SETTLING PUMICE LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18520, 3 October 1923, Page 10

SETTLING PUMICE LANDS.

APPLYING HOMESTEAD ACT. GENERAL WAUCHOPE'S INTEREST. [BT. V TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J *' ' ROTOEUA. Tuesday. ; -.:, Major-General A. G. Wauchope, one of the British overseas settlement delofates, has been especially interesting himelf in the possibilities of the pumice lands for farming purposes and has travelled from Waimarino via Tokaanu, Taupo and Waiotapu to Rotoma. On his way" he. saw something of Mr. Earle Vaile's Broadlands estate and the Reporoa settlement. While in Rotorua ho visited the firms. of Messrs. Hardcastle and Gee and made careful inquiries regarding costs of breaking-in\ the land, manures, stock carrying capacity, ,and other practical matters. . : :-,.■'■' '

The general stated' that he was greatly impressed with the potentialities' of the pumice, areas for settlement if cheap lands and sympathetic Government assistance were offered, \ and especially if the Western Australian group system, which he much admires, were adopted. B!e believed that many Britishers could be successfully established, on the Crown Lands between Rotorua and Taupo, particularly those within reasonable distance of the railway at RoCorua, and 'promised his personal support for any/scheme'/"wider which the British, and New Zealand Governments could ■■ co-operate to promote the settlement of immigrants. There are large areas that were surveyed under the Homestead Act which were to have been Offered free to settlers and money advanced by the Government for improvements. Tho Imperial Government's offer of £ for £ subsidy should enable a large area of Crown Lands to be settled if the. Homestead Act were made to apply fo British settlers.