KARAKA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 31, 1 October 1912, Page 2

KARAKA.

September is acting up to its reputation of being genorally one of our worst months, about five inches of raiu having fallen already (September 25) with indications of more to follow. The incessant gales and cold drenching showers have checked growth, which got a good start with the first warm rain after the fine frosty spell in August. In such a season the benefit of the plantations of pinus insignus and other trees in taming our climate, beautifying tho landscape, and forcing early growth of grass, is apparent. A district protected in this way is very different from one lying exposed and therefore scoured by storms a great part of tho year. Amongst those landowners in this district who showed their foresight in planting bolts and clumps of shelter trees, the names of Messrs William Aitken, T. C. Williams, and G. S. Heard, all deceased, are specially worthy of mention, 'fhe land in this district has proved . itself specially adapted to the growth of timber trees —gums for instance. '> It can also turn out first-class wool, ; mutton, oaten chaff, grass seed, turnips, and other products, and is evidently suited for fruit-growing ; though apart from the swamps and the rich harbour flats, and except in the case of timber, fertilisers are necessary to get satisfactory results. It was the difficulty formerly experienced in gettiug fertilisers that gave Karaka such a bad name in comparison with adjoining districts better situated, so that land offered for sale anywhere near the boundary used generally to be advertised under the name of the neighbouring district, whichever it happenol to be. Since top-dressing with slag and other improvements have come into vogue, this state of things has altered. Land that people would hardly have taken 15 or 20 years ago if you had llung it at them is selling at from £lO to £2O an aero.

The Lad weather again playing up with our roads, and a few fine windy days are badly qceded to harden thou again. It is exported that we shall have much less !of this sort of inconvenience in future, as the Road Board is going in for extensive improvements in the way of forming and motalling. Tho £OOOO loan is practically assured, and the proposed rate of -j'd will, with the Government subsidy, give tho Board a revenue of about £6OO in addition to over £IOO balance of cash assets at the present time. As showing the progress of the district it may bo noted that in 1902-3 a rate of 4 'd brought in a revenue from all sources of ouly about £l7B : but previous to 1900 it was always under £IOO

Two new roads are shortly to bo opened, one from the Drury-Wiiuku road to Paerata station . bringing the western part of tho district about two miles nearer Faerata tind Fukekohe by an easier road, besides giving access to a quarry whore it is anticipated largo quantities of road metal will be obtained. The other new road is through a block sold last April by the Karaka Land Co to various buyers. The sections wore so laid out that all had a frontage either to the main road or to an unformed surveyed road, otherwise the • Company, would have been obliged by the Fublic Works Act to make one. As the road laid out is cousidorjd an expensive one to form, the Board is having it closed anil exchanged through the Lauds and Survey Depi'-tmont for,a cheaper one running through the Idock, which like the original road gives access to all the sections sold and to a navigable tidal creek. A scheme favored by the settlers and ratepayers in the western ha'f of this district and by a good many iu Waiau and Fapakura is the construction of a bridge over the Ilingaia Creek. This would bring tliom on the average about throe miles nearer Auckland than they aro now. The cost was estimated by tho Government engineers at £2500. Mr Batty has taken tho matter up enthusiastically, and when such is the case ho is a good man to bet on.