ON THE EAST COAST

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12038, 16 January 1925, Page 4

ON THE EAST COAST

SEEL MAUI POMARE’S VISIT. MAORIS AS FARMERS. A NEW. INDUSTRY.' The Hon. Sir MaubsPomare, Minister for Health, who returned, from the East ,'Ooast yesterday; informed \ a 1 ‘Times’ ’ representative that ho had had a goodr trip, although it was wetpart of -the time. Hie inspected the East Coast Hospital. and went up to To Araroa on the: other side of the East Capo. The country, was broking very well. It is about 22 years’aince Sir Maui Pomare visited this part of the country. ■ Where he used to rise through dense forests up to the girths of his horse in miud there are now good roads and the bush has been cleared. The man responsible for such a satisfactory state ,of affairs was’ the Hon. A. T. Ngata, who had done excellent work for the people up there, in which he had been ably backed up by the Williams family. MANY MODEL FARMS. There are now many model sheep farms with shearing accommodation, etc., and the land is doing well, said Sir Maui. Dairying is being started in Waiapoj, valley,; and there is every prospect. of it being carried on successfully, as it is good country for dairying, and this will createxa new, industry for the Bast Coast. Quite a fair percentage of the farms aire in the hands of and are being run by, Maoris, and they are, says Sir Maui, proving good workers ana managers. The outdoor life is improving their health, and they are increasing m numbers. The prospects generally for them are excellent.