ON THE LAND

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 31, 23 January 1929, Page 10

ON THE LAND

The Waimarama Station Subdivision

Ballot for Some of Hawke’s Bay’s Best Land

A Description of the Sections Available

tßy “SUNDOWNER” (Written for the “Tribune”— All Rights Reserved.)

It is some years since any considerable area of grazing land has been thrown open by the Government for selection by ballot in Hawke’s Bay, hence the subdivision of the well-known Waimarama Station into six attractive blocks is likely to arouse considerable interest amongst the landless. Not only is Hawke’s Bay renowned for the suitability of its climate for the raising of healthy stock, but our land on th? coast, where Waimarama it situated, is as almost ideal—for sheep raising —as any soil in the Dominion. Further, this land, because of passing showers brought to it by the sea breezes, is not nearly so subject to drought as are more inland situations, a matter of very considerable interest to those engaged in farming pursuits.

SITUATION. The plans of the subdivision of this area of 3,900 acres becoming available during the past week, the “Sundowner” thought the week-end a suitable time to walk over the country so that he could impartially describe it for the benefit of any landless but wouldbe farmers. The area which is being offered for selection is approached via the unmetalled road known as the Te Apiti road, which branches from the Waimarama seaside road just beyond the junction of the latter with the Maraetotara road, and about half a mile on this side of the Waimarama seaside settlement. About two miles up this road one comes to a ford crossing of the Puhokio stream, and close to this is situated the camp of the men employed in forming the road on through the settlement. Already the formation extends for about 120 chains further than this crossing and with some level valley bottom to traverse should not now be long before it provides access to at least five of the six homestead sites, as the cuttings on this roadway are mostly through papa-clay formation, it is to be hoped that the Department responsible will see that it is metalled without delay, or it will be impassable in the coming winter when most needed for the carriage of fencing and building materials.

SECTION 2, BLOCK 11. The nearest point of the Waimarama subdivision is reached about forty chains from the first stream crossing, on the left hand side, this being the north-western boundary of section 2 block 11, the boundary between this block and the homestead block retained by Morehu Turoa, running south-east to Taingamata Point. This fence will need a considerable amount of renovation before it is stock proof. This section 2 blo.ck 11. has a frontage of about 80 chains to the new Te Apiti road and contains 693 acres of good sheep country.

SMOTHERED WITH GRASS. Unfortunately, since the acquisition of this country from the native owners some years ago it has not been systematically stocked, with the result that the grass, on this section particularly, has got away until it is literally knee deep and will take a lot of cleaning up with cattle before it again becomes fully profitable for sheep grazing. The soil on this section is papaclay on the lower slopes, with a species of sandstone rock closer to the surface on the tops of the ridges, as is indicated by the growth of rushes, cutty-grass, etc., on the heights, where the water lies on the rock underlying the soil and has not sufficient slope for effective drainage.

GENERAL ASPECT. The bulk of this section and the adjoining section 1 block 11. lie towards the west with the exception of about 200 acres behind the mpin ridge, which has an easterly aspect, and which would make good summer country. The soil is fairly stiff papa formation, very excellent in an ordinarily moist season, but likely to be puggy in a wet winter and bake hard in a dry summer. GRASSES AND SUBDIVISION. There is a fair sprinking of English grasses throughout the native pasture all over this section and from its situation close to the sea, its aspect, and the class of its soil

and pasture is should be exceptionally early country. There is a fan amount of subdivisional fencing in fair order already on this section, but for small farming purposes about another 140 chains would be needed to get the best out of the land.

A small amount of blackberry is present through the manuka in the basin behind the homestead site, but this could be dealt with when the scattered scrub (about 20 or 25 acres in extent) was cut out. The homestead site on this, as on all the sections inspected at the week-end, was very attractive and has ample flat land about it for farm buildings, etc. WATER AND CARRYING CAPACITY., Water for stock is rather a problem on this country but has been provided in the past by a system of dams, which, no doubt, could be further added to, to facilitate subdivision into smaller paddocks. This country, I should say, without top-dressing would carry from 1| to two mixed sheep per acre which could no doubt be considerably increased with subdivision and top-dressing.

POORER COUNTRY. Section 1 block 11., which adjoins the section just described, has similar papa-clay formation on sandstone on the half of the block racing the Te Apiti road, and needs little other description except to say that there is a fair area of stunted manuka near the top of the main ridge which would have to be grubbed to mike a job of it. If anything this part of the section does not lie quite so well as does the front of the previously described section. Half the section, which is 640 acres in area, lies towards the south and is also much poorer land, the papa being less in evidence and the sandstone practically on the surface. Also the area of about 200 acres lying next the coast is very broken, slippy, and would be difficult to supply with permanent water. DISADVANTAGES. On that part of this section which lies towards the south weeds of the plantain and dandelion variety dominate the pasture and considerably reduce its value. There is not so much subdivisional fencing on this as on section 2, and with the present water supply, such subdivision as is necessary would be difficult of accomplishment. One wonders why those responsible for the allocation of the capital values and rentals on these sections apparently rated this section as worth almost as much as the one adjoining.

CHARMING HOMESTEAD SITE

The homestead site on this block is equally as charming as that on the. previous block and there is a considerable area of flat land surrounding it which, were it deemed advisable, could be used for cropping with rape, etc. The half of this section facing Te Apiti road should be extremely early country but would undoubtedly suffer in very dry or verywet seasons. SECTION 4 BLOCK I. Cut out of the south-western corner of this section is an area of 13 acres on the valley-bottom which is reserved as a homestead site fpr section 4 block I. It was impossible with the time at his disposal for the writer to inspect the main block of section 4, 882 acres lying

next to Te Apiti; but from the description of those who should know it thoroughly, it is fairly rough, steep country, very inclined to slip along the coast frontage, where the provision of permanent water is also difficult. About 150 acres of this block is better limestone country lying over towards section 3, but any settler drawing this block would have to be prepared to do a considerable amount of both boundary and subdivisional fencing, while he would be handicapped by the fact that it will probably be some time before the road at present under construction gives him access to his holding. A FIRST CLASS SECTION. Section 3 block I. is said to be one of the choice blocks on Waimarama, including as it does a considerable area of felled bush limestone country which always carries good English grasses. This country is also fairly well watered with permanent streams excepting at the south-western end, to which water would need to be raised by ram or engine were close subdivision contemplated. About 160 chains of boundary fencing is needed on this block and it would be all the better of another 60 to 80 chains of subdivisional fencing.

THE PICK OF THE COUNTRY. Section 2 block I, area 463? acres, is undoubtedly the pick of the whole subdivision. This is known as the “Fighting Pah” block, and is almost completely fenced and subdivided. The soil is first-class limestone and well watered with permanent streams while the whole block is easy hills and downs and beautifully sheltered. English grasses, including a large proportion of clover, ryegrass, cocksfoot and crested dogstail, are well scattered over the whole block, while scattered patches of native bush afford shelter for stock and certainly beautify the country. The homestead site is charming. SOME DRAWBACKS. Section 1 block I. is a bit of a proposition to describe. The soil is excellent limestone formation on the higher country, and good papa-clay on the lower slopes while there is a good sole of grass with a fair sprinking of clover and other English grasses over most of the area. BUSH AND BLACKBERRY. There is, however, an area of about 90 acres, of 5OO acres comprising this sectioh, in fairly dense bush, and this being on an easterly steep face will be expensive and difficult to fell and bring into pasture. Further than this, the open portion of this section has scattered blackberry almost all over it which will keep the drawer busy for many years to come.

Apart from these drawbacks, the section requires very little boundary fencing—about 40 chains will give good fences on every sidewill not require much subidivisional fencing to make it easily workable, and is excellently watered by apparently permanent streams.

CHOICE SUMMER COUNTRY.

Both this section and numbers 2 and 3 block I. should be excellent summer country, as well as fairly early in the spring, while, as they are on the slopes of the range running through the Maraetotara block which always gets more than its share of rain, there should be no fear of drought even in our worst seasons. The homestead site of section 1 block I. is almost ideal, situated as it is in a bend of the Puhokio stream with a backing of native bush. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE LUCKY. In describing this land I nave stressed its faults rather than its virtues, but it can be accepted that the whole of it is really good land and remarkably cheap at the fig ures which the Government have put on it as rental and purchase prices.

Those fortunate enough to draw sections at the forthcoming ballot on 12th of February should certainly have no reason to regret becoming the holders of a Waimarama block provided they are even passably good farmers. CARRYING CAPACITY.

On a rough estimate I should think that the sections lying between the new Te Apiti road and the coast should carry from to 2 sheep, mostly breeding ewes, while that lying to the east of the road, on the Maraetotara side, should carry to 3 sheep per acre with ease when fully subdivided. It is understood that there have already been at least 1000 enquiries regarding these sections from intending applicants, and the Land Board anticipates that this number will be doubled before the date of the ballot.