THE AHUWHENUA CUP

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 547, 2 June 1933, Page 2

THE AHUWHENUA CUP

JUDGE'S COMMENTS ' REASONS FORAWARD OF . THE DIFFERENT ; |?| PR^ES. - PRAISE OF METHODS. The judge of the competition, Mr. W. Dempster, of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, has furnished the Gov.ernor-General the following report upon the farms. which he inspected and his raasons for the awards. The report runs: — Under the guidance of Mr. Scott, Rotorua, and Mr. Royal, Ruatoki, I have just completed the visiting of 71 of the farms on the list sent by you, • In addition, 10 additional farms. were visited as a matter of courtesy ■and policy. The farrn of Hirima Waititi, Cape Runaway, was not visited. Mr. Royal coinmunicated with him by telephone and was informed that he was not ready but that.he h'oped to win first prize next year. The farms visited extended from the Horo Horo block, Rotorua, out to the Maketu block, Te Puke, and down the caast to Cape Runaway. In judging the farms, besides taldng into consideration the wise expenditure of money and the personal application of labour, I also took into consideration the possibility of deliyering a high standard quality of milk or cream.. After visiting lall the farms, I came to the conclusion that the settlers on the Horo Horo block have not had sufficient time to display their initiative, as th'e conservation of winter feed has been done on a communal basis (an ample supply is available). I have, therefore, selected three of the farmers on the Horo Horo block which have shown the most initiative and placed them in order of merit. The Maketu and Opape block farm I have not taken into consideration in awarding the prizes, although they are both in a high state of productivity, and show value for money expended; were la prize awarded to either of these farms, I believe it would tend to destroy that spirit of emulation which the awarding of the prizes is calculated to create. As you are aware a number of Natives have been supplying milk at Ruatoki for some years, and have been working on indifferent lines. Under the development scheme la spirit of emula,tion has been created along the older suppliers around the factory and there are abundant signs of a forward movement. The bulk of the development scheme is on new country on the west bank of the river and includes both flat and undulating country. Some two y.ears ago, I viewed this country from the eastern hank of the river, but did not realiae the extent of country. During the two years which the development scheme has been in operation, drains have been made and new farms created, while at the present time new roads and more drains are being made. The flat land is very good quiaiity and will compare favourably with the best land in the Opouriao distriet. The undulating land compares favourably with similar country in the Waikato and King Country.' This block of land is eminently suited for the establishment of a centnal cheese factory. I do not think I am unduly optimistic in stating that sufficient milk will be produced to warrant the building of a ten-vat factory. Plenty of river shingle is available, so that good

roads could be made at iow cosu From Opotiki down the coast blocks of idle land are being brought in and | •settlers are established on the farms. The cream from down the coast as far as Marainui (28 miles) is taken to the Opotiki factory. Beyond the Motu River new country has been brought in and will be settled this year. This supply will go to the Te Kaha factory. Around Te Kaha assistance has been given to a number •of settlers and a comprehensive water •scheme has been introduced which will make more land suitable for dairying. The settlement scheme will save the situation at Te Kaha, as with the increased supply the future of the Te Kaha Dairy Company is assured. First-class Roads. Beyond Te Kaha as far as Cape Runaway new country has been brought in and will be available foi dairying next seiason. The quality of the dairy cattle supplied to the settlers is high standard grade Jersey and at the head of each' herd is a pedigree bull. In many of the herds of the old established Natives, the scrub eow and scrub bull is much in evidence. The milking sheds and yards are well finished and are kept in good order. This does not apply to sheds built previous to the development scheme. The standard of cleanliness of the concrete floor, drains and all utensils, without a single exception on the Horo Horo block, was the highest ,1

have ever seen in dairy sheds. Taking the development scheme, I believe the most adverse critic would 'be silenced by making a personal in'spection of the viarious localities. I would award th'e prizes as follows:— William S winton, Raukokore, first; Jack Black, Ruatoki, second; Tarewa Kopae, Ruatoki, third; James Swinton, Rairkokore, highly commended. Special Mention: P, Michaere, Horo Horo, first on block; Te Katene, Tikitere; Charles Oneroa, Horo Horo, second on block. ' I. would specially commend the efforts of James Swinton as: First, he has by judicious top-dressing and surface sowing of grass brought ratstaiL .paddocks into good grass. Second, he has used material to build a two-bail cowshed which would be considered valueless by either Maori or Pakeha. Third, although he has no concrete floor in shed, he is milking under most sanitary conditions. His dairy utensils are in perfect. cqndition. He is running 14 cows on 20 acres and he has ample winter feed. If this man could •«ret more land he could display to greater advantage his undoubted ability as a farmer. He has 13 children and has ample material to dissemihate his knowledge. •