FULL OF LIFE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 13, 31 August 1911, Page 7

FULL OF LIFE.

. ON THE. MAIN TRUNK. MILLING INDUSTRY BUOYANT. A cheerful and optimistic report of the life and movement in settlemeit on and about the Main Trunk railway is brought back by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington District (Mr James Mackenzie), who has just returned to headquarters after a fortnight’s absence in the heart of the North Island. “I was concerned,” said the Commissioner to a .reporter of the “Post,” “with the sajp, pf large townships, beginning at Wai.ta.ngi, . and so northward to . Maniuini,, near Taumarunui. There wore also the leasehold villages that had to bo ballot ted for at Ohakune, Ramimu, Mammui and Kakahi. On account of the great activity which was general along the line from Waimarno northward, the sales were very successful in that portion of the. district. South of that the demand was very limited. Practically all the lots fa Waimarino, , llaurimu, * Owhaugo, Kakahi, and Mamnnii- were, quitted, in fact, tiie only thing left was a quarter-acre section in Kakahi. “Tiie land was taken up hy people iu the district■ who wanted homes for

sawmill hands by business • people, ;u;c) by big. settlers* who needed, lioldinee paddocks hear the railway station for stork. 'l’llere was very little of the speculative element present,” added the Commissioner, “and prices averaged double the upset prices. “There is great activity along the line everywhere. The mills are working full time, and big wages are being paid. There is the greatest difficulty in getting men for even a,day’s work. In the farming community is a similar activity. The hush is being felled, w ill) a view to being grassed next season, and, notwithstanding the dry rummer, the grass is loooking exceptionally well, particularly that which lias been sown late.

.“There are many inquiries for Crown lands,” said Mr Mackenzie, “and to partially meet this demand some 21,535 acres in the South Waimarino Block, about twenty-five miles from Raurimu, will be hallotted for in September in suitable farm holdings. Another area of 5052 acres, in seven lots, on the Rangitikei River, a few . miles west of Utiku, will also be put on the market in October. In iddition to these about 447 acres west if Mangaweka will be auctioned. Oth■r township lots in Waimarino and Owhango will be got ready about the ad of the year, the demand for township sections being still unsatisfied. “All up the line and in that district,” the Commissioner continued, “I found things full of life, and activity, and very buoyant. The milling industry is largely responsible for these very satisfactory conditions. Some of these mills see something like twenty years’ cutting ahead of them.” During his trip Mr Mackenzie investigated 'some milling areas which have been applied for, and are to bo rffered later. In this connection it nay Ire noted that before the areas on the Rangitikei River are put up ’or settlement some valuable milling limber will be offered for sale.