OBSERVATIONS BY A VISITOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1422, 13 August 1881, Page 3

OBSERVATIONS BY A VISITOR.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — During a long residence in Otago I have often remarked with surprise that the older Province of Auckland imported so much agricultural produce, not knowing whether the cause lay with the land or its occupiers. A trip from Auckland to Te Aroha, however, justified me in not attributing to the latter all the blame, as they generally seem persevering and anxious to succeed. What ( appears hitherto to have been adverse to' the proper cultivation of the soil is, first — the land having been acquired from the natives directly by speculators or holders, leaving IRtle accruing to the land for the Government to spend on openjng up the country : and, secondly^ — the soil is of a light and inferior quality, requiring a large outlay for, clearing and improving with a very • meagre result. I ' find bone dust, superphosphates,, amonicsll and nitrogenous manures have been applied, in some cases, I fear, with more . liberality than, profit.' I am not aware that lime has been tried ; but from much experienoe I would' be inclined to regard it as the most likely manure to bring such lands into profitable cultivation, from its action on the excessive amount of vegetable matter which much of .the land cpntains. "Admitting disappointment with the quality of the s6il| I am 'very favor- • ably impressed with the great natural resources' [possessed by l ati extensive .district for the conveyance of minerals or by>w"ater carriage or rail/ which might be made i conducive to its present and great future -prosperity. Regarding !\v»ter; , carriage, > it ,-soems ,to* met a notable . oversight ■ that a great > natural canal like* then Fiakd : has 1 ./not > been Opened 1 ; up., before i now, -which, I bebeve, ' could be made . available > for steamers all the^ear round, a, distance of ab,d^t»Mraflfs 1 /b£ lt fo cb£np*aratiyely trifling expense of two Ic^cks., Speaking as a stranger/ r the're seems -"to me, from the map,. a low-lying- swampy, district extending between the Piako and the E&mbkbrau (a triWtfa'ry'oftli^W&ikso, a short' distance; and 'facilitating' the Joining 'of the two rivers' 'by-'-canal, thus 'doh>necting the East &,n'd ( 'W6st t ©ba'*t," J th'e effects of which it is difficult to reajize— '(Jdftl/limeiirtU'far'fti ffiftuc^tymg ffliils available at the lowesi 'rates' of 'ckrriage, while'- the- (railway^ (fo^ffic would be increasedjby the immense impetus given, to the prosperity of t&e whole district. »-|l hope thesevfew.ciirsQEyjob^erYationa-may Sir Duncan MJGregpr, .K,C!,R. is dead. He wastM4pe"ctoY-^ieraPof^he Consta'btlUtry'l'orce in Ireland iv 1848, aud{ ieceiv&:JtisAOid.sphf &&]&s for ,te*lj i semees^'duTPin^the disturbances -,of that ' year.' , r/'.r /' . - ' ■', S* -> ''^ \M -■"-