LAND OF PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21952, 8 November 1934, Page 14

LAND OF PROGRESS

SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS VENTURE AT KERIKERI PLANS OF THE RESIDENTS CITRUS AND PASSION FRUIT [by OUR special commissioner] No. X. To do justice to- the manifold potentialities of the Bay of Islands County, or any other county of North Auckland, would require a volume of many pages. To portray adequately the varied charm of coastal and rural scenery would tax the ability of a poet. The capabilities of- most of the Northern soils, the beauty of the landscapes and the delightful climate combine to provide conditions for settlement far beyond the averagfe even in an attractive / country like New Zealand. Few other parts of tho world, indeed, could give better living standards or support a population in greater comfort, health . and prosperity. The great volcanic plateau of the Bay of Islands County epitomises the advantages of the North as well as any other single area does, although it reveals the resources of only one of a / variety of soils* Kaikolie", the largest town in the county, is also the business and commercial centre, but it has the productivity of splendid farmlands to "back its progress and prosperity. Beyond the shallow waters of Lake Oma- ' pere lies Okaihnu, the most northerly rail tcSrminus in New Zealand. But it is first and foremost a farming centre, the district being beautified by treestudded pastures and made orderly by splendidly laid-out dairy farms. A Town Above a Valley Okaihau is situated as pleasantly as any inland town in the North. It occxipies the crest of th<s plateau where it drops down abruptly to the sweeping levels of the Waihou Valley, through 1 which the embankment of au abandoned railway makes its futile way toward Rangiahua on the head waters of the Hokianga Harbour. What it has done with its volcanic soils it sees being duplicated on the rapidly-develop-ing alluvial flats below for Waihou is typicfil. in nature and possibility, of the innumerable valley lands to be found throughout the length and breadth of hhe peninsula. A road which branches to the north from the highway between Ohaeawai and Okaihau leads to the upper reaches of the Bay of Islands, through the historic settlement of Waimate North, where, among other old associations, the remnant of an ancient flourmill flaunts its evidence of early agricultural enterprise in the face of modern dairying pastures. Hard by is the I equally-historic Kerikeri district, where European farming first began. It was here, 114 years ago, that the Rev. John Butler turned riie first New Zealand sod with a bullock-drawn plough. A link with those early days still remains for at the head of the sheltered Kerikeri Inlet still stand the oldest house and the oldest stone building, a store, in the country, both being in an excellent state of preservation. A Prophetic Action / •'' It is said that one of the first actions ' of Mrs.. James Kemp, of the Church of England mission, when she reached Kerikeri 115 years ago was to plant orange pips, two of which at least are stated to have grown into line trees. iDho experiment, if accounts are authentic, was an extremely interesting one and Certainly proved to be prophetic. For to-day Kerikeri is the scene of the most practical endeavour yet made in New Zealand to establish the culture of sweet orange# on a commercial scale. This is being made by members of the lately-established settlement on the Bloping lands above Kerikeri Inlet. These people have already planted thousands of sweet orange trees on their holdings./ They have great faith in the success of their venture and their optimism is shared in marketing circles. Certainly if this industry cannot flourish at Kerikeri it cannot do so in any other part of the island. One oi: the essentials for the production of thin-skinned, luscious oranges is a sufficiently warm night temperature, a particular condition which can be found more frequently in restricted, isolated areas. The northerly of the Kerikeri slopes promise a genial environment for these crops and natural advantages are being enhanced by the liberal provision of shefter belts, so that the prospects of producing oranges which will appeal to the general taste are encouragingly bright. Enterprise with Passion Fruit The production of lemons is a well- • established industry with these settlers now and the^ same can be said of the growing of passion fruit, which has been stabilised on a/ sound and very promising basis. Last season growers received lid a lb. for passion, fruit at the orchard gates, and a pulping firm has given them a five-year contract for their supplies. Furthermore, the popu- / larity of the , product on the English market has been thoroughly proved, reports of analytical chemists in London indicating that the quality is about 200 per cent better than that of passion fruit pulp from any other source. ' Mostly the land at Kerikeri is occupied in comparatively small holdings and probably the average is not much more than 15 acres apiece. There is every indication, however, that anyone managing his land on sound lines should enjoy a very fair living from it. What is possible in the case of passion fruit alone shows this clearly. Three hundred passion vines to the acre, yielding 301b. / of fruit a vine,' give a return, at lid a lb., of £55 an acre. And this is an estimate which is well within reason, for in many cases the number of vines to the acre can go as high as 360 and the yield from each as high as 451b. of fruit. '

Settlers from Oveiseas The chief interest, apart from the objects of the settlement, is the fact that the bulk of the residents are professional and business people who have retired from responsible positions in eastern countries and who now seek a /pleasant climate and comfortable homes with an opportunity for healthy and creative occupation. The North has been extremely fortunate in its ability to attract such a class of people. That it will prove worthy of their best efforts there is' no reason to doubt. Already they have transformed hitherto wasted acres into a region of high productive promise arid already well-ad-vanced belts of shelter trees, hiding lines of citrus and other fruits, vines and vegetables and not a few new ' pastures, give an inkling of what a picturesque and .pleasant place Kerikeri will be under fall development. But they are doinji; more than making attractive homes and profitable holdings for themselves. ~They are demonstrating in a highly practical manner, a developmental prospect which is by no means limited to their particular area and /are providing an ej;ample which could well be brought bofore the notice of . hundreds of overseas people in similar cajie and with similar resources who would be willing to do the same. In / ihia they are tende ring an inestimable service to the whok* of the North.