THE WAIPIPI DISTRICT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 55, 31 December 1912, Page 1

THE WAIPIPI DISTRICT.

(By our Travelling Representative.) WHY NOT A FISH FACTORY* On this question a few remarks may be made. Why not establish a' trade with Auckland or a fish cirnitg factory? Mullet are always loond in large numbers during fine weather, and the quality of Wrst o«iast mullet is undoubtedly superior to ill others. A W'aiuku resident offered to put £SO int"> a concern of this kind if some other reliable lucal men wnuld take the n att< j r up. With the advent of the railway and sui'Hble ice chests ' the fish could placed on the Auckland market in a perfect condition, ur a cannery could b=* profitably established immediately, the late scarcity of tinned mullet proving the esteem with which this delicious fish is hald.

factory visited. Having an early breakfast"l left with Mr McDonald for the factory, where all euppliers'were interviewed, and I found the "Pukekoiie and Waiuku Times" met with general and alirost unanimous suptort, only ore man who had been badly treated by a dairy paper agent being aver.-e to anything in 'tie literary line. The sins of the unrightious bei> g in this case visited on the just. This is quite a bu<y little creamery, and with S3 milk suppliers and 18 home separators the manager, Mr N. Cotter, has quite a busy tinv. One hundred gallons of cream was taken from the milk suppliers and 60 gallons from the home separator?. Mr Cotter has had charge of this creamery for the past 10 years, but is shortly to have a long-a9ked-for move to Patumahoe. The largest suppliers are J. Herrcldwith 14001h3 to isooibs nf milk per day, and Messrs Aylward and Alexander, llOOlbs each. The

Lutter-fat tor October shewed a ;eur.i of 21 — 0 Hv». For many v;irl 1 !!.- -i ty W'i r '.iriv> r. \>\ v, 'it wheel. bat late., in* u- .• <; to a ! otter m!."' nr...! :i . , i.iatfcilcti. A .ii't'.il j'BR vv-.c- ir- •.> .it iv ■ s:.uiki - viini.-. a iuvt t. 'iti'ntt ;!••• i-vcf 80 feet in height and l cheap and never-failing supply. J. McNAMARA. Close to the creamery is a 110 acre farm owned by Mr J. McNamara. This name is well known in sporting ciicles, as Mr McNamara is the breeder of several notable racehorses —Mis3 Nellie, DeWet, and Lsdy Gratton being among the number. He ia also the proud owner of the famous Soult mare Mias Grizzle, whose numerous wins at Taumararui, Te Aroha, Hamilton. Waihi, Paeroa, et.<\, aie matters of history. Last year this mare was mated to Mr McKenzie's (Mangere) impoittd Eire Penury, and now has an active five weeks-oli foal. As Penury stock is connected with such notable hordes as Gallinute and Pretty Polly, and suo races have been won to a value of £25,000, Mr McNamara is hoping for young Waipipi to show a brilliant career in time to come. A most remarkable cow,"Lucy," isalsoon (his farm, she having given birth to eight calves icside of three yiars—the first season twins and the two succeeding ones triplets. A heifer of the first lot of triplets is due to calve in a few is'makingtip-top show.

F. KELLAND. From here I make a pass of several farms, whose owners I had seen a? the factory (a call will b: indulged in at som? future tirr.e), and arrive at one of the Dest-worked farms in the district, that cf Mr F. Kelland. crops of grass, rape s.id turnips were already showing, and no stone left unturned to provide the best and choicest of feed. 'llns is essentially a praziiig farn 1 , 200 sheep are kept, but fa? stock predominate, and something choice can be seen. A neighbour who was at one time a prominent butcher in Auckland told me that whenever any fat cattle came to the market froti Mr Kelland he always mane a point of securing them if possible, fcr he never knew a poo: ore to be marketed, ard those that wer? se;.t were without question the choicest that he had ever hmid'ed. Anyone wfco has seen the thorough manner in which all farming operators are carried out on this placa will, I am sure, bear out this assertion. Being invited to l:nch, I have an opportunity of viewing tne magnificent outlook from Mr Kelland's verandah. The N.S.b. Co 'i Weka can be plainly seen all the way up the creek, right £rom the Tora wharf, ard a fine view cf much cf the surrounding country is obtainable. PUKEROA ESTATE.

A hurried run up to Mr McDonald's "i'ukerca estate - ' finds the owner absent, searching for the proverbial lost sheep. This estate being a large cn?, opening up light in to tf& coast, is rather broken, h'lt Is splendialy cdapted tor sheep-farming and grazing operatic ns

MR HERROLD'S. From here I decided, owing t> tne advanced huur, to make a w ml trip through Tauraogaruru and Ka.so ahi, and ao b,-.ck to Waiuk A large dairy farm belonging to . Ht: .. , .-! > - Vfinr . . ' 1 I . J i. C k j. K . A large sheltered homestead proves to be the residence of Miss Harstovv, where 45 Ayrshire and Holstem cows are being rr:ilked, and general farming operations ate carried on. At this place I met Mr J, Herrold, who enquires if 1 am interested in Marram grass. Being unacquainted with this plant 1 am glai of the offer tc view the wonderful sand-binding properties of this rapid growing herbage, which has proved so beneficial where larfie tracts uf country were beir,g covered by shifting sands. Afier about 20 minutes' walk we arrive on the border of what was previojsly pure running sand; now a rank mat of Marram grass effectually stops all running. "he wonderful Ihicg about ti.is plant is that as soon as it has succeeded in its work and set

the sand it rier and leaves the sand rich with humus, bo iivit clo I .ers and useful fodder grrssss obtain a ■ tiong hld ar,d so reclaim tlu s«n\ Mr HerroldN experiments have bore out all that has been claimed, and the Department of Aerictjltur.-: have sent Dr Cockayne 'o :nspect the work, and in the Government lepat on the Dune Areas ot New Zealaid n uch mention is made of Mr H'r'jld's method?. A good deal of planting has been done with the plouah, but cn the hills and sidiings all has to be done by hand. The punting costs about 16s per acre, and on this farm over 250 acres have already teen reclaimed wi'hin the last 10 years. Tn shew wtiat a hold this plant takes, it is found that roots frequency go 20 feet deep in!o pure said. I walked through acres where the "and had stopped an 1 the stopper was d.ing, and all through the dying herbage prairie grass, cocksfoot, soft fescue and clover were growing vigorously. Further experiments are being cariied out with annual lupins, Mr Herruld having sent to France for setd. It. is also intended to try a plot of ljjcemr, aid if this is successful, which there is every reason to believe will be so, an astonishing result may presently be had off the one-time desolate dunes. For pastime Mr Herrold is an ardent lerritnrial, and at present holis the rank of capiain to the C Squadron 3rd Mounted Rifles. For many years he was an enthusiastic volunteer, and when the new movement warinitiateJ he was rot long in taking up the necessary duties. (To'be con'.inu d )