King Country Progress

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 448, 16 March 1912, Page 6

King Country Progress

THROUGH THE BAGKBLOGKS.

ARIA.

By Our Special Commissioner. During the past year the township of Aria and district have made considerable progress. Several new buildings of a substantial type have been erected in the township. The latest is the new public ha'l, which will be of great convenience for the settlers, both from an amusement point of view as well as a serviceable one. One thing, however, is very noticeable, and that is the large area of country immediately in the vicinity of the township running in the direction of the Tangitu block and towards Kaeaea. All these lands are native lands, part of which are leased and from all appearances are in the hands of speculators. This tract of country would be hard to equal and it seems sinful to see it lying in an unproductive state when large numbers of families would only be too glad to have the opportunity of tilling it and taking an intelligent care of it, thereby increasing the resources of the district and the country at large. The greater part of this idle land is at present growing fern from eight to ten feet—a certain sign of what it would produce. It is all dairying land and is for the most part agricultural. There are other large tracts of country locked up in a similar manner which arc equally good for cultivation and the production of butter fat. The curses of these idle lands to the district are many, and roading facilities arc hampered by the fact that the settlers which are scattered here and there do not think it incumbent that they should use the machinery m their power for the creating of special rating areas and generally improving the roads. They consider that the work done on their farms is quite a gooa enough contribution to the speculator and the native owners. Enhancement is the price they pay and surely what more do these parasites of settlement require from the struggling small farmer. It is only an occasional one that is to be heard offering serious objection to the so-called big man as long as he puts capital into his farm at the proportionate rate of the other fellow, and even greater. Who could object to such a thing as that, especially in a newly settled district? The Aria district is not the only one in the King Country that has speculators, and from a general observation the objection to them is well founded. Fencing is also seriously hampered in many instances even where the land is leased by Europeans and being held for speculative purposes. On making enquiries from settlers I ascertained that they have been informed when pressing their i fencing claims, that they have been informed that, although the lands are leased, that the lessees in many cases have not had their leases registered. Noxious weeds are also a considerable menace on these idle lands, and are but seed beds for ragwort, blackbeny, etc., and are most inimical to the interests of the farming community. Ragwort at present is blooming, ana in another few weeks the seed will be ripened to be scattered by the four winds of heaven on to the lands of the man who is striving to keep it down and eradicate it. Last, but not least, and by far the most important, is the fact that all these unoccupied lands are the best dairying country is the Aria district, and are not producing a blade of grass. The dairying industry has been established in the district during the past four years, and has had these enormous odds to face during that period, much to the disgust of those ihat have the welfare of the district at heart.

Despite the fact of all the adverse circumstances to be contended with, dairying has progressed satisfactorily. Mr E. Townshend was the promoter of the industry about four years ago, and continued to carry it out until the beginning of the present season, when h= disposed of the factory to the farmers themselves, and turned it into a co-operative concern. Mr Townshend is one of the directors and i 3 a very useful man on account of his many years of experience. The present directorate as composed, with Mr J. C. Riddle as chairman, and Mr T. Ward as secretary, are a very live body and are working hard to ensure success. The manager, Mr J. McDonald, is also asissting materially to what promises in the future to be a successful concern. The first step of the new company was to overhaul the machinery and where found necessary the latest and most up-to-nate requirements were installed, one of the most important being a new and up-to-date combined churn and butter worker. There are now 26 suppliers and for so far this season the output has been double that of any previous year. The directors are confident and all full of anticipation that the supply of next season will tie double, as a number of settlers have promised to guarantee for next season and most are making preparations, besides a large number of the present suppliers propose to considerably increase thei/ herds for next year. Tho present number of cows being milked is estimated at 550. For so far this season the returns of the company have been very satisfactory and show grading of from P0 to 94. The company's output was sold at the beginning of theseason for llfd. A noticeable feature of the progress being made is the large area of turnips in the district for the purpose of winter fodder,and the large amount of country being ploughed for the growing of summer fodder in preparation for eventualities in case of a dry season.Care is being taken to improve the herds and those who have been milking for the past few years recognise the value of a systematic culling. Those who are getting in readiness for next season are also benefitting by the experience of their neighbours and are attempting to commence in an up-todate manner aa possible.

Sheds of the best kinds are being erected and many improvements are being made to the older ones. There are several milking machines installed in the district, and a number propose doing likewise next season. The strain of dairy cattle is also being improved, Mesrss S. Riddle, J. Collins and E. Townsend having purchased three imported pedigree Jersey bulls this season.