PUKETARATA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 292, 7 September 1910, Page 5

PUKETARATA.

(Contriubted). It was about a quarter to nine at night when I left Otorohanga for Puketarata. The lands and homestead could only be indistinctly seen by the light of the moon. There is always something extremely novel and interesting about one's first journey into new country, and so was this moonlight ride between Otorohanga and Puketarata to me. A kind friend met me on the road and directed me to a cheerful looking homestead situated some distance back from the road upon a rising ground. On being ushered into the spacious dining room I found the family seated around a warm open fire. There was a general air of plenty and prosperity about the place and its occupants that is not generally noticed in a new country. The cause of this I was to learn the following day. After a refreshing sleep L awoke next morning to see the sun peeping in through the window. After dressing and breakfasting, my host took me out to look at his farm. What a difference in few a miles. I had left behind me at Otorohanga land covered with ti-tree and fern with occasional patches of grass; and in other paddocks the fern and grass were closely embraced in a death struggle. Here, at Puketarata, not more than five miles distant, were beautiful fields of barley, oats and grass, without vestage of fern or ti-trpe upon them. Certainly there were areas as yet not under cultivation, upon which ti-tree and fern held full sway, but what a marked contrast to the numerous clean, grassy paddocks! Then 1 looked for the sheep, but not a sheep could be seen, instead there were lots of cattle grazing about. I turned to my host (Mr Budge) and asked him if he kept sheep. He smiled, and informed me he had something better, something that brought in steady money. On further questioning he took me to see his well-equipped cow sheds and arrangements for milking. He then told me the advantage of milking over sheep-raising. The cattle, he said, got the fern down much quicker and better than the sheep, and consequently the land improved more rapidly. The cattle also brought in larger returns than the sheep. That day we drove in three new cows with calves to add to the ten already in. At milking time I was present and saw the milkers take a three-gallon bucket of milk from some of the cows. Mr Budge then informed me that they had not properly come to their milk yet. The following day I accompanied my host to the creamery, situated about a mile and a-half distant. Here I was shown the working of an up-to-date creamery. The cream is sent from there to Ngaruawahia. The creamery presented a busy spectacle; carta going home with skimmed milk, some coming with fresh milk, some weighing in, others drawing out. The cream output is about twelve gallons per day at present, and rapidly increasing each day. Mr Budge intends milking about fifty cows this season, and a good many settlers a similar number. Mr Ellis, son of Mr Ellis, of the firm of Ellis and Burnand, intends milking considerably over that number of cows this season. The school is in a flourishing condition, the roll numbering some thirty scholars. At present the school grounds are being improved by the planting of ornamental trees. There is an opening at Puketarata for a good visiting music teahcer. About seven children are ready to take lessons as soon as a suitable teacher is available.