END OF THE CROWN LAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14234, 6 March 1914, Page 8

END OF THE CROWN LAND.

IN WELLINGTON PROVINCE. THE FINAL BLOCK. (Travelling Representative of the j Taunnminui Press.) * Bv this time next year there will be no Crown land worth mentioning left for ! settlement in the ‘AVellington province, j The last big block, is now ‘being suvvey- | ed, and will be open for selection- early I next year. It- is called the AVhiniraki, i contains about 40,000 acres, and lies | along the Wanganui River for a distance of nearly 20 miles from the mouth of tlie Retamke River. It, is bounded on its northern side by tlie Retariike River, on the east bv tlie Morinui block, and on the south by tho Rnatiti. AVhen the roads are completed it will have outlet to Raurium via tho Kaiticke, to Ractihi via Rnatiti,. and, of course, to AVaugamii by way of the Wanganui River. At tli 3 1 southern end of it a block of 10,000 acres has boon cut out as a native reserve, and the mile.wide strip of •scenic reserve along the river has also been surveyed off. The original block was therefore' about 60,000 acres. From the hilly nature of the country tlie work of surveying tlie block has , been very arduous. It was begun three years ago. and will be completed about the end of next June. Five surveyors, each with iiis own party, have been engaged on it at one time or another; three of these, viz., Messrs Olsen, Barnes, and Dvatt. have left, and Messrs Roberts , and Blake arc still in the block. Practically nothing remains to be done except to complete the survey of tho roads. The -surface of the block, is very irregular, hilly country prevailing, especially - to-wards-the north. Three main ridges diverge from a central point in the block, forming, with the range that skirts the river, three principal ..valleys, together v. ith several subsidiary ones. The Rae-tihi-Ohura Road when opened up will traverse the block diagonally from its • south-eastern corner to’ AVade’s landing. The Maugaparnn Valley Road junctions with it near tlie centre, and the Auketo A alley Road connects two of the main valleys, and runs on to the AVanganni River. The Te Mata A’alley and the Hntia A-'alley will be notable ones when the block is developed. They are- almost continuous, and i-iin practically parallel te the AVnuganui Valley. Tho sections have been surveyed so as te run downwards from the ridges to the crooks and roads, this being done so.that in each there should be a suitable homestead site, u constant water supply, and that there should also be facilities for mustering, this being always more easy downhill than up-hill. Hie sections will ran from 500 acres to 1700 acres in area, according to the quality of tho land, situation, etc. In spite of the hilly nature, of the country, it is well adapted for sheengrazing. In the Manga paru A’alley the land is of good average -quality—lying well to the sun, and having numerous small flats that will make good homestead sites.