MAORI FARM PROGRESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17955, 6 December 1932, Page 4

MAORI FARM PROGRESS

SOUTHERN BAY OF PLENTY ROAD AND LAND DEVELOPMENT EAST COAST PARTY’S VISIT Much progress in the development of roads and farm land oil the oastern shores of the Bay 7 of Plenty~is pointed out in the following letter, which has been received from the Herald’6 correspondent at East Cape:LI was one of a smail party that visited the Bay of Plenty recently, and as my last visit to the district was 22 years ago, I looked forward to seeing marked changes, especially after the Native Minister had launched one of his developmental schemes just over 12 months ago. I was also interested, being a member of a local body for some years now, in noticing the improvement in road communications. "The first thing that T noticed on the wav fi oni Hicks Bay t<> Gape Runaway was the deterioration that is clearly taking place in much of the slice]) country. Fern is spreading rapidly on land which was cleared of heavy bush a few years ago. The problem is a serious one for shcepf armors.

"From the Wharekahika \alley to two or three miles from Cape Runaway the whole length of road, although well laid out, is not metalled, and owing to the unfortunate position of the Matakaoa County a portion of tho newly-formed road is in disrepair. The road "ends abruptly at the foot of a hill j and the journey was continued on the J old road. Evidences of the Native Minister’s land development operations were noticed as soon as our party crossed the Whangaparaoa River. All the river flats have been cleaned up, but are not yet fully* fenced. The terrace just above the village is. all ploughed, topdressed and sown. Natives were busy erecting fences. much ploughing done

"Just near the boundary between the Matakaoa and Opotiki counties natives were also busy. Much ploughing has been done, and fine fences are being erected. I noticed also that a deep drain had been cut to carry off the water to the sea from a peat swamp. The earth thrown up from the excavations looked as white as c-halk. All this is poor looking land, but portions of it its native owner ploughed some years ago and sown looks very well. "Criticism has been heard in regard to the Native Minister’s operations at Cape Runaway, but, I am sure, under scientific treatment, the scheme must succeed. Iu fact, the poor level land at Cape Runaway under intensive cultivation is a far better investment than the sheep country in the Wharekahika Valley. One is dairy country which can be kept in hand, the other is hilly beep country which is running into fern, and it would ccst much to keep the land under control. As soon as we entered the Opotiki County one was on good roads. From the Raukokore River to Opotiki the road is all metalled; all the rivers with tho exception of the Ruakokore are bridged. To bridge the Motu it cost over £25,000. And all this, with the exception of the Opotiki end of tho road, was done by the Government, without a penny from the Opotiki •County Council. "T "This fine road is needed and wi.l bo of much benefit to the district. Quito unintentionally* the Native Minister ’ft laud operations have fully justified the construction of the road, although, 1 am sure, the promoters of this picturesque highway had no; Sir Apirana Ngata’s scheme in mind when they first conceived the idea ,of a road. Work has already begun on the Raukokore bridge. The coastline from Cape Runaway to Whitianga, with its coves, inlets, and stretches of sandy beaches, and with a continuous avenue [of pohutukawa, is worth a visit. One could visualise a continuous blaze of scarlet in a week or two. With all the land along the coast practically clear and in grass —much of this as a result of the Native Minister’s , operations—the picture is an entrancing one indeed. BENEFITS FROM TOPDRESSING

“The Orete fiats wo found looking very beautiful. W r e noticed the marked difference there was between a paddock that had been fertilised and one that was not. What a tremendous lift the Orete and the Raukokore lands would be to the struggling factory at Te Kaha. Before the road was made the Raukokore natives sent their cream by sea when the weather permitted, and by pack-horses overland, a distance of about 30 miles. These people deserved a road and they have it now.

“We found also the To Kaha flats looking very well. Many paddocks have been topdressed. A water scheme has been carried out recently, giving abundance of good, clean water to > every homo and to every paddock, ( where tho water is held in largo concrete troughs. To carry out this scheme it was stipulated that the Native Minister would supply the material and the natives the labor. Seven miles of piping and 17 tons of cement were used.

“At Omaio all the flat land has been cleaned up, topdressed and sown with grass and the natives are now cleaning up the hill-sides. “The hilly country all along the whole coast is of poor quality, particularly the country behind Ve Kali u As a "matter of fact, the whole seaboard has no back country to speak of.

“The To Kaha Dairy Company lias had a chequered career. Its output for the first war wes onlv 10 tons of butter, and yet it is still operating. It has not >et loeeived any benent from the Native Minister’s land development scheme, but that will come next season. It speaks well for the natives that against great discouragements they stood loyally by their company. ’ ’