One thing that strikes a visitor to the Otaki district is the splendid quality of the soil, and the truly remarkable growth on the cultivated areas. The soil is reputed to be about the richest in New Zealand; at least that is the opinion held by practically all the market gardeners, who should know it best. As for climate, the place is unequalled. Is it not strange, then, that so little of the ground is cultivated, and so much of it taken up by dairy farms? The district is only 47 miles from Wellington, where there is a market which as never completely' satisfied. The demand for more vegetables always exists, and there is a great opening for more extensive market gardening. DOES MARKET GARDENING PAY? Does market gardening pay? That was the nature of the question put to. practically all the gardeners who were seen by a Post reporter during a tour through the district, undertaken through the courtesy of Mr. J. G. Stevens, of Otaki. The reply was, for the most part, naturally, a guarded one; but, when pressed, the gardeners usually admitted that they 'were quite satisfied with the place. One said: "Does it pay? Well, I have been in most parts of New Zealand. I have had experience in Auckland, Taranaki. Hawkes Bay, and the Hutt. lam going to stay here." Surely that is an admission that market gardening, in Otaki at any rate, pays. The Otaki township does not in any way reflect the general condition of the district, which must be put down as flourishing. Last season somewhat of a set-back was experienced, owing to the exceptionally dry weather, but after the rain came the ground made a remarkable recovery, and when visited it was in the best of condition, and the prospects decidedly encouraging. The whole district is eminently suited for extensive sub-division and there is evidence - ample evidence—that this is gradually being brought about. Just now Otaki is a dairying centre, but it would be wrong to say that dairying is progressing rapidly, or even likely to progress much more. Of course, it is carried out more extensively now than was the case ten years ago; but it has probably reached its height. Already some of the dairying lands have given place to orchards and gardens, and it is likely that this transformation will go on and on. Just now there is a mixture of all sorts of land activities, which proves the worth of the holdings in more ways than one. BIG ESTATES CUT UP. Practically all the big estates on the splendid flat land between the hill and the sea have already been cut up into holdings of from 50 to 200 acres, and, of course, dairying is most favoured. Much of the land was of a swampy formation, but as there is a gradual fall to the sea, drainage has not been a difficult matter. The Pahiho Swamp, about a mile and a-half from Otaki, provides a typical example of what can be done,. This property is known as Monckton and Addington's, and a large proportion of it was swamp just below a terrace. Water continually oozes out from beneath the terrace, and until draining was undertaken the property was practically useless. Big trenches have since been dug through the land, which is now largely used for fattening purposes. With the stock upon it the land improves, and the whole of this vast area should eventually become the pick of Otaki for market gardens. Already many Chinese have established themselves on from 20. to 30 acres, and the splendid results are surprising. The soil is fine and peaty.
Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 146, 21 June 1916, Page 11
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