NORTHERN FAMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17956, 5 December 1921, Page 10

NORTHERN FAMING.

FINE CATTLE COUNTRY. 'ADVANCE IN DAIRYING. B§>ROYING TEE HERDS. North Auckland is essentially a cattlebreeding and cattle-raising country. A big and growing trade is done in the exfort of stock for fattening. Buyers from . the Thames, Hanraki Plains, Bay of Plenty and Waikato have been keen in their compotition for Northern forward cattle. When the stock markets revive, this trade is expected to resume upon a larger scale. Now, while prices of stock are low throughout the Dorainion, Northern graziers have given morß attention to dairying, and, with the object of improving their herds have attended Southern sales over a considerable are/i, and made important purchases of high-priced pedigree male and female stock. North Auckland was carrying 238,161" head cattle in 1916, and 594,000 sheep. At the beginning of 1920, the figure* showed 412,248 cattle, of which numbe.' 132,829 were dairy stock,, a creditable increase of 174,087 in less than four yea7s. The sheep figures have been fairly maintained, bnt not increased, owing to the common depression throughout the Dominion. New razing Works. The extensive freezing works at Reotahi, on the Whangarei Harbour, were destroyed by fire this year. When rebuilding is determined, it is likely that a new site will be chosen in closer touch •with the harbonr improvement scheme and the new main line connecting Auckland with the North. Meanwhile, the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Ltd., has just completed an extensive pile of buildings at Moerewa, near Kawakawa. These new premises are claimed to be the most modern and up-to-date freezing works in the Southern Hemisphere. Building operations were commenced two years ago, and finished in November of this year. Situated on the WhangareiOpua line, the property comprises 940 acres, two-thirds levol land, bounded on the northern side by a range of hills. From a creek' on the higher levels the works are abundantly supplied with water; carried by a 13in. main. This practically unlimited supply, besides giving great pressure for fire prevention, passes through turbines to generate electricity for power and light. Full provigion is made for handling the by-pro-ducts of this business, the fellmongering and manure departments being a special feature of the works. The private railway siding comprises three loops from the main line. The present killing capacity of these new works is 220 cattle and 2000 sheep, but the works have been designed to accommodate if necessary 32 mutton butchers, which would bring the number up to 3200 per day. Ideal Dairying District. North Auckland is an ideal district for dairying. The climate alone offers advantages not easily rivalled anywhere. The cattle can go unrugged through the winter, and grass can be cultivated all the year round. The rainfall over the period ojf the last ten years registers an

average of 59.84 inches. A splendid service of motor waggons collects the cream from the settlers, and provision is made for the extension of this service to the remotest districts. The growth and stability of the dairying industry in North Auckland may be inferred from the steadily-increasing output of the factories and the further fact that out of the 18 North Auckland factories, all but two sustain their operations throughout the There is a slack season, but the supplies do not fall away enough to allow the factories to close for a period, as in other districts. Last year the Whangarei dairy factory earned the distinction of producing an output of the highest average grade manufactured in the North Auckland district, which secured the' award of the Weddel Cup. This season's output at this factory constituted a record, with an increase of 215 tons over last year, none of , which was second grade. The number , of suppliers increased from 240 in 1920 to 321 by July of 1921. The figures up to December 1 indicate a further gratifying increase to ■391. Hikirrangi and Maungatapere dairy factories, both within an easy radius of ten miles from WnanIgarei, show a joint output of approximately 1000 tons.