LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 23

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

PAST YEAR’S OPERATIONS. WELLINGTON, September 18. Only 233 acres of land at a cost of £22,552 were acquired by the State during the last financial year, according to the annual report of the Land Purchase *' presented to Parliament to"day. The report explains that the number of properties considered during the year was 84, of a total area of 171,788 acres, but for various reasons very fewpurchases were made. Some excellent | sheep country was. placed under offer to the State, but the blocks in question were unfortunately not economically suitable for subdivision, although no doubt they had proved payable properties when capably farmed in large areas. It was found as a general rule that even those properties w’hich were offered at fairly reasonable prices, considered as going concerns could not* bear the extra charges entailed by subdivision and reading. The extra loading entailed in the provision of new homestead buildings, fencing, reading, etc., is the chief obstacle to the acquisition of lands for subdivision for closer settlement, and it is only on comparatively rare occasions that suitable land can be bought at prices that will allow of a reasonable return on the capital outlay plus the necessary additional charges. The Land Purchase Board has given the most careful consideration to the offers submitted during the year, but in the great majority of cases has been unable to make a favourable recommendation for acquisition, as the subsequent economic position did not appear to be assured. Several properties are now under investigation. Possession .of the whole of the Tangowahine Settlement has now been obtained, reading is well in progress, a scheme of subdivision has been drawn up, and it is hoped to offer at least portisn of ths

settlement for selection at an early date. The proposed railway line to link up Dargaville with Auckland will traverse this property. The Te Wera Estate is being farmed by the department, and large areas of bush lands are being felled and grassed. Road construction will shortly be placed in hand, and the metalling of main access has been completed right up to the property. Consider able improvements are being effected in connection with the pastures. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. TREATMENT OF "BUSH SICK” LANDS.' WELLINGTON, September 20. The quarterly meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held this week. It was reported that by the aid of nitrate of ammonium and iron scales farmers were now raising calves where before they failed to do so owing to, prevalence of the disease called busk sickness, caused by a deficiency of assimilable iron in the diet of ruminants pastured on the affected country. The'treatment of sheep, however, -was a more difficult problem. • Surveys of soil were being carried out with beneficial results, and also an investigation of wool-branding fluids. No evidence was obtained to support certain allegations that tar formed a constituent of some of the commercial preparations. All the fluids examined, when properly used, gave brands that were readily removed by the usual scouring process. _. Questions of lamb mortality were being investigated, and experiments were being carried out in butter-£at and cheesemaking. The question of cattle disease was receiving attention, and arrangements were being made to extend the investigations to contagious mammitis, contagious abortion, and various forms of sterility. For the purpose Mr C. V. Dayus will take charge at Hamilton, and Mr W. N. Webster will take charge at New Plymouth, thqe covering two principal dairy districts.