TOKAANU PRISON GAMP

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11252, 3 July 1922, Page 9

TOKAANU PRISON GAMP

GOOD PHOGEESo MADE. Excellent progress is being made with the establishment of tho Hutu prison camp at Tokaanu, under the guidance of the Controller-General, Mr Matthews. The total area taken up is 60,000 acres, and the scheme adopted is to work up block© of 100 acres to bring it under cultivation. The first blocks which ‘have been prepared for cultivation comprise 500 acres, and the draining of a valuable swamp i© under way. There is a dairy factory in close proximity belonging to Maoris, who. though at first they rather resented advice or interference by the pakeba. now welcome assistance and are taking very keen interest in the progress of the Hutu cainp. Telephonic communication has been installed with the camp. Tokaanu is the angler’s paradise, and during next month the rivers in the district will be literally teejning with fish, and the Maoris say that during the presence of the fish the water is undrinkable. Mr Downs, superintendent of the New Plymouth gaol, informed a "Herald” reporter that the scheme will give a great fillip to the progress of Tokaanu, more especially as regard© dairying. Mr Downs has been closely associated with the work at the prison farm right from the commencement.