DAIRYING IN SOUTH TAPANAKI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 14

DAIRYING IN SOUTH TAPANAKI.

CHANGES IN TWENTY YEARS. GREAT STRIDES FORWARD. ■ Although at the present time, Such jas its bountiful yield, the history of the idairy industry in Hawera might, be written in letters of gold, it has not (been always that way. Time was, not perhaps more than twenty years ago, when the dairy business, not-only in Hawera but all through'Ttiranaki, was in>lower water. The years before that . .were tho fungus periods, at least to a' considerable extent, and were,, of course, also a 'time'when the district .was. not at : all awaro that its destiny and fortunes lay along the lino of but- . tor-fat and milk-test. • It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to state that thero is good land in patches all through Now Zealand. For instance, the Hawke's _ liay country, ; iioar Pakipaki and running to Otane, is said to be a veritable garden, but authorities say that there is not so much ■potential wealth hi it as there is in the Hawera strip which runs to about 25 miles in length by about 15 in width. This land will, one day, be "one cow. country"—that is, when it is properly farmed, and a little artificial feeding has heen introduced. Then, too, there are some very good patches of land in the Wairarapa. In sheep country and grairi-producinpi land the Wairarapa can beat Taianaki and Hawera easily, but it has no chance as a butter-producing country with the west- coast of the North" Islatid. It is admitted, however, that genearlly speakiug tho Wairarapa known how to make cheese. It .is pointed out that, though South Taranaki has always been favoured with these peculiar climatic conditions, tho industry nevertheless has Hot always flourished. Such a consideration brings orte to"the second series of factors which have made the industry successful. Those factors are purity of the article in its raw state, gm>d manufacture, Government grading, and plenty of markets. South Taranaki is now established on theso lines. Thero is, however, no doubt that much more can be learned in breeding, feeding, and other details of farm iifo, which tend to make the business a science, and this caiuiill be brought about by systematic education until the high water-mark of perfection is attained.

fhe Coming of the-First Expert. Twenty years ago, tho farmer and the dairy factory manager were harder to educate than they are to-day. It ■was about that time, or a few years later, that all the South Taranaki factories from Stratford downwards were going smash, and going in for reconstruction. Exceptions woro tho Cardiff factory, near Stratford, and n proprietary concern run by a Chineso at Eltham. Tho dairy industry in tbo district appeared to be at its last Rasp, when there happened along a mail named Sawers, a preacher of the dairy gospel, sent out by tho Hon. Joliji M'Kenzie. Nobody evinced a' great deal of interest in Mr. Sawers, and farmers openly sniggered when they were told that ho bad been sent out Ly the Government to teach them bow to mako butter and cheese. "Fancy," they said, ":v Government ofl'icial thinking that he knows more about "dairying- tlian wo do!" A few_curious individuals, however, accompanied Mr. Sawers to the Chineso factory at Eltham, where be. proceeded to gjvc them n demonstration. He ran his hand through a vat of milk, and let the liquid fall ,in a cascade through his fingers. • ''See it?" ho asked. "See whit?" "Dirt." There it was, and then Mr. Sawers on to explain that, in the circumstances, it was impossible to make good butter from such milk,

: So there is this to be said. : The farmers twenty years ago had no idea that a little dirt "would endanger the value of, the product) and besides they Had'not been taught any special system whereby it might' be eliminated. That, howover, has now been accomplished to a considerable extent and, with.: most systematic farming, and culling, and more ; care in every respect, dairy land values in South Taraiiaki have increased within the: past five years from £20 to £35 per aero to £50-to £60 per acre. An authority informed a Dominion representative that, with careful and systematic farming, a great portion of tho South Taraiiaki would run ono cow to the acre. When this happens tho land will be ivcll worth £200 per aero, tho same as it is in.Holland; and this seems to be tho objective which every South Taranaki dairy farmer should strive for Out at Manaia thero is a 120-acre farm which, with the help of a little artificial feeding, has run DO cows for seven years.

Sovereigns and Land. With further referenco to the prico of dairy land in the district, tbo following item is of interest: —Eleven years ago a farm of 1000 acres, two milos from the post office, was sold for £20 per aero. The place was subdivided within six months' time, and sold for £25 per acre. One of tho holdings was further subdivided last year, and sold for from £>00 t0..£55 per acre. The extraordinary development of tho dairy industry and the increase of population is responsible for theso values, and an instance in support of this statement is supplied by Mr. J. H. Turton, tbo woll-known dairy comoany secretary. "Eleven years ago," said Mr. Turton, "I was employed by - a bank, which used to open a branch at Eltham twico a week." Now, such has been the prosperous nature of farming in tho district, Eltham runs three banks, while a per-

manent branch of one bank has just been established at Kaponga. It is, of course, well known that banks do not open branches unless there is a certainty of sound business." Yes, the farmers generally in the Hawera district have dono well. Many of them havo mado fortunes within a few .years. ■ For instance, ■' several of them between Kaupokonui, and Eltharn tool; up land with a seven years' purchasing clause. . -When the term matured —such had been the increase in the value of the land —the tenants wore able to borrow on mortgage to tile amount required in the purchasing, clause, and in all probability these farms are now cleared of any liability; Street sections in the town appear to be cheap, compared with farm values. Some sections right in the centre of the business area were sold the other day at £56 per foot. This is a low price, but a big increase on what pricfes were forty years ago, when the whole of the present borough' of Hawora could hßvo been purchased for less than £500.

PRICES OF STOCK. ELOQUENT SALE RECORDS. Prices of dairy stock nro going up all over tho district. Farmers arc now studying the question from a scientific point of. view, and they are looking for .and prepared In pav bis prices for good cattle. There mis n time when any sort of cow was considered good enough so long as it gave milk. That time _ is passing, and tlie Hawera farmer is asking for nothing but the best, and for this be pays the best prices. A proof of this statement is shown in tho following report taken from tho "Hawera Star" on a sale held in the district last week: — Big Prices for Grades. The sale of pedigree Jersey and ■grade stock (conducted by Gillies and

Nalder) for Mr. W. Butler at the farm. Manaia, on Friday, was a conspicuous success. The pedigree animals returned an average of 32 guineas, and the grades . u -little over £13,. the whole herd of 72 . averaging £IG.

There was a large attendance of local and outside buyers, but the local Jersey fanciers were too intent'on keeping good stock in the district to give outsiders much of a look in. For several years past our South Taranaki farmers have shown a pronounced and commendable desire to improve.the elhciency of their herds, and thus advanco tlio interests of the industry by tho purchasing, of first-class dairy animals. Tho Jersey breed have been particularly in demand. It has been clearly demonstrated from timo to time that it pays, and pays handsomely, to run. a dairy farm with well-bred stock. Not only are milk cheques bigger, : but there is a more profitable market for calves or "heifers, etc., and as a .rule good cattle oat less fodder than scrubbers, and consequently are less costly to keep.' Two pronounced features of tho

sale were in the remarkably brisk bidding experienced (advances of £5 being made even on grado stock)', anil tbo fact that practically none, of tho animals was taken away from our groat dairying district. Messrs. R. Linn (Normanby), TToskin (Oimnake). Phillips (Mangatoki), and Blackwell (Whakaniara) were the buyers who lived furthest away from the Plains district. On the whole, the prices realised ami the rapid sales effected set up something of a. record on the coast. Complete arrangements to secure tho comfort of the auctioneers ami prospective buyers had been.made by Mr. Butler, a small' enclosure being set apart in one corner of tho stock paddock as a sale-ring. Some of the figures-realised wero as under:— Pedigree Jerseys. Bull—Campfiro (by Campanile's Sultan—Dr. Williams's .Tennio), sold at 40 gns. to Mr. Hoskiu, of Opunalie.

Bull—Wildwood (Wild Cherry 268— went /to Mr. J/ J. Patterson, Manaia, for SOgns.

Cow—Roso 119 (Lion 53—Lady) was purchased by Mr. Prostidge at 30gns.'

Cow—Queenie (Sambo—Lily) wont to Mr. 51. Phillips for 17gns.

Heifer—Queenie JJoII (Tim Bell— Queenie, by.Pride of Egmont—Bright .Eyes) fell to Mr. J. Mourie's bid at 32gns.

Cow—Dr. Williams's Jenjiie 307 (Dr. William 136—Jenny E. 19S) was bought by Dr. Noonan for 45gns. .

Heifer—Rosey (Tim , Bell —Rose) brought 23gns. Mr.. Prestidge was the buyer.

Hbifer—Queenio's Girl (Golden Grand —Queenie). Purchased by Muggeridge Bros, at 15gns. /

Heifer—Queenie's Lass was knocked down to Mr. R. Linn's bid at 47gns.

Bull—Tim Bell (Pride of Beaconsfield —Bright Eyes), of beautiful appearance, was purchased privately before the sale was arranged by 'Mr. T. M'Phillips.

Grade Stock. Tbo vendor's statement as to tlie grades was that they were mostly purebred, although no pedigrees were available, and all in calf to the noted bull, Tim 8011. Tho big-priced animals were sold to Mr. -J. Nicholson. £'2S and £27; Mr. T. M'J'hillips, £27, £15 10s.; Mr. J. R, Corrigan, £20, £17 10s., £10, £15 305., anil £14 10s.

A .special lino of four grade Jerseys wan altered on behalf of Dr. Noonaii. Those sold to Mr. K Long at £20; Mr. R. Linn, £14; Mr. .1. R. Corrigan, .£l2 10s.; and Mr. Blaekwol! at .£ll 10s.

"My husband," said tho pale woman, "is 10-day beneath the cold, cold waves." Deeply touched, the benevolent gentleman paid ss. for an ornament which bo did not want. ' "Yes," she continued, when the money was safely lucked into her satchel, "lie is stoking on a uctv submarine torpedo bout."

a day, he considered a European garrison would bo talcing things easily. Ho was right in bis conjecture, and, gathering bis men together, crept upon tho fort. .

The story lias been often told, but m a measure it will always bear tolling again, if only to emphasise the bravery of tho few men who fought hack .to back, shoulder to shoulder, with bayonets fixed, and then with clubbed rille.s, until relief came in the person of the, brilliantly .daring Von Tempskv. The British sentinel was at his post oil this Sunday evening, when lie noticed tho outlines of somo figures crawling from tbo flax bushes. He challenged, and, receiving no answer, lircd his rifle. The natives immediately charged, with cries of "Ivokiri! Kokiri't Kokiril" " Whnkawharia! * . Whakawharia!" meaning "Chargei Charge! Chargol" "Come in! Come in!" ° The first man to fall was Lemon, who

ston, who was a man six feet in stature, "•as made captain of the party, and led them well. Tlie wholo six had a miraculous escape, but only one, TuiKn, was wounded. x Ho received five bullets, and to-day, as a result of the surgical operations which followed, he carrics on tile top of liis head a piece of silver plate, the size of a five shilling piccc. Johnston had his bat shot away by a bullet, and then ho and his comrades fought the Natives hand to hand, first with bayonets and then with clubbed guns, until the cry of Von Tcmpsky's rescuing band compelled tbo Natives to beat a retreat-. i

Some day the people of Hawera, or the Government, will recognise the bravery of Johnston and his party in a manner which will honour and perpetuate their memories tor all time. It is a. regrettable fact that Mr. Johnston is at present in failing health.