NEW PROVINCE IN MAKING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20100, 10 November 1928, Page 10

NEW PROVINCE IN MAKING

REREWHAKAITU DISTRICT.

FINE FARMING COUNTRY. LAND READILY PLOUGHABLE SUITABILITY FOR LAMBS. [BY OUB BPECLAL COMMISSIONER. J No. VI. The first section of the North Island central railway, that running almost duo south from Rotorua, will pass through interesting and valuable country. There is the level Btrctch from Rotorua to Whakarewarewa, where are situated tho oldest timber plantations in the thermal district, and one of the most popular centres of geyser and hot-spring activity. This, of course, is a suburban section andwill serve a rapidly-growing residential population. The first few miles of the railway will tap large quantities of timber, much of which is ready for cutting, and a largo extent of small farm land. After passing through the short Hemo gorge the railway enters a wido space of rolling country. Adjacent to it to the eastward lie the most extensivo of established timber plantations, and beyond these a romantic region of lakes set amid scenes of thermal and volcanic wonders. To the westjward potential farm land spreads out to i tho high domes of Haparangi and llorahora. Enterprising Settlers. The passenger, travelling rapidly along tho Taupo Road by motor-car, sees nothing of the agricultural resources of tha country. Where tho land is not covered with dense exotic forest it is covered with scrub and fefn, which give it a drab and (barren appearance, but a little distance from the road which roughly fcfllows the ;route of tho railway there is some very fine land already worked in patches by enterprising settlers. To the westward of tho line are several extensive swamps already being turned into first-class farms, and some beautiful broad valleys calling for cultivation. Some oi the best soil, however, is to be found on the broad topped hills, most of which are capable of being ploughed. In this class of country the native covering is Very tall, and dense bracken fern which can be readily cleared by tho application i of a few matches, and on which pasture can be made by sowing seed "on the ashes with the addition of a dressing of phosphatic fertilisers. To the eastward of the central railway immediately south of Rotorua is that .wonderful group of six lakes which cluster round Lake Tarawera. They are famous for their beauties and volcanic wonders, and for their magnificent fishing, but no one associates them with such mundane things as settlement and agriculture. Room for Many Farms. Yet about their shores is scope for quite a largo number of farms, and beautiful homes could be made in their bays and on their headlands. Wherever the mud from the Tarawera eruption has been spread on ploughable couutry, grass can be established and crops grown. Recently I spent a long,' hot, but delightful Sunday exploring the country to the south of Lakes Rotomahana and Rerewhakaitu, which lie at the base of Mount Tarawera. The extent of potential farming country there is really surprising. At present Mrs. Gordon Wood, Mr. J. Faloona and Mr. J. Brett are handling about 36,000 acres as sheep and cattle runs, but this only forms a portion of the pleasant easy country, the ■ whole of which is readily ploughable. There is within easy reach of the North Island central railway route here over 50,000 acres of arable hind, the bulk of which received a thick top-dressing of Tarawera mud from the eruption of 1886 and which is well suited for small dairy farms or for lamb-fattening farms. An Excellent Sward. On tho three holdings mentioned there are, I should think, over 3000 acres in pasture, made up of English grasses, some put in with the plough, some surface-sown and some simply spread by stock. Practically none of this pasture has ever been manured and yet it forms an excellent sward and carries good stock. On Mr. J. Faloona's property I saw a large number of very fine lambs and since he has been carryiug and breeding lambs here for nearly 20 years it may bo classed as fat lamb, raising country. If these areas in the Rcrewhakautu district were fully improved I am confident they conld produce 50,000 lambs for export every year, besides a large number of other stock, and beyond Rerewhakaitu lie thousands and scores of thousands of acres of ploughable country. Some of the critics and opponents of the Rotorna-Taupo railway should take the trouble to visit the Rerewhakaitu district. I am sure they would be. most favourably impressed with tho character of the soil; with tho extent of tho territory and with its suitability for close settlement and high production. The fact of the matter is, most of tho land covered with the erupted material from Tarawera could and should be in moderaio sized dairy farms. A Favourable Climate. It is practically all ploughable; it carries English grasses well; it is healthy; it is most charming in its beauty; and it possesses a most delightful climate. If land settlement were encouraged as it should be and financial assistance available in reasonable terms, there could bo established hero hundreds of prosperous farmers. The new railway would help them materially to win success and they would help the railway. Tho area of land suitable for close settlement on tho first 10 or 12-milo section of tho llotorua-Taupo lino is not confined to the Rerewhakaitu or eastern side. 'lhere is on tho western side of the route, very extensive tracts 1 of arable land, and there are on both sides roads coming in from distant districts which would act as import ant feeders of tho railway. It would be an excellent thing if the State would make an aerial survey of the various districts through which the new railway will run and tako comprehensive photographs. Such work would he rapid; it need not be costly and it would show 'letter than anything elso what a vast' extent of country suitable for settlement there is in this part of tho North Island.