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WAIARIKI NATIVE LAND COURT DISTRICT Areas which the Department is actively developing or is contemplating developing in the Waiariki District in the near future (contingent, as always, on the available man-power and materials that are still in short supply) are mainly centred in the following localities: — On the main Rotorua-Frankton Railway small isolated properties are assisted under the unit type of occupation and development. Approaching Taupo in the area adjoining Mokai and Western Bay of Lake Taupo requests have been received to establish a large-scale development area in the timber-worked lands around Mokai. This area was recently swept by the disastrous fires experienced, particularly in the Taupo region, this year, and it will be impracticable to undertake development on any scale until suplies become more plentiful. Some 20,000 acres may ultimately be brought under the scheme should development, when started, prove capable of being successfully pursued. Bush blocks at Oruanui and Waipapa have been worked for the totara post and batten timber, but this source of supply will be unavailable unless it is found possible by the State Forest Service to make a portion of the remaining totara bushes available, as far as the fallen timber is concerned. The area in the Horohoro Valley embraces all types of agricultural and pastoral activities. Large-scale development was first initiated in this area on both sides of the road for a distance of sixteen miles from Rotorua in one continuous block. Units, some successful, others found to be unsuitable, have been established. There is a nursery which supplies trees to districts beyond Rotorua, and a plantation of various trees established on Haparangi Mountain. Lands in this area were originally considered to be bush sick, but with the supply of cobalt in the manures used the lands have proved to be of successful use for intensive cultivation and for dairying and grazing. Towards the Urewera country is situated the Ngatimanawa scheme, ready for subdivision for dairying, but which cannot be cut up into smaller areas until the difficulty of communal ownership is overcome; while stretching out immediately beyond Rotorua are the easy grazing slopes of Tihiotonga, a Maori Land Board property which to-day is the most successful, from a productive and financial point of view, in the Rotorua district. Along the Te Ngae Road, about three miles distant, the properties of Puketawhero and Wharenui are situated, practically behind the main base farm at Brents, where some 6,000 cattle and 60,000 sheep are annually distributed to central schemes in and around Rotorua. Across the range and connecting up with Puketawhero and Wharenui is situated the Okareka scheme, adjoining Lake Okareka and the recently acquired Miller's block of European land. Okere, immediately beyond Mourea, is a compact, large-scale development area which was formerly timber-covered,. This block is an asset of which the Maori, owners to-day feel proud. Disastrous fires swept several hundred acres of the back country this year, while an extensive storm did, widespread damage to the road fences near Lake Rotoiti. Taheke, adjoining Okere, continues the development line in a face to the 17-mile peg on the Rotorua-Tauranga Highway. Not particularly suitable for dairying, this country will make ideal sheep-farms once the land is fully consolidated for grazing under unit occupation and suitable Maori farmers acquire the knowledge so essential to success. Okere and Taheke were subject to Maori Land Board encumbrances, and in this connection half the Board's liability was paid off during the past year. The remaining schemes in the immediate vicinity of Rotorua are that part of the Waikato party area on the Rotorua-AVhakatane Highway, where gorse has retarded successful establishment of unit settlers, and the main Tikitere

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