NEW DAIRY COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 15

NEW DAIRY COUNTRY.

SOUTH OF WESTLAND. When some day, in the more or less distant future, the wide acres of land in South Westland have been cleared of the trees, when the pastures are carrying thousands of dairy cattle, will the produce he brought through the Haast Pass and or to Dur.odin for shinment overseas, or will it be conveyed to Hokitika? Mr J. R. Wilson, of Dunedin, who has just returned from a visit to the locality, says it will be Drought to Dunedin. For over a distance of 50 miles in the' South Westland district, entering from tire liaast Valley, there are rich river flats which Mr Wilson says will in the course of time be flourishing dairy farms. The area embracing these forms will be larger than the Taieri. Strath Taieri, and the Island at Baiclutha put together. At present there are some odd grass patches, but the greater proportion of the area is covered with “cracker,” ribbonwood, broadleaf, hine bine, moke moke, fuchsia, etc. Twenty-five years ago the Hon. R. J. Scddon. said he hoped to live to see a railway running through the Haast Pass, but Mr Wilson says no railway could lie built there, unless at a very heavy outlay. Nor is it necessary. With the advent of the motor lorry a good road will be all that will be required. Apart from the timbers named, however, there are, further afield, the last remaining big forests of white pine in the Dominion. In a small block of privately-owned land there are said to be 18.000.000 feet of white pine and silver beech growing—the biggest and most valuable block of ,privately-o\vned forest in the Dominion. ''When this timber, with the other native trees, is cleared, there will be a wide expanse of dairying country. “One might naturally ask why should the products of the area be sent to Otago as preference to Hokitika?” said Mr Wilson. “The answer is very simple. It is 200 miles to Hokiiika. It is onlv 70 to Wanaka.” He is very optimistic regarding (he wonderful possibilities of South Westland, and he sees no reason whv (he locality should not be tapped from the Otngo end. A good, road, and the motor lorries ran do the rest.

Mr Wilson lias interested the Expansion League in the matter, and it is understood that a delegation from the league will endeavour to make the journey to the Coast to see for themselves.

AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. THE BATTLE OP SITES. HAMILTON, April 22. The Borough Council unanimously carried a resolution last evening urging the Government to utilise the Ruakura Farm site for the proposed Agricultural College. The council claimed that as the farm fs in readiness for operations its selection for the colUge would obviate a lonfc delay and effect a large saving to the country, in view of the fact that the farm is estimated to be worth £loo,ooo*