OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No, 8.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 33, 7 January 1884, Page 2

OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No, 8.

[BY OPS StxCIAL RHrOBTSB.) POUrABAE. This is the name of the homestead owned by Messrs. G. G. and Melville B. Smith, Its boundaries run from Bushmere, along the bank of the Waipaoa, or Big Biver, to Mr. Dunlop’s old station, and has a frontage to Ormond Boad, which for some distance goes through the property, the Smith Bros, holding some paddocks to the right of that road. The thoroughfare known as the Middle Boad, easily traversed at this season of the year, and leading to Waerenga-s-hika, runs through this estate, eo that the proprietors enjoy the advantages of two good roads. The land here owned and occupied by these gentlemen comprises an area ol 493 acres, and gentljf slopes from the residence for the distance of a mile to the main road, and is t square piece o! territory, The distance from the town of Gisborne is computed at seven miles. Often I have heard it ironically remarked that the missionaries in som« parts of this colony paid more attention to the acquisition of land than the conversion of the Maori race to Christianity ; but, whatever allegations of a contemptuous nature have been made against some missionaries—and doubtless on the principal that where there is smoke fire must exist, some truth underlies the accusations—■ it is certain that the missionaries who came to Poverty Bay deserve much credit for their efforts in paving the way, so fo speak, for the reception of pioneer settlers, They, did much in teaching the Natives how to cultivate the land in many respects, for it is a fact that thirty years ago large quantities of wheat were exported from this district which was grown on Maori cultivations. With the name of Puparae is associated that of the worthy and late divine, Bishop Williams, who, in conjunction with the late Mr, J, W. Harris, made the first strides towards developing the splendid tract of land now smiling with verdure. This was before thft war, tlift outbreak of which sent terror into the hearts of the few scattered Europeans in the dis. trict, and the rumors ol which caused thft generally-beloved Bishop Williams to remove to Napier in 1665, where he remained nntil his death. This now beautiful homestead lay dormant from that time until the year 1875, when a nephew of the present Venerable Archdeacon Williams went to resid* then, and brought the land under pasture, improving it as a sheep-station, on which has been reared soma excellent stock. At first only a small residence, just a place to rough it in, was constructed, but in 1878 a very comfortable house was erected, around which were planted a large number of trees, principally those commonly known as Norfolk pines, which flourish to such perfection in Poverty Bay, and laid out an excellent court or lawn. The house is almost obscured from view by these trees. Mrs. Smith told ma, on the occasion of my visit on Thursday, that no matter how hard the wind should be blowing, in whatever direction, when the family were indoors they would be quite unconscious of the prevalence of a hurricane. Planting these trees was a very wise provision. They give a pioturesqueness to the place, and serve a good purpose. The Messrs. Smith Bros, only went into possession of Pouparae about two years ago, and during that period they have made considerable improvements, and contemplate making many more in adornment of their home. To the house has been added a new wing, containing several goodsized dining-rooms. Judging from a photographic view shown me of the house as erected by Mr. Davies, its appearance has been greatly improved by the additional buildings, and is a comfortable structure.

The land is divided into twelve large paddocks, In addition to these, there arc several small allotments fenced off adjacent to the house for kitchen-garden, orchards, Ao. In their garden the Messrs. Smith Bros, are trying an experiment in the cultivation of a small row of broom-oom, the stalks ol which are of great value for broomhandles and other purposes, and the seed, which grows profuselv, is specially adapted for poultry-feeding. The cultivation of this broom corn is quite an easy matter. The seed will take root almost anywhere, and a good profit could be realised. In America, many fanners add largely to their income by producing it. I mention this little matter because it may serve as a hint in the direction of a local industry hitherto untried here. It is worth in the market £2O per ton. The seed, also, is another source of income. A good provision has been made on this station for the storage of hay in the erection of a lofty shed, 66ft. long by 18ft. wide, To this additional space is to be given by widening it at both sides, so that when complete it is computed fifty tons of hay can be placed under shelter. In a heap in thia shed lay about 150 bushels of excellent prairie grass seed. At Pouparae, like other piaoea at the present time, all hands were, on the occasion of my visit, early and late, working hard in reaping and cocking ryegrass seed, and naturally the production of this commodity and how to make it pay in the face of so muoh severe competition and dear labor waft for a time the theme of conversation, The latest and best machinery has been obtained by these enterprising brothers. Of reaping machines, capable of falling an acre per hour, they have two, and by their aid it haa not taken long to out down the heavy crept that have grown in their paddocks thii year. In some of the paddocks from which the sheep have only a short time been abut out, theie are large quantities of seed. To save this, and leave the undergrowth intact, Messrs. Smith Brothen have just imported from the makers at Christchurch (Messrs. Booth, Macdonald, and Co.) one of their improved stripping-machines, by means of which the heads can be nipped off the stalks by a revolving skeleton cylinder, which by its action sends the seed into a large bin at the rear capable of holding several bushels. Whan full it is cleared and placed in readiness for the threshing machine. There is no loss of seed, and it is said to be better the nearer the top it is taken off the stalk. It is Messrs. Smiths’ opinion that by bringing this machine into operation it will not be necessary to crop the paddocks so heavily as hitherto, that more seed will be obtained, and the feed for stock more abundant. There will be a great saving of expense in the production of the seed, and larger profits.

Some of the paddocks are nicely studded with groups of cabbage-trees, relicts of ths days only a few years ago back when manuka scrub, rushes, and other native growths held posssesion of the lands now yielding such rich pasturage. Along the line ol fence abutting Ormond road, the proprietors of Pouparae have planted a number of all kinds of trees. As these spring up and spread their branches and foliage, a new adornment will be added to the estate, and also afford shelter for the sheep at pasture. In addition to this an avenue of trees, a chain wide, has bean ■planted from the right of Pouparae House to the Middle Boad, a distance of upwards of 300 yards. Several rows of trees, to serve as breakwinds, and for shelter, have also been planted in various directions, but as yet their growth is almost imperceptible. That the productive nature of the soil hart is good may be inferred from the fact that in one paddock of thirty acres and another of fifteen acres the heaviest crops of grass-seed known to have been grown in this locality has been out this year, and which provad too heavy for the machinery used by those who have undertaken the cutting-contraot. Messrs. Smith Bros, do not give their attention to any other branches than grass-seed growing and sheep-farming, which pursuits they find to be amply remunerative, leaving the production of general farm produce to the settlers who possess smaller holdings. In sheep the number at present pasturing on their land is 2800. This season the percentage of lambs has been large, the yield having been 1150. The stock is composed exclusively of long-wools, and are descendants of the flock introduced by the family of the late Bishop Williams. Some new blood, however, has been introduced in the purchase of fifteen pure-bred four-tooth Lincoln rams, from Mr. McKenzie’s run at Ormond, for which Messis. Smith Bros, paid £lO per head. The clip of wool this season is sixty-five bales, most of which has been shipped on board Messrs. Common, Shelton, and Co.’e direct wool-ship, the Asterion. In addition

W thU report, about 2000 steep were sent to Auekland market last year, The last serious flood in this valley has naturally placed every tenner ol the lowlands upon his watch-tower; and to obviate being swamped in the future, the fanners in this locality have taken steps to divert the current of the river in a series of ways. Messrs. Smith Bros., gains rather than sufferers through the floods by reason of the sifting the land obtained, have put up a good embankment from the point over half-a-mile in length, which would, in case of a deluge, protect more than half of the property. However, the river being now considerably wider than it was formerly, it is thought by many that the district will not be so liable to suffer in the future. One good feature about this homestead is the large number of fruit-trees to be seen there, comprising lemon, peach, plum, ouince, pear, apple, and vines. As the stock do not appear to interfere with the bark of the quince-trees, it is contemplated by the proprietors to plant them extensively alongside the fences throughout the grounds. They would not enly be a source of profit, but afford shelter tor the stock, and tend to beautify the place. What will my farmer fiends say in general to this new idea ? ” The kitchen.garden I noticed was very small, but it contained many useful varieties of vegetables, net anything like sufficient though to .meat the requirements of a homeAeau where a number of hands must of necessity be employed. In one of the orchards, Mid in several other directions I counted aboufforty hives of bees, which, if properly majaged, may be turned to very profitable account. It occurred to me—though, perhaps, prdumptious on my part to make such a suggeaion—that if some good steady men who uud*stoo<l the working of an aviary, the pruning o| trees, and the production of vegetables were to pay Messrs, Smith Bros, a visit, they ma; be indueed to place at his disposal, with other advantages, the produce of the bees, which would be considerable, lot the consic oration of producing vegetables for the hot ehold, - both parties would be corresponding! > bene, fitted. A little of the mutual principle o< »aionally brought into practice could do n harm. I feel convinced that the Messrs. Smit i Bros, would be inclined to favorably oonsi er any proposal to this effect. There is a ways a market open foe the reception of hone , In the present owners of Pouparae I found two gentlemen who thoroughly unirstand the pursuit they are engaged in. A hough they have only passed two years there t must not be inferred that they are new chums to colonial life. They left Scotland in the year 1882, and have witnessed manytyicissitudes in the history of New Zealar 1 since that time. Mr. G. G. Smith, thou® more particularly associated with the District of Hawke’s Bay, Mae also had soma experience of Poverty Bay in connection vath Sir George Whitmore, when this part of the country had made little progress In agricultural or pastoral advancement. In 1869 he left the colony and proceeded to England, where for nine years he tried, with varied bucocsa, English fanning. His experience was that Home farming is not so profitable as that of New Zealand. Mr. Melville B. Smith has in his time seen much travel, and prior to the ports being closed spent five years in trading between New Zealand and England, importing Idnooln rams to Napier and Auckland He is fond of sport, but his favorite pastime is coursing, to gratify which he keeps good dogs, and has been successful in winning a large number of handicaps in Christchurch, Melbourne, and elsewhere. We want more such energetic men in the district. Having spent the day and night at this station, I made my way to a homestead within a mile of Waerenga-a-hika, which will elicit some comments in my next.