TAUPO RAILWAY PETITION

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1929, Page 9

TAUPO RAILWAY PETITION

PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. In the Taupo railway inquiry to-day Mr. A. H. Cockayne continued his evidence. In reply to Mr. R. Semple, he said the better portions of the pumice land might be suitable to be broken in without any loss to the State at the finish. He agreed that the Government should prospect for water before deciding to do anything with the land. in answer to Mr. H. R. Jenkins he agreed that a forest covering over the whole of the pumice land would make it very much easier to develop it into grass. Witness also said that if the Government were to charge the whole of the expenses of breaking in it would be necessary to write off a very considerable amount for one could not load the final settler with the whole cost. Certain areas should pay quite well and the final productivity of the land would be worth about £3O an acre. Mr. Cockayne said he did not think the construction of the railway was likely to improve the position very appreciably from the farm settlement standpoint. Settlement could quite well precede the railway as it had done in many parts of New Zealand, but it could not precede roads. Mr. Hanson, chief inspector of forestry, said some of the blocks of land where native bush was situated would hardly affect the railway. The Waiotapu plantation might receive benefit. The Kaiugaroa block was doubtful. The quantities of native timber that would ; go to the line had been exaggerated. The hearing was adjourned.