WAIRARAPA TOUR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 14

WAIRARAPA TOUR

Martinborough Hill Country On my recent tour of the Wairarapa I had the pleasure of exploring a block of country uew to me, this lying between Martinborough and Carterton, via Ponotahi. North from Martinborough a river was crossed, about a mile out, and then low hills were entered upon. Round a bend was a most unusual sight'—a grove of oaks, the first I have seen in New Zealand. There appeared about two acres of these, some 25-30 feet tall, with barrels around eight inches diameter. Truly a charming spot. On inquiry I learned that these formed part of the setting of Mr. W. J. Martin’s homestead. Across the valley from that was a huge aud splendidly promising crop of rape. Over the road was “Riverside,” a property of Mr. Frank Wall. Continiung on, the road became lonely. The country rvas easy, rolling, downs land, of clay formation, wholly given over to sheep, not seeming suited otherwise, but growing good sheep. A little onward again, big areas were under the plough, presumably for rape and swedes. This countrj’ would burn up greatly under normal summer conditions. There is only 7-8 inches of soil. It goes readily back to scrub, as evidence in many gullies and slopes. Fertility is gauged 'as only modest, and carrying capacity is guessed at about li sheep, without topdressing. Yet what wonderful rye grow on the roadsides, dense and with huge heads of seed.

Noteworthy, too, was the size of the sheep—extra large ewes, in great order, and with really magnificent lambs.

So the country continued for about nine miles, in parts fairly steep, until near Ponatahi School, where it was easier aud settlement was denser; sou nature, however, remained- the same. Some paddocks about here lacked the rich spring greenness, had a yellowygreen colour associated with run-out pastures.

On again, I came upon one of the best examples of post and rail fencing I have ever seen; heavily timbered and enduring and solid in impressiveness. Specifications were: Seven posts per chain and four rails between each. I took a photograph for my collection. Posts were Siu. broad by din. or sin. thick, and about 7ft. long, I assume. Each thus represents 21 feet of timber and 7 per chain 147 feet (super). The rails were S to 10 inches deep and 3-31 thick, and each was of 23 feet, so that four represented 92 feet, ami seven lengths per chain meant 640 feet. In all, each chain of such fencing carried 787 feet of timber: —heart totara ; about, 52,000 feet a mile. One would require to be a millionaire to so fence these days. A mile on I headed at right angles, westward, toward Carterton, crossing the Kuamahunga River onto rich alluvial country. Mere was much dairying onto and about Parkvale, some 71 miles from Carterton. Grand Hill Season. Observations on that run had confirmed reports as to conditions on the South Wairarapa hills. As one advice stated, I mre's no grass waving iu the wind; Ibis because it has not bolted to seed-stalks, but never has there been a better l»Ai<>m to our hill pastures. Its a great season for these.” Some country on this run, and more particularly. some of that seen previously up Bidci'wd way, brought to mind the running ol dry sheep, fairly extensive.y practised on this East Coast, as against So little practised in the west. Recalled was the matter mentioned recently ct maiden four-tooth ewes. Fairly, these come not of cull two-tooths. but of holdover or carry-over ewes. They may have been just late lambs, "f of :i slower maturing, but none the less hardy strain,

or simply some that had a rather bad spin at or after lambing. Many a time al. Feilding yards I have seen small two-tooths sold and thought, “What a shame to put those to rams; tbev’re not ready, and to do so is to ruin them permanently. Why not carry-over as maidens, allow them to grow and make real sheep of I Item.''