THE WAIPIPI DISTRICT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 54, 24 December 1912, Page 1

THE WAIPIPI DISTRICT.

(By or Travelling Representative.) Leaving Wa»uku on a bright funny morning I started to make my firßt arquaintance v ith the Waipipi district. For the first couple of miles the- country was rather uninteresting and quantities of wa te lar.d growing noxious weeds were very much in eyi' : ei.c<>, b'lt ss I sot further into the d strict the usual 5 rcspen u?, well-rilled farms were seen, and much ii.te"Csting rnd instructive information elkited. HLNAKE KAIHAU. -Seeing a number of buildings and a hrge house do*n a side road, 1 nr:.de"a call to find it is the residence of Henare Kaihau—an imposing house of about 22 rooms, where all the skill of the uuil er has heen engagei to construct an up-to-date, modern building. A tower overlooks all the sunoiindirg country, wide veraidnls at d pretty gardens i..ake a delightful residence, but unfortunately it it; rot occupied, and Mr Kaihau Jives' in Auckland. A beautiful large peacock sits on the verandah rail and seems monarch of all he surveys. Mr Kaihau has three milk-, ing farms in these parts let on shares to sur;o-r.ding farmers. NATIVE SCHOOL. On (his estate there is a native tchool, where Mr and Mrs Welsh have eha-ge «f ?4 pup'lSi chiefly Maori children. A large meeting bouse is used for the schoolroom, but 1c is a very inconvenient building. A project is tn fooi to tsu'ld a new fchcol, and :t is hoped that a school house wsll be included, for at present Mr and Mrs Welsh have to rioe i\ mile 3 night and morning. S. T. JONES. Several never-Jailing streams are passed, Waipipi being an exceptionally well watered di.-trict. l" call in a: a • likely-iocking farm, that of Mr b. P. Jones. Here a crop of 12 uens. ;f oats and 5J acres of win at ia promising well, although two years ago the place was practically nc thing but ie;n and ti-trea. By li :d work this place is gradually being iran.formed into grarsy paddockf. A herd of 19 cows are at present in full milk. Next season, when mora grass will be available, the number will be more than .'oublcd a.,d a milking machine installed. Mr Jones is a home sjparator, a: d everything is kept thoroughly el; n and tidy. J. McGOWAN. Having a previous invitatou to dmi.ei from Mr J. McGowan, a halt tvaa made and a loi of paiticuljis of ioe road.; and farms was noted, which lat*r on proved of great assistance to my jcuTiey. Mr McGowan hai a 200 acre farm overlooking the Waiuku en ok, where a good deal of fine grazing country is inspected. A 100 a:ie farm at Purapura makes a spla.oid fattei ing paddock for the ; ummer season. Mr McGowan was at one time a record-breaker in the numerous military events at sports and -hows, his famous section having an unbeaten record. Visiting Rotorua on one memorable occasion tome datin? feats were recorded; a flying jump over Li h .t-water creek will i.ever be forgotte:;. Mr McGowan has a very old m-.re on this place, liaving this season seen its 38th birthday. Being of Arab extraction it mill shows the fire and stamina of shis hardy breed.

G. SIBLEY. Passing through the property of Mr G. Sibley, where the owner is again breaking in a large area of new land. I am able to get a short cut into the back of J. W. Mitchie's place. The mowing machine is at work and a splci did 14 acre crop of bay is being cut. borne choice Jersey catt'e are showing, and a good deal of grazing is carried on. As proving the capabilities of this lard I am informed that 52 head of cattle and 8 horses were run on 50 acres for the month of August, and at the time of my visit 15 cows, 12 heifers and 6 horses were quite unable to o.pe with tha feed on 12 acres Of course, a libe-al tcp-dressing of su ( er and bone had been regularjy applied. THE PIPI SHELL. Crossing through the hay field I get out to the wharf road, and a tip-top road it is. On the Salt-water creek close by is an unlimited supply ot pipi shell, from which Waipipi takes its name. This bas been used for making the road, and having been put down 12 inches thick, and 12 feet wide, at a cost of Is lid per yard proved to be the best road I have yet been over, and I am told it is equally as good in the winter, the shell having set like concrete. VARIOUS FARMS. Mr E. Adams, who has a farm close by, is putting up a large kiln and intends making lime for manure, it being an excellent plant food fur this country. Calling at the farms of J. Harvey, H. Furniss, M. Parvey, Jones and Kimberly, the usual prosperous, fertile fields are inspected. At Mr Jones's a fine flock of selected White Leghorn hens are shelling out a liberal supply of eggs, the otock having been started from such noted strains as Harrison and Gratton, Irvine, etc., no further comment is necessary. At Messrs M. and J. Harvey, Kimberly" and others some magnificent clover fields are seen. Last season Mr M. Harvey cut 18 ton of clover hay off 9 acres, and by the look of things the yield will this season be even better. A top-dressing of 3 cwt. cf nigh-grade slag brought about the foregoing excellent reeult AT TbE SCHOOL. At the school some particulars are kindly supplied by the headmaster, Mr J. f. Meiklejohn. The roll number is 58, with.an average of 44, and a two-roomed school provides ample accommodation. Mr Meiklejohn has been stationed here for the past 10 years, and has established a library for children and adults in connection with the school. Two pupils, Mary ard Cecil Walsh, recently attended Waiuku for their proficiency examination. Garden work is part of the training, and several nice flowe* gardens were seen- An able assistant is found in Miss Gillatiders, she having Deen a Training College student.

JERSEY PARK. Darkness is row arriving, fo a smart trip brings me 10 the care if Mr J. McDoi aid, of Park, where a night's lodging is kindly offered and gladly accepted, for both hurse and traveller were in need of rest and refreshment. Mr McDonali having been many years on the road could right well understand that "tired feeling." At aL early hour next morning I inspected Mr McDonala's choice herd of Jersey cows and heifer., a promising and profitable selection. A cowshed with 15 baih well concreted and scrupulously clean mak :s milking operations a delight. Stock had teen procured from such noted herds as those of D. Day and I'. D. Reid, so with the abundance of feed that is everywhere to te s..en some excellent results will be fcrthcomicf. Being close to the West Coaat Mr McDonald frequently goes out net fishing,' and on a recent excursion secured 173 choice mullet in one haul. (To be continued.)