JERICHO.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 57, 7 January 1913, Page 3

JERICHO.

Having a couple of hours to the good on my return trip from Bombay I took a shoit run into this portion of East Pukekohe. Some 30 years ago it was the custom to hold a picnic on Christmas Day in this part and someone said they should have a name for this place. " Well," said another, ;< they have Jerusalem out in Puni why not call this Jericho"— and Jericho it has remained ever since.

I had an interesting chat with Mr J. Willis, who has been in these parts for many years. Mr Willis •was proud of the fact that he came but from the " Old Country " in the same boat as the present Prime Minister, Hon W. F. Massey. Mr Willis has done his share of early pioneer work and has now retired. He has a pretty little srjbt selected for his home where he finds a pastime in growing fruit and vegetables. Passing down what I suppose is Jericho Hill I found Mr R. Baguley busy milking. This is a nice little farm of 163 acres. Nineteen cows are being milked this season and a good deal of cropping is carried on. Eighteen acres of oats and three of wheat will give a big yield and a 2acre crop of potatoes was looking " extra special." Only nine cwt of manure had been used per acre but judging by the look of the crop which was not quite ready to dig I should expect to see an almost record return. Mr Baguley is a very old resilent here, having taken up land 34 years ago. In the early days he also did a lot of pioneer work, for in those days no grants were available for road making and when roads were wanted ihe settlers themselves went out and did the work. The route of the first roal into this and adjoining farms, which Mr Baguley himself helped to make, was pointed out. A little further on is another old resident of 30 years standing at Jericho, Mr L. King. Milking and home separating was again in full swing- Some 16 cows were being well cared for, and everything was clean and sweet. Mr King has a cream cooler fitted up, and so ensures the making of a first-class butter from this cream. The importance of having cream cooled while separating is a most particular item for the manufacture of a high grade article and the home separators are generally adopting a plan similar to Mr Kutf's. bv which '"".uis the cream ,-i»i r containing a uu - ing water. j'ijr-o y be seen along (• ~*V ■♦ ord of it must -ofiia i" I"-': 'i ntil some other