THE EARLY FLOCKS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 19

THE EARLY FLOCKS.

; INTERESTING FIGURES.

"TEe first station. , ,at.-Wairarapa' was established by Messrs. Clifford :: 'and . Vavasour, in tho beginning of the .year 1844, eince : which .time ' the stations have gradually increased in number. The number' of; sheep and cattle stations in March, 1847, was fifteen. These receive their supplies from ■Wellington, but. sufficient, ..wheat is cultivated al each station, as soon;after-its formation as the season permits, to supply, those.who have the care..of• it with flour; and a-garden well stocked with vegetables is; to be' found at' most of: the stations;;- A yearly-rent is paid to tho Natives by the- owners .of .the different stations,. averaging .about twenty pounds 'a;year-each. ■ TKe stationsvar.y. in the.ownors'of some of the larger stations pay more than twice .the above amount as rent'to tho Natives, according to the extent .of .land'.they occupy. T£e ferry across the lake- is also in'the'hands of the Natives, and is a source'-of much annoyance to. the settlors, from; tie arbitrary and'exorbitant charges'"usually exacted.- Most of the stations ;are'bounded on either .side by' streams, and ar'o Well watered! so that tho facilities for washing the wool at sheep-shearing are .very great. The shearing of: the sheep usually'commences about the middle of' December. In New South Wales 2ilb.. is found to be the average weight'of a fleecoi'bnt'' from tho superiority of the, food'.and , climate in New Zealand, the 'wool .is found to increase in weight and lengfe of staple, and the :, average.weight of a firie-woolled fleece may ._ be correctly stated at from 3Jlb. ; to- 41b.| : But wo J may shortly..hope for,still , greater, improvements in the.wool frbin-tho' stations at Wairarapa, from the introduction, by Mr. Clifford, in'■ 1846, ."of'. some I

of Lord Western's; celebrated breed of pure merino.rams from England, which will incroasp •■not, only the'fineness •of tbo wool, and.length.Qf;staplc,..but also the weight of,.carcass.?' ...-,.'