A BRIGHT PROSPECT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3205, 28 April 1911, Page 2

A BRIGHT PROSPECT.

A TOUR IN THE rAR NORTH.

IDLE NATIVE' LANDS

Mr Harold Beauchamp, chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, who lias just returned l from an extensive tour through the country to tlie north of Auckland, returns with a very glowing idea as to its future.

“These gum lands,” says Mr Beauchamp, “which were a few years ago considered of little account, are being found to be of great value. It lias been found that the paspalum grass grows .readily, all over the gum-picked lands, and as it is a good feed-grass, big developments may be looked for. Formerly north of Auckland only worried about two tilings—timber and gum; but with the diminution.of those interests they are beginning to think of developing the land itself. It is quite a wrong idea to suppose that there is no 1 good land 1 in: the North of Auckland district. I found round Whangarei, Ohacwai and Kaikohu land equal .to that round Palmerston North for dairying purposes. The dairying industry is exceedingly active, but the settlers have been hampered by bad roads and indifferent .means of transit. With the railway line extended from Towai to Kawakawa recently accomplished, and the next extension to Kohu'kohu. those disabilities in transit will be largely removed. Another discovery has been made of no small interest. That is that these lands are being found to be excellent for fruit-growing. One noted apple which flourishes there is tlie 'Northern St>v,’ a. great red-cheeked ' apple which I thought was very fine. It is going to be a big apple-growing district within a few years. On the whole. I think there is a bright future for North of Auckland lands. ' What is wanted: more than anything is a more active policy of settling the lands now lying in a. state of nature. There are large areas of Native lands not being touched which should he thrown open to settlement without delay. Speaking at Kawakawa the other day, the Hon. Mr Carroll said he had arranged with the owners to throw open about- 40,000 acres at Kaikobe. But in the-vicinity of Koliukohu and Iloriki, on the shores of Kokianga Harbour, there are 300,000 acres of Native land, and 200,000 acres of Crown lands in hush—excellent lands. I should say. for sheep. That should not be. The earth-hunger was still strong in Auckland and in other parts of the Dominion, and if these lands were made available they would be eagerly taken up and made productive.”