GALATEA ESTATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21729, 19 February 1934, Page 10

GALATEA ESTATE

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT v" " " IMPRESSED WITH PROPERTY PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT 23 FARMS READY IN APRIL [BT TELEPHONE —SPECIAL REPORTER] ROTORUA, Sunday The progress made in the preparation of the Galatea Estate for settlement was favourably commented upon by the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, during his first visit to the estate to-day.'Mr. Forbes, in company with his private secretary, Mr. C. A. Jeffery, and Mr. C. H. Clinkaril, M.P. for Rotorua, was driven over 12 miles 'through the area, which comprises 22,300 acres. Since the estate was acquired early in 1931, 3130 acres have been laid down in new pasture. Many miles of roads have been formed and metalle* I, numerous shelter belts of trees ha\e been planted, 32 miles of piping in connection with water reticulation services have been laid, and over a dozen cottages have either been builfc or aro in course of erection.

The station stock includes 14,000 sheep, 7000 lambs, 1600 heavy cattle and 480 calves. The estate has been haiul'cd so as to develop pastures of dairying standard, and at the safns time it has been run as a station in such a manner as i;o ensure a maximum return for the money invested by the State. Experimental Dairy Farm A comprehensive development scheme has been put in hand, the operations being carried out by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Lands Department. During the current season one of the newly-grassed sections was established as an experimental dairy farm under the fields division of the Agriculture Department. This farm is typical of the 23 sections being offered almost immediately for selection, and the operations aim to demonstrate the best method of controlling pasture under dairying conditions. This season's wool clip was marketed in a satisfactory condition and realised most gratifying prices.

An area of about 670 acres subdivided into 23 farms will be offered for selection in April. When opened the sections will have been grassed and fenced, and some will have buildings on them. The farms will rang© in area from 100 to 150 acres. Tenders have been let for the erection of ten cottages on alternate sections, and water is being laid on the homestead site of each section. \

Cultivation of further areas is proceeding steadily, and it is hoped to offer 35 sections early in 1935 and a somewhat similar number in succeeding years until the whole estate has been settled. Expenditure Totals £55,800

Expenditure on the estate up to December 31, 1933, totals £55,800. In addition to the station staff, about 50 men on the average have been employed on the development work continuously. After the inspection Mr. Forbes said Galatea was a very fine property indeed, and would make a fine settlement. The area was flat, and lent itself to easy subdivision and the installation of a gravity water supplv. The land was eminently suitable for dairying, and grass and turnips grey in abundance.

The prospects for the new settlers were excellent. The houses, which would cost £350 to £4OO each, wero roomy and comfortable, and the condition of the stock provided evid'".!e of the carrying capacity of the land. "Provided prices of produce are satisfactory, Galatea should prove a great success," added Mr. Forbes.

MAORIS ON THE LAND TIKITERE SETTLEMENT [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] ROTORUA, Sunday An inspection of a native land settlement scheme at Tikitere was made by the Prime Minister, lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to-day. An area of 2160 acres is being brought into cultivation. The land was in a very rough state when work was commenced in August, 1931, most of it being covered with gorse and scrub. There are now 700 acres in grass and 192 cows are being milked. In addition, there are 103 bullocks and 1100 lambs on the property. Five Maoris, with areas ranging in size from 80 to 150 acres, are in occupation of the sections. An interesting feature of the Tikitere scheme is the employment of 13 unemployed Waikato Maoris, who aro working under the supervision of Princess To Puea. These men have undertaken tho clearing of 559 acres. Much of it has been in gorse, which has been grubbed at a cost of £1 an acre. Seven of the Waikato Maoris are likely to become permanent settlers. The Prime Minister congratulated Princess To Puea on tho great work she was doing for the Maoris by settling them on the land at Waiuku, Onewhero and Tikitere.

Tho Prime Minister and his party were entertained to morning tea by the princess. SMALL FARMS AT MURUPARA EARLY ALLOCATION OF SECTIONS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] ROTORUA, Sunday A total of 20 European relief workers is employed in improving a block of 3100 acres of Crown land at Murupara, about 45 miles south of Rotorua, 1300 acres of which is capable of development. The land is well watered and ranges from flat to easy I'mdulating country. Last Juno the Lands Development Board decided to hand over the block to the Unemployment Board for development, and operations have since been in progress under the general direction of the chief drainage engineer, who was responsible for the successful development of the Ohepu block. Work carried out so far at Murupara includes clearing, ploughing and cultivation of 700 acres, which will all be put down in grass in tho autumn. Already 20 acres of grass and 20 acres of turnips havo been sown. About 2£ miles of fences have been erected, while two cottages, a hut and a store have als<> been put up. All tho work of clearing tho land, splitting posts for fencing and tho erection of fences has been dono by the prospective small farm settlers. It is proposed to give men employed on the block preference in the allotment of tho sections. The first allotment will probably be made within a few months. The settlers will not bo able to milk cows until tho 1935-3G season, but in the meantime the sections will be stocked with a line of good class heifers.