GALATEA STATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 127, 15 June 1937, Page 9

GALATEA STATION

— Pres* Association.)

Advance In^ Carrying Capacity EXTENSION 0F DAIRYING

fBv Telegraph -

■HAMILTON, June 9. A very favourable impression of the work being done to develop the Government's block at Galatea was gained by a party of 20 Poverty Bay farmers who visited tho area yesterday. The visit to Galatea was part of a tour arranged by the Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association with the object of giving Poverty Bay farmers some idea " of the farming methods adopted in South Auckland, particularly in regard . to manuring, a subject with which they were not familiar. Mr W. Alexander, of Auckland, co'nducted the tour. The visitors were met at Whakatane by Mr Alexander and the m'embers of the Galatea management committeo, Messrs R. G. Morran, M. J. Galvin, and M. J olly, and Mr R. L. Innis, who is in charge of the development work on the estate. They proceeded to Galatea over the newly-opened Rangitaiki Valley Road through Waiohau. Galatea comprises an area of 22,000 acres, which was purchased by the Government in 1932. It consists. of practically flat land 600ft above sealevel and contp.ining a wide variety of soil. Sections Being Taken Up The visitors were informed that 10 sections had been set aside for dairying three years ago, and the share-milkers were now being given an opportunity of acquiring, on easy terms, the sections on which they had been working, A fully-equipped farm of 100 acres was being offered to eack share-milker at from £16 to £17 an acre, exclusive of the value of the stock. All but one of the share-milkers had intimated their desire to take advantage of the department 's offer. A further 20 sections were recentiy offered for selection by ballot, and 17 of the sections have been taken up. Arrangements have- been made to finj ance the new settlers to enable them to erect the necessary buildings. When Galatea was taken over in 1932 I there was practically no good grass on j the , area, and no f ertiliser had been used except with swedes. The winter carrying capacity of the station was then 17,000 sheep and 1700 cattle. Since then some 8000 acres have bfeen laid down in permanent. pasture, including 4000 acres which have now been allotted to dairying, and the carrying capacity has been increased to 16,000 sheep, 600 dairy stock, and 6400 run cattle. •Koads and I'encing In the development of the estate 60 miles of excellent roads have been constructed, and 400 miles of seven-wire fencing have been erected at a cost of £80 a mile. A gravitation water supply has been instailed, a great deai of draining has been done, and shelter belts have been planted. An a'erodrome of 100 acres has been formed in the centre of the station, and has been used ipccasionally by passing machinest. ■ The value of ' Galatea as a revenue.producing asset has been demonstraetd. , ] Last summer 377 bales of wool were i taken from the station, the sum realised being £8500. In addition 700 chillers were sold, £11 per head on the station being realised, while 140,0001b of butter-fat per annum have been taken from the dairy herds. - The object of the department is to I provide not less than 130 dairy farms, 1 the paTamount object at Galatea being I land settlement. it is likely that in ' the near future a butter factery will be established on the station, and a 1 self-contained community formed. At ' present cream is carted from Galatea to the railway at Edgecumbe, 35 miles ^ away. - 1 Reyeiation to Visitors t | At the conclusion of the tour yester- ( day the visitors' were entertained at luucheon at the. headquartera cook-house , x by the memberB of the management | committee. In thanking the hosts, Mr R. Holden described the inspection of l Galatea as a revelation. The visitors i were amazed at the quality of the pas- ' tures and at the condition of the stock and the large number carried. . 1 The tourists also visited the Tara- 1 wera and Hurupara land settlement ' blocks, and spent the night at Rotorua. They .visited farms at Tirau and Roto- 1 o-rangi to-da^, and to-morrow they will . inspect faryis in the Cambridge and Hamilton districts. After visiting Morrinsville on Friday they will return to Gisborne on Saturday.