LAND SETTLEMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22108, 14 May 1935, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT

THE WAIKATO SOCIETY FOURTH BLOCK ACQUIRED PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday The Waikato Land Settlement Society has purchased a further block of 896 acres at Wharepapa, adjoining the property it had previously purchased. There is a house on tho block and 200 acres are in grass. The balance requires breaking in. Tho block is near the area taken over by tho Flock House trustees at Wharepuhunga. A roading scheme for tire two areas hold by tho society will bo undertaken shortly. Since its inception 18 months ago the society has put down 600 acres in grass at Wharepapa. Before sowing the land was fallowed and cultivated well and as a result a prolific growth developed when the seed germinated. From six weeks of sowing tho grass stood from 9in. to 12in. in height and difficulty was experienced in obtaining sufficient stock to keep it down. Tho society is now grazing on all its properties 8000 sheep and 800 cattle. The majority of the sheep are lambs and 600 of those have been fattened and sent away to tho works. Fine Line of Bullocks A lino of 45 bullocks was fattened at Wharepapa and sold in the paddock at from £8 to £8 5s per head for chilling purposes. The honorary manager of tho society, Mr. D. V. Bryant, said to-day that he had never seen grass grow so well or stock fatten so quickly as on the society's areas. Signal success had followed the practico of allowing heavy cattle to consolidate the land before dairy stock was turned on to it. Apart from tho grass paddocks the society had 150 acres of turnips in good condition. A contract had been let for the erection of four cottages at Whatawhata, and when these were completed the society would have 32 cottages in occupation. Arrangements had been made for the services of a greater number of unemployed men, it being found more satisfactory to adopt this course than to engage men under the 4B scheme. Allotment of Sections The society, said Mr. Bryant, hoped to allot sections to selected men at the beginning of next winter. It was expected that the land would then be sufficiently developed to enable the applicants to carry on. The society now possesses four properties comprising 5672 acres, and all are in various stages of development. More work has been done on the Kairangi block of 1346 acres at Roto-o-rangi than on the other areas.