RICH BUSH LAND.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3310, 1 May 1909, Page 6

RICH BUSH LAND.

“A great deal of the bush land 1 invites the sawmiller, and there exists in the King Country a quantity of really fine timber,” remarked the Hon. A. W. Hogg to an Auckland Star interviewer. “Owing, however, to the absence of roads, and the long distance from the railways, most of it is at present, to all intents and purposes, virtually unpracticable for sawmilling purposes. In many parts there is an abundance of hard white limestone, and this, when crushed, will make a very good road metal. The only difficulty is that in some places (as for instance between Kawliia and Te Awaniutu) it will have to be carted for miles. lam confident, however, that with stone-breaking machinery and suitable machinery lor haulage purposes, these difficulties will disappear. The making of the main roads will bo a God-send to the settlers, especially those settlers who have gone from the Main Trunk line works on the farm settlement blocks, i met a good many of the settlers and talked with them concerning their propsects. They occupy sections varying from ICO to 250 acres. Their chief complaint is that they require better roads to get their produce and cattle to market. In the winter time ihey have to carry everything on pack horses, and it costs them front £G to £8 per toil to carry stores, fencing wire, etc. In the King Country there is a limited number of dairy factories, but owing to their isolated position, and the state of the roads, they are only able, in the milk season, to pay front 6d to 7ld for butter-fat, which is about half the price paid in Wellington districts this season.”