HATUMA SETTLEMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7394, 21 February 1902, Page 2

HATUMA SETTLEMENT.

An erstwhile Waimate Plains fanner, \ who has taken up land on the Hatuma i estate, writes us a chatty letter, from which we take the following :— As one of (he Hatuma settlers, with 562 acres (rent 5s 9£d per acre), I feel t satisfied that there is a better future before us than at present, and though the present drop in sheep and lambs and extremely low price of wool is * severe on us, we., will be able yet to succeed and prosper. The Government are having our roads formed and graded, all horse - power in * plough and earth-scoop, and the work 1 done is creditable to contractors and Mr Stevenson, surveyor. Bridges of a < substantial nature have been erected, * also totara culverts, and lately earthen- ! ware or clay pipes from Auckland put < in hollows and soft places, and filled over afterwards in the usual way by earth scoops. The finished roads (clay- i subsoil) have a high crown or centre, i I and when "set" will keep dry, but rain makes the same very slippery*. Road metal is scarce except from the TukiTuki river, ad j oiniog en trance t o Hatuma Estate and the township of Waipukurau. Metalling the roads will be expensive in the future. In spite of the driest spring and summer, just gone, for the past 14 to years, I have been able to carry 1700 ewes and lambs and plenty of rough grass atill on my 562 acres. There are 1 also 55 head of cows, calves, and bullocks, grazierß, eating the rough grass down, so that the grasses will be better after for the sheep. Hatuma soil is all right, and grows at present good crops of rape, turnips, oats, etc. Whilst the land all round the Hastings' rich flats and hills, and from Te Aute back to Hatuma flats, or' Waipukurau township, were extremely dry on New Year's Day, the hills on Hatuma and all round Te Aute were quite green, and pleasant to look at. Our limestone hills are all right, and after the past trying season we need not be afraid of the future for those who have both sheep and cattle. A few settlers were short of water. Hatuma simply wantß subdividing into many paddocks, and only the nattle and plough, with careful management, will make it carry a thriving population. Like the Emerald Isle, where the grass grows green, it is the same all round mo as I write at my window, right facing the large Hatuma Lake and township, seme eight miles distant. The climate suits me better than Kapuui, and I enjoy the life to my satisfaction. My place is 2| miles from the large and massive woolsbed put up by Mr Purves Russell. Adjoining is our flag station, where trains stop when needed, and the same is a great blessing to all of us when travelling by train. This little siding for months past wag one. of the busiest in Hawke's Bay. Wool at 6d per lb would almost pay our rent, but at half that price the rents then are too high as at present. The land is covered in native grasses, and in parts with English grasses and clovers, and the latter do well if spelled for a time. I have seen the hills around Wanganui and the flats all around Waverley as bare and sun dried as the country here and Hawke's Bay. If we had the same rains as your way the grass would be better. It will be decided this week by the Land Board and Government concerning our losses placed before that body aa requested for reduction or [ rebatement of rent. Lambs in wool, good, barely fetch 4s 6d to 5s at outside.