300 horse power generator has replaced the original one of 300 horse power installed six years ago. In addition to supplying current to the houses, and streets in the borough, the service is taken inland to about 80 dairy farms, somo of which operate all their machinery by electricity. The town claims to have the greatest consumption of electrical onorgy per head of population of any town in New Zealand. The business premises include numerous concrete buildings recently erected and all the shopkeepers are doing good business. There is not a vacant shop in the town and numerous requests for vacant premises are received from all over tlw Dominion. The Government buildings and town hall on elevated sites are two splendid structures. The Strand, with a pleasing outlook to the harbour, 'is the main business thoroughfare, but the shop area is spreading to the south and west in response to an insistent demand for more shops. The popularity of Tauranga as a residential aud holiday resort is largely due to the fact that it caters in a marked degree for nearly all classes of sport. A large fleet of launches and numerous sailing craft find a home in the well-sheltered harbour. The regatta, yacht and powerboat, swimming and rowing clubs oontrol aquatic sport and co-ordinate their efforts in the regatta at Christmas time. The domain meets the requirements of tennis, croquet, bowls, football, hockey, cricket and athletic sports, there being well-kept areas for each department of sport. The bowling club holds an annual tournament, which i 3 very well patronised by p'ayers from all over the North Island. The domain ais charmingly situated close to the town, on the western side of the peninsula. It is planted with trees and shrubs, and the entrance is 6et off with handsome memorial gates, which have been erected at a cost of over £1000, as a memorial to the young men of the district who gave their liven in the war. Excellent golf links are maintained on the Gate Pa racecourse, between three and four mi'es from town. The racecourse has a track over a mile in circumference. Fere the annual totalisator race meeting ig conducted in Pe'ember by the Bay of Plenty Jockey Club.

HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT. LARGE SCHEME IN VIEW. Tauranga possesses the best natural harbour on the East Coast between Auckland and Wellington. A few years ago, at the request of the Harbour Board, the well-known marine engineer, Mr. J. Blair Mason, prepared a comprehensive scheme for the development of the harSour. Subsequently a poll of ratepayers was taken, and authority was given to the board to borrow £125,000 for harbour works. None of the loan money lias yet been borrowed, but it is the board's intention, as soon as the market is favourable, to obtain money and commence certain wprks. Negotiations are now proceeding between the boaid and the Public Work*. Department, relative to the wharves and other facilities at Tauranga, on the western sido of the harbour, the department's estimate for which is £70,000. Vessels drawing 21ft. can now enter the port. The board's objeotivo is' to make the port available for ocean-going ships, and when that stage of harbour development is reached, it is anticipated that the expansion of the farming industries will wan-ant the erection of freezing works arid cool stores close to !tbe harbour. The steady growth of shipping is manifested by the fact that the Harbour Board's revenue last year was a record. When thoroughly developed the harbour will be one of the district's .greatest assets. '. The exports for last year totalled ,6325 tons, and as an indication of the .relative quantities of cargo handled, '"-«* month's export figures may bo .quoted. These are: 138 cattle, 163 tons butter, 14 tons fruit, 69 tons hemp, 51 tons wool, 109 tons maize, 25 tons eggs, eight tons hides and sheepskins, five tons tallow, and 177 tons general. Near the town the railway bridge for the East Coast line is being built across the harbour. All the concrete piers are in position, and the steel work is being prepared at the department's workshops at Mount Maunganui. The bm railway embankment from Matapihi to the bridge is nearing completion, and tie rails are laid from Te Maunga Junction up to the embankment. The commercial activities of the Tauranga district are augmented by the operation of sawmills in the bush areas to the southward. These enterprises are SS, outside capital, and a large » Mien by acow to AackhuuL

growing of citrus fruits. Lemon culture is followed by many small landowners, and Poorman oranges are also largely grown. Lemon trees in this district oonimenco bearing at about five years, b'jtt do not reach full profit until they are about tea years old. The Department of Agriculture, in a desire to assist the in- , dustry, established a large citrus area at the Tauranga Horticultural Station a few years ago, and there the grower embarking in the industry has been able to obtain valuable information. A duty has recently been placed on imported citrus pulp, and there is now an incentive for more people to join th« ranks of lemon-growers. A number of new growers have settled in the district lately, • and old orchardists have extended their groves, The question of curing lemons is now claiming the attention of an expert, and if the problem is mastered the " Tauranga " brand of lemons is likely to make a good name for itself. Maize is the principal cereal grown in the district. It docs well, and on the heavier soils, especially on the rioh peninsula areas between tauranga and Katikati, yields of one hundred bushels to the acre have been obtained. In) former days wheat was extensively grown by the natives, and flourmills were kept busy in the district, but to-day only a little Wheat is grown. barley thrive, and a good deal of oaten chaff is shipped to Auckland. The kumiknmi, belonging to the gourd family, a very heavy cropper and unsurpassable as winter feed for cattle, sheep, and pigs, grows to perfection. Lucerne, the best of fodder crops, grows prolificacy, and where properly treated gives handsome returns. Many farmers grow lucerne extensively, and after feeding their own stock send the surplus hay to Auckland, where it meets a ready sale. .'Swedes, turnips, potatoes, kumaras, and all kinds of root crops do well. As a locality for the raising of early vegetables the'lands near the seaboard offer great advantages owing to the mildness of the winter. The district is eminently adapted" for poultry-keeping. The climatic conditions and tho suitability of the locality for growing grain favour the industry. Nearly all the epvs are supplied to the Auckland Co-operative Ebb Sbcietv. Ltd.. which has ft local representative. _ The industry is on a sound basis, and brings in a large sum of money 'to the district every month. It may be confidently claimed that no district in New Zealand offers such inducements_ for successful poultry keeping 88 does this portion of the Bay of Plenty. Bee-keeping receives a good deal of attention in the district, and is Attended with payable results. Tobacco crops are> now doing well near th« town, and tho iadusfay 5a growing.