TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 83, 13 August 1923, Page 2

TARANAKI LAND DISTRICT.

ANNUAL REPORT. OF CROWN~LANDS COMMISSIONER. The annua) report Mr. H. J. Lowe, Commisisonei of Crown Lands for Taranaki, is as follows: Conditions and Progress of Settlement.—Following the previous year's slump owing to the low tone o'f the market regarding primary products, it is gratifying to note an upward trend in the financial period just closed. Butter has returned prices more on the linos of sane finance, and an increasiog output has greatly assisted, while wool is stabilising at a figure easily 100 per eont. in'advance of that of the preceding year. Many settlers who retained their wool hoping for a better time have cleared their liabilities and weathered the storm, though they have had a hard struggle to pay their rates and retain their holdings' while doing so. The graziers—although prices have increased—are still on the wrong side of the ledger, but a slight rally in prices in the latter part of the year "gave some measure of relief. ' Importations of slap; and a reduction in price have enabled much needed top-dressing to be given to pastures sadly requiring such. The position to-day at first sight appears to be promising, but added to a farmer's troubles is the constant menace of the increase of noxious weeds. This is particularly noticeable where, owing to the poor demand and consequent low prices for wool and mutton, farmers had risked soiling their sheep and changed to dairying. On many such farms the absence of sheep and the occurrence of two wet seasons has undoubtedly aUoWed ragwort in particular to obtain a hold never anticipated, and its eradication is a serious problem for the future. Revenue and Arrears.—Once again the revenue has been well over ordinary, although purchases of West Coast Settlement freeholding has largely assisted. The amount collected, exclusive of returned-soldier receipts, totals £104,512. Arrears have been kept down as low as possible, but settlers have been assisted where it was known that to push them would unduly penalise men trying their utmost to succeed when the markets were dead against them.

Land remaining for Selection.—This is practically all rough grazing country, and it lias yet to be decided how much of it will eventually be thrown open for settlement and how much handed over as permanent State forest. In many cases the land is difficult of access and in the present unsettled state of the beef-market none of it would Le sought after. There arc on the market at piesent some thirty sections, of 18,400 acres, suitable for farm holdings and runs, while some nine sections, of sin area of 3673 acres, are available, but not yet offered: there are also some thirteen small holdings close to New Plymouth, averaging six acres, more adapted to poultry, fruit-growing or beekeeping. Practically all the laud offered requires men with capital; the initial expenses; are too heavy for men with limited means.

Freeholds and Cash Lands.—Settlers holding West Coast Settlement leases are still prepared to purchase these, provided tinance is available. The receipts under all headings, inclusive of purchases under the deterred payment system, reach some £50,910\ Land board Work.—Although the actual cases are not so numerous as in tee previous few years, the work in itself requires in many instances very careful discrimination in handling, as tho lack of help afforded may mean the abandonment of a holding by a settler who, temporarily embarrassed, considers the hoard is not giving him a fair hearing. Tho number of soldiers' applications dealt with was 476; ordinary transfers, 119; miscellaneous items, applications approved, and general, Joa; total, 883.

The decision to consign it a output has been made by the Kaimiro Dairy Company. A Halo negotiated by the Moa Dairy Company of 1000 boxes oi : butter (being the whole of the August and part of t the September outputs) was at a piico which will enable suppliers to be advanced at least Is od, and probably Is Od. A girl in Michigan had an authenticated temperature of 114 degrees for over two weeks. The ordinary clinical thermometers wero useless, so weather bureau thermometers were substituted to take the readings. A committee of the County Medical Association had verified the temperature readings as 114 degrees or better, and reams of learned dissertations would have been forthcoming if one of the doctors had not bad his suspicions aroused and peeped through tho door while the patient was alone. It was found that a tiny hot-water bottle was used to send the mercury up, so the girl's columns of newspaper publicity passed into the discard.