Agricultural Development of Pumice Lands

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5328, 14 February 1947, Page 7

Agricultural Development of Pumice Lands

M.

DUNBAR

M.

PAIGNTON.)

HOROHORO AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS

(By

and

Oue of the most picturesque, and certainly one of the most intecesting areas in the Rotorua district, although still - one of the least known— is the Horohoro native development scheme. Nestling at the foot of the frowning ramparts of the Horohoro bluffs with the dark green of the native bush. rising f rom their base to the steep summit, the • neat homes and' farmsteads of this native farming area, present a study in effective contrasts. In the years before the coming of the Pakeha the bush of the Horohoro hills was a famous hunting place of the Maori and many picturesque tribal legends surround its various landmarks.

To-day the resource and ingenuityof man has transformed the rolling and previously barren uplands into wide areas of fertile pastui'es, with clumps of shelter trees, dozens of small farm homesteads, the tribal meeting house, school and all the other adjuncts of a thriving farming settlement The most important feature of the schemes is their contribution to. the rehabilitation of membelfs of the 'Maori race on their lands and in an occupation where they will have the opportunity of proving themselves useful units of the community to which they belong. During the la&t 25 years, the native race has passed through particularly trouhlesome times and the land development schemes have not only solved one of the country's major problems, but have also heen the means of the salvation of the Maori people. . Vast Production Increase. " In 1939 there were some 12,000 acres under the scheme, and approximately 7000 had been developed. The area carried over 1400 dairy cows and j 3000 sheep, in addition to dry stoek and run cattle. In 1936, butterfat production was 134,0001b, while in 1939 butterfield yield had risen to 193,0001b, an increase over the period of 59,0001b. The value of the butterfat production during 1939 was approximately £10,000. Fifty settlers had been established on the Horohoro Block and with their wives and families it wgs ' estimated that over 200 people were dependent for their livelihood on these dairy farms. Indicating the great value which the schemes have, from the point of view of rehabilitating the Maori race in useful employment in the farms of the department, they now provide useful and productive employment in the Rotorua district for 60 per cent. of the native population, and it is hoped that as time goes on, most of these men will be established as selfsupnorting farmers.

The people in this district are a very fine type of Maori settler, heal- , thy, intelligent and in the main am- j bitious in their farming operations. They are progressive and have successfully conducjted annujal agricul- ; tural and pastoral shows. , Rainfall is heavy and evenly dis- | tributed from November till April, 1 and frosts are regularly experienced. Conditions in winter and early spring, therefore, are severe, but provisions are usually made by keeping- supplies of hay and ensilage and by growing root crops such as swpdes, mangolds, carrots and chou moellier. Typical Pumice Area. The Horohoro valley is formed of typical pumice land which, in its natural state, is covered with tussock, light fern and scrub. The early attempts to farm it without - proper stocking and manurial treatment proved futile but with experience and proper handling, there is little doubt

that this land can be profitably dej veloped and pastures, once Established, i can be maintained. j When the area was fxrst brought under development, it was.,handled as a large block and later it was divided " up into dairying units. .The average acreage per single farm is approxi- | mately 100 to 150, varying in accordance with the size of the families 1 settled on the faums. Each family has been given sufficient land to enahle it to earn a livelihood, and the standard of home comfort enjoyed by the majority of the families would aston- , ish the average European. I Part of Horohoro proper, 333 acres on the top and slopes of Haparangi Mountain, is in plantation; 750,00 trees w^re planted in 1933 and this hranch of the scheme provided work for many unemployed Maoris. They have held ploughing competitions and have formed a pig club and a jUnior farmei's' club at the local Native school. The interest shown by Lord Bledisloe during his term of office was very encouraging to the natives, and every year there is keen competition foi^' the eoveted honour of winning his Ahuwkenua Cup for the best farm in the district. Other Successful Schemes. Of the 13 other schemes in the district, the following are the most important. Tihiotonga, to the southwest and adjacent to the town was - purchased by the Waiariki District Land Board in July, 1928 and taken control of by the department in 1934. Tikitere, lying 12 miles from Rotorua on the main Whakatane Road, is another dairy settling area. The contour of this country is flat to undulatiifg, bordering on the hot spring^ area. The water for three farms is supplied from a good spring on one section where there is a Diesel-egine pump forcing the water to cisterns from which its gravitates to the various other sections. Approximately 18'D acres to 200 acres of hay and ensilage were harvested in 1939, and a good crop of swedes was grown for "winter feed. The settlers on this area are a good type, being industrious and anxious to make a success of their farming operations. The Taheke scheme, comprising some 9081 acres on the main RotoruaTauranga Rd, is mostly hilly, but it is good, healthy bush country and well suited for grazing sheep and cattle. It was badly infested with ragwort, but this is now being controlled by judicious sheep-grazing. There are 27 adults and 42 children dependent on the scheme. The Okere scheme, lying between the Ohau Channel and the Ohere Falls, to the west of the main Rotorua-Tau-ranga R'oad, comprises 6054 acres, country similar in type to the Taheke scheme. Ewes and lambs do particularly well on this country, and the woolclips are generally above the average in weight and quality.