C—9a

8

Extended, Report. When starting out on our inspection the first thing we got the Supervisor or Ranger who accompanied us to do was to work out what every man's liability was per acre —rent, interest, rates, taxes, &c.—and this was pencilled on his form before we visited him. It turned out to be the wisest thing we could have done, for, strange to say, hardly one of them knew what he did pay —or at least professed so to us, which amounted to the same thing as far as we were concerned. For instance, we would go to a man's farm and as soon as we met him he would commence on his tale of woe about fencing, scrub-cutting, busbfelling, or draining, whatever it might be, declaring the land was too dear at, say, ss. per acre —if it were only 4s. or 4s. 6d. a man might be able to do something with it. After allowing him to talk himself out, we would produce his paper and say, " But your rent is only 4s. 6d. an acre " ; which fact, of course, he would excitedly combat until proved, and then he would collapse. He was either wilfully or ignorantly ignoring the rebate. The job will be much easier for the next man who has to tackle them on this score. Dairy Farms. —As Glengarry Settlement is the most-talked-of dairy proposition in the whole of this district, may we here put in our report on it, so that it can be taken as a basis for the whole dairy question. The great controversial subject in and around Dannevirke is the price paid for Glengarry, one section arguing it is too dear, another that it is fair, and another that it is unsuitable and never should have been bought at all. We went to a deal of trouble interviewing leading men to get all these shades of opinion, purposely leaving our inspection of it till last in this district. Well, now, having been over every section on it carefully, we cannot say that we think it too dear, with exception perhaps of one section, that of Gilberts. The land consists of heavy clay loam with clay, patches of gravel, and sandstone below. There is plenty of weight in it for the most part, but over a small area, and with exceptionally high wind and dry season, it has blown a little when ploughed. Before it can be called really satisfactory dairy country a lot of work needs to be put in on logging up, stumping, clearing of rushes, draining on some of the low-lying sections, ploughing or top-dressing for winter and summer fodder, and last, but not least, shelter-belts of trees, for some parts of it are very exposed to the westerlies. One of the greatest handicaps to the men is the high cost of their dairy herds, and a 25 per cent, reduction needs to be made in this direction. Cows generally are barely average, and it should be the aim of every settler to gradually improve his herds. This applies throughout the whole of the dairying district of Hawke's Bay. We have impressed this upon the settlers, pointing out that a cow producing less than 200 lb. of butterfat should be looked at sideways—indeed, substantially more should be aimed at. The settlers generally are a decent lot of men, seemingly anxious to make a do of their farms, and well worth keeping on them. They are mostly young and lacking in mature experience, but this can only come with time and the stability that age alone brings about. The whole of the country, with few exceptions, is much understocked; indeed, feed is wasting almost everywhere. It is quite common to see 15 or 20 to 30 acres with not a hoof on it, and when the owner is asked why he will explain it is shut up for autumn feed. This is a mistaken policy, and shows lack of experience, for it must be apparent that once any fodder plant matures it dries up or rots, but if kept moderately grazed off, or mowed to prevent maturity, it will last much longer. Thus a paddock grazed off before the grass runs up to seed and matures will still go on growing, and provide far more succulent autumn feed, if shut up for a few weeks before required. We explained this fully everywhere, and the explanation seemed to be thankfully received and readily grasped. They complain that they have no money in any case, so cannot get more cows. Be this as it may, more and better stock is required if the returns are to be obtained. A. few sheep almost everywhere is what is required, to follow the cows round and eat up the rubbish that the milkers leave, such, as dandelion, ragwort, the head of Californian thistle, &c. ; but before sheep can be efficiently employed more subdividing will need to be carried out. Well now, let us assume that Glengarry is the poorest dairying proposition in the whole of this land district, and if so let, us take it as the basis to work out the dairy proposition upon. In its present condition it is just about carrying one cow to 3 acres, plus young stock, pigs, and horses, and the average over-all rent per acre —that is, including rent, interest on loans, taxes, and insurance —is about £2 3s. 6d. Now, if the land will carry one cow plus young stock, &c, to 3 acres in its present condition, a very conservative estimate of what it will produce should be as follows : — £ s. d. One cow to 3 acres at £2 3s. 6d. costs over all .. .. .. 6 10 6 An ordinary cow should produce 2001b. of butterfat, which, if taken at Is. 6d. per pound, would amount to, per cow .. .. .. 15 0 0 Thirty-three cows to 100 acres, earning £15 per cow .. .. .. 495 0 0 By-products —One heifer calf to two cows at £2 each .. .. 33 0 0 One pig to three cows, say, 141 lb. at 4Jd. per pound, £2 10s. .. .. 27 10 0 555 10 0 Deduct over-all rent per acre at £2 3s. 6d. .. .. .. .. 217 10 0 Net .. .. .. .. .. ... £338 0 0 Or, per cow, profit (net) £10 4s. lOd. ; which must be considered a very fair margin considering that there is no house-rent, land-rent, or other outgoing but his living-expenses and what little (or much) he may want to expend on improving the farm, and run his milking-machines, if he has any. The arcat need is further subdivision, and more drastic culling of herds. On the plains about Hastings and Clive a cow plus young stock, pigs, &c, cost up to £8 per acre, and they have to farm them to the last ditch at that; but cows are better quality and producing more in consequence,