PIO PIO.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 329, 18 January 1911, Page 6

PIO PIO.

A TOWNSHIP WITH A FUTURE

GREAT DAIRYING PROSPECTS

During the past twelve months Pio Pio has been assuming a role of importance. Quite a respectable township has sprung up, and although yet in the embryo stage, has enormous possibilities in the future. It is situated in a very central position right in the midst of a big and prosperous farming area. Roads run in to it from Mairoa, Mangaotaki, Mahoenui. Paemako, Mapara and Aria. All these districts, though practically new, are making rapid progress, and have their outlet to Te Kuiti through the township. The growing importance has been realised by business people, with the result that there are already some fine business places, with more to be erected in the near future.-

The great expanse of country which stretches round on ail sides is sufficient to indicate what the future will be. True a big area of it is yet unimproved, owing to its having being locked up by Native land legislation, but a forward move has taken place during recent years, with the result that almost all the lands handy to the township have pas sed into hands that will cultivate an.l take an intelligent care of them. They will not remain fern-sour much longer, but will be turned over and put to the uses for which they are destined. Two important farming ventures have become established the Pio Pio Co-operative Butter Factory and the Pio Pio Saleyards Company. The latter is proving a great success, and ig attracting much attention. Its central position appeals to farmers. Stock can be taken to and from the sales in easy stages, and without any great expense or loss of time. The enormous rate at which stock is increasing will render these sales in the course of a very short period as important as any of the sales in the Waikato or on the Main Trunk line. Next month a sheep fair is to be held, and already it is anticipated that three or four thousand sheep will be yarded. Sleps such as these will give prominence to the place and the sales. They will attract the attention of the public and outside buyers.

By far the most important enterprise 13 the Butter Factory, and it is hard to estimate what the ultimate possibilities will be. The great area of country which will be brought under grass and cultivation during the next few years for the purpose of dairying will tetl its tale. Although considerable trouble wa3 experienced in getting the factory under way, it has already, during the first three months of its life, exceeded anticipations. Even those who were the most pessimistic when the proposal was being carried into effect, now see and teaiise the success that it is going to be, and the importance which the dairy industry in the district is going to assume. Those who thought the time was not ripe are now aware of what is being done, and what it is possible to do in the future.

Machinery was installed in ths factory to treat wit it the in ilk of 3 ()«>'•> cows, "and as far as [ pan learn of the intention of fnvrners in the suiu'oqntling districts the plant will Jmvc to bo increased in another couple oi years. I am convinced with what I have seen and heard, ikat in !:vc years' time the Pio Pio Butter Factory will pur with any of the leading Tavanaki factories. Putiueva, aftt'p years' of isolation and no market for their products, realise that the opportunity has come, and they will take it. The fictory commenced operations in the beginning of October, and the month's supply was of butter fat, resulting in £'ju being paid to suppliers. In November the supply increased two and a-quarter times ruote than th ff opening month, with a supply of o2K->ib:-5 of butter fat, foi : v.djich was paid out. Last month saw the supply of the opening month increased to almost three times as much, when 78431bs of butterfat was treated, and for which the sum of £261 was paid. Altogether, to the end of last month. £(>7o was paid to

suppliers and 16,8671bs of butterfat received by the company. The present ; month will also show an increase, as j the supplies coming to hand point that , way. There are twenty three suppliers, the majority of whom are from the ; Paemako district. Out of the total ' only three suppliers are bringing : their milk to the factory for separation, 'the rest going in for the homeseparation scheme, which is becoming very popular amongst dairy farmers. In a scattered district such as this, it ; is an ideal way of working. The cream is collected by the company, and brought to the factory in a light waggon two or three times a week, thus saving time, trouble and expense. I have no doubt whatever that the district will be an enormous one in a few years, and like many others at the back of Te Kuiti, only wants developing. However, in the Pio Pio district, the thin end of the wedge has been safely driven in, and it now only wants time and patience of another couple of years to sea what it is possible to do. I would suggest that, considering the enormous amou it of home-separa-tion which will be done in the district, that the company would do well to | m ake an early start, and supply the : dairy farmers with pamphlets on the use of the separator and the man- j aging of cream. By so doing they ; would be setting up a plan which : would no doubt be greatly appreciated by the supplier, as well as tending to give the butter produced a high stan- : dard of efficiency. There is no doubt that modern dairying, to be successful, requires special care. It is by going to the very foundation of things, and educating those who supply the raw material, that one can maintain the reputation of producing a good article. I am very much impressed with the future of Pio Pio, because it is in the centre of a great farming district, and I also realise the important part it will play as a distributing centre for Te Kuiti, which is surely and truly destined to become one of New Zealand's biggest inland towns.