AWARD MADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 138, 20 March 1940, Page 5

AWARD MADE

MAORI FARM TROPHY LORD BLEDISLOE'S CUP WON BY TE TEKO ENTRANT The Ahuwhenua Trust Board lias this year awardc-cl to Mrs Tatai Hall, of Te Tcko, the magnificent silver cup presented in 1933 by Lord Bledisloe for annual competition among Maori farmers. She is a member of the Arawa tribe and a settler on Putauaki development scheme. Mr Fred Amoame, of Omarumutu, Opotiki, who is in second place, is a member of the Whakatolica tribe and a settler under the Whakatohea development scheme. The third award goes to Mrs Ngarangi Kehere, of Rangitukia, East Coast, a member of the Ngatiporou tribe. She was third last year. The judge, Mr C. Walker, instructor in agriculture, Hamilton, in his report states that the standard reached by nil eight competitors was worthy of the highest commendation. The winner, Mrs Hall and lier husband took up their present larm of 93 acres in January, 1936, Avhcn the area was wholly unimproved. Their previous experience was gained on a very small area which they occupied in North Auckland. In the 1935-39 dairy season they produced 7099.71b of butterfat from 35 cows. In last year's competition for the trophy they were placed second. Mr Fred Amoamo's farm contains 212 acres, of which 84 acres are in bush, and his butterfat production for 1938-39 was 94141b. When Mrs Ngarangi Kohcre first occupied her 32-acre farm in May, 1936, it was all covered in extra heavy manuka, gorse and briar as well as the remains of pnriri stumps, Now it is one of the model farms of the district. There was very little to choose between the first four competitors, any one of whom submitted an entry that Avould have been worthy of the highest honour. Each displayed intelligence and initiative \vcll above the average. They have worked diligently and adopted advanced ideas.