PAEMAKO.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 328, 14 January 1911, Page 6

PAEMAKO.

Q ' LAND-LOCKED AND ISOLATED FOR YEARS. NOW ON THE ROAD TO PROSPERITY. To have to go to work to keep the farm instead of the farm keeping them was the lot of seven Paemako settlers for many years. Fifteen years ago this settlement was thrown open among others under what was known as the Improved Fann Settlement scneme. The block consisted of about 1400 acres and was subdivided into twelve holdings ranging from about 100 to 200 acres. Every section was taken up and resided upon by the owners in the midst of thousands of acres of locked up Native lands and isolation. Settlex-a had no means of communication and in order to keep the farm and the pot boiling they went to work the most of them on the formation work of Te KuitiAwakino road. When thi3 work was finished labour of different kinds was procured in various parts and a good number of the seven of the original twelve continued to do so up till dairying became an established fact. With the exception of one or two all those at present residing on the small holdings are dairying in conjunction with others holding native leases and taking their cream to the Pio Pio factory. The district to the visitor might appear to look backward but when one is aware of what has taken place and now see the improvements which have been done during the past few years, and the work that is being done at present all such thoughts would be cast into oblivion.

The settlers of the Paemako district are to-day the main supporters of the Pio Pio factory, which started this season, and are milking approximately 220 cows. Settlers hope to considerably increase that number next year. Dairying, of course, has meant that agricultural development in the form of growing winter food for stock has not been neglected. Some 250 acres has been already laid down in turnips for winter feed for the cattle, besides about 50 acres of maize. Haymaking is at present being largely carried out, whilst one or two of the farmers have made a start in the growing of ensilage. The class of dairy cows for the first season appears to be fairly good, and I feel sure that as the industry proceeds care will be taken to draft from the herd any wasters that may be found. Stock in general are looking well. With reference to the settlers und&y the Improved Farm Settlement scheme which was taken up on the O.R.P. system three or four o? the twelve sections have been made freehold. In the Paemako district there are also about 10,000 acres of native land all of which with the exception of a few small areas, have been leased during the last three or four years. Adjacent to this district is Wai-rert-f where reside about ten settlers who, in order to get an outlet for their procjuce, l)aye to proceed some six or' seven niileg in a roundabout way, whereas were the Paekaka road complete all this would be saved. The road is already formed three miles from the Wairere end and one mile from the Paemako end leaving, to be exact, <52 chains to be made. BesiiH'? the Inconveniences to settlers the incompleteness o£ this road pre vents twelve children of the settlers in the Wairere district attending school. This is a serious matter, and should be kicked into. Another incomplete road is Hunt's road, and only requires formation of about three-quarters of a mile about midway to connect with the Mangaotaki Valley. Under the. circumstances the district is looking particularly welt and a good future is assured. The settlers are industrious and hard working anil seem determined to make an effort to gain that which was lost and denied theru in their many years isolation. Dairying has a giv.fit future before it and there is no aoubt but that ti"je district will be a flourishing one in the near future.