WHEN MERINOS RULED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 43, 14 November 1939, Page 33 (Supplement)

WHEN MERINOS RULED

In Early Hawke’s Bay

AGRICULTURAL development in the Heretaunga Plains proceeded for a- time along lines similar to

those in the Hawke’s Bay Province as a whole. For the first few years farming was almost entirely agricultural. Previous to 1853 there was an export to Wellington of wheat, barley, maize, and potatoes, amounting to several thousand bushels in some seasons. Hams and bacons (probably from wild pigs) also figured largely in the shipments from Ahuriri.

TT was natural that in the early days of land settlement in New Zealand the rich inland plains should be singled out for earliest settlement, but it may seem strange that the Kuataniwha Plains at a considerable distance from Napier and its port facilities should be settled at an earlier date than the Heretaunga Plains. However, Ibis may have been due to the greater reluctance of the Maoris to part with the land in the Heretaunga Plains, as portions of this land were used by them for the growing of wheat, maize, oats, potatoes, kumeras and melons. It was not till 1864 that the Heretaunga Block, comprising 17,785 acres, and extending from Fernhill to the old. Ngaruroro at Longlands along the river to the Karamu crossing at Maugateretere, was leased from the Maori owners by Mr. Thomas Tanner for the sum of £6OO a year, an amount subsequently increased to £7OO and then to £9OO. About 1869 a syndicate comprising seven members purchased the land and divided the property among themselves in 12 shares. As in the ease of the hill country in this part of the province, the Heretaunga Plains were held in large areas by a few men. Subdivision, however, started there a number of years before the voluntary or compulsory subdivision of the hill country. Several of the best stud farms in the North Island for the breeding of purebred sheep, cattle, and horses were established near to Hastings: Messrs. Watt, at Longlands, Tanner, at Endsleight, J. N. Williams, at Frimley, and the Hon. J. D. Ormond, at Karamu. The early pastoralists were concerned mainly with sheep, the first breed to be run being Merinos. It was not till 1865-70 that long-woolled sheep were introduced, the English Leicester and the Lincoln being the earliest introductions, followed by the Romney. Some of the large holdings did quite a

lot of agricultural work and reputedly excellent crops'of grain were grown ou the plains. It is recorded that two blocks—one at Karamu and one at Matahiwi were cropped continuously for grain for over 30 years. Oats appear to have been grown chiefly at the Ngatarawa end of the plains. In 1886 it is recorded that wheat was ground into flour in many bakehouses and on many sheep-stations In Hawke’s Bay. Quite early in the history of the Plains crops were introduced for the purposes of creating industries. Air. Thomas Tanner brought , over a tobacco-expert from America, who gave a favourable report ou the possibilities of tobacco-growing on the Plains. A certain quantity of tobacco-seed was planted, and a small drying and curing shed was erected. However, the Home market did not want the. New Zealand leaf, which required special treatment to make it suitable for blending purposes, and the trial proved a failure. Mr. Tanner then turned his attention to hop-growing, which for a number of years proved a much greater success, though, as with the growing of stone-fruits, frosts at certain stages of growth played havoc with the crops. A fairly considerable area of the Riverslea land was planted in hop vines. These hop-gardens kept going for some years, but were eventually turned into an orchard. The opening of the railway line in 1874 gave the district access to the country farther south, and later to the Manawatu and Wellington districts. Mr. William Nelson started the first flaxmill of the district at Mangateretere, before 1880. About this time, also, there was a boiling-down works at Whakatu owned by Mr. R. P. Williams where tallow was produced. Previous to this many stations supported their own boiling down works. Mr. Nelson and Mr. J. N. Williams also started a

boiling-down and meat-preserving works at Tomoana about 1880. Two or three years later the first shipment of frozen mutton was sent Home from New Zealand. . Not slow to realize the possibilities, Mr. Nelson set about the institution of freezing works at Tomoana, and these were opened in 1884. The real development of the important fattening industry in the Heretaunga Plains, and elsewhere in Hawke’s Bay, dates from this year.