LAND DEVELOPMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21708, 25 January 1934, Page 13

LAND DEVELOPMENT

KING COUNTRY DISTRICT SMALL FARMS SCHEME DAIRY COMPANY INSPECTION [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] TE KUITI, Wednesday The special committee set up by the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, to go into the matter of the erection of a butter factory in Te Kuiti, visited the district yesterday and to-day. The party was headed by Mr. Dynes Fulton, chairman of directors of the company. The party was met by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., and Mr. W. S. Cato, president of the Chamber of Commerce, who conducted the tour of the district.

The visitors first inspected the Mangarapa Valley and then went through Hangatiki to the Mangarewa and Mangapu Valleys, where large fertile areas, several thousands of acres in extent, have been reclaimed by the Mangapu Drainage Board. A halt was made at the property of Mr. J. W. Lee, where from an eminence Mr. Broadfoot pointed out the potentialities of the picturesque kahika tea-fringed valley, which stretched away to the foothills in the west beyond the Waitomo Caves. It was stated that this valley would soon be carrying dozens of new settlers under the small farm scheme.

Sheep and Cattle Country

The party proceeded through Oparure, passing excellent sheep and cattle couptry. On the return journey they visited the source of the company's top-dressing supply, the lime works situated just south of the town. After lunch the party inspected the newly-developed country under the small farm scheme at Rangitoto. It was there that the visitors met their greatest surprise. Situated on a tableland 800 ft. high, 12 newly-erected and neatly-painted four-roomed cottages met the eye. Four of these cottages are already occupied. Each holding is from 60 to 120 acres and is equipped with an up-to-date four-cow milking shed, with a concrete floor, dairy and separator room, and a concrete 3 r ard with water trough. The water is reticulated to each farmlet from a leading spring on the high country by means of second-hand piping brought from the StratfordOhura railway works by the Public Works Department, which is responsible for this development scheme. The area •of 2000 acres, which was purchased by the Government for £6OOO, was a sheep and cattle station, which originally had two homesteads of five rooms. The additional 12 fourroomed cottages have been erected at a contract price of £3840, an average of £320 a cottage. Settlement Flans Within a few more months, 13 extra settlers, with an average of three a family, will be comfortably settled. Bosides 30 married men, there are 50 single men in the Rangitoto camp, most of whom have expressed a desire to take up holdings. These men arp accommodated in canvas hutments. Already 380 acres are in grass, on which are grazing 600 ewes and lambs and 50 Polled Angus bullocks. A herd oi six cows supplies the milk.' An area of 40 acres is planted in swedes and there are areas of one acre each of carrots, parsnips, cabbages and pumpkins. The visitors were highly pleased with what they had seen and congratulated the settlers. The party to-day visited Waimiha and the Mokauiti and Tangitu districts. \