LOOKING BACKWARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8264, 29 October 1912, Page 11

LOOKING BACKWARD

FIFTY YEARS AGO WORK OF THE PIONEERS

Mr G. P. Donnelly, the well-known run-holder, contributes to the ‘’Hawke’s Eav intmne” an article on the early days of tlie Hawke’s Day province, in winch lie pays tribute to tho work bone by the pioneers. He points out that fifty years ago tlie whole of the land lying between Wellington and Hawke’s liay was covered with dense fern, scrub, bush, raupo, and flax swamps, which have all been most successfully drained and brought under cultivation. Only a small portion of the Ruataniwha Plain, Waipukurau, and the tops of the ndges had native grass. What is seen to-day all covered with English and native grasses has been broken in by the early pioneers by cutting, burning, fencing, draining, sowing, and stocking. DENSE RUSH. Tho whole of the land lying between Takapau and Mastcrton was nearly all douse bush. About tire year ’(18 two ships came to New Zealand with Scandinavians anu Danes, whom the South Island would not have. Mr Urmond, who was then Superintendent ot Hawke’s Bay, was approached by Dr Featherston, Superintendent of Wellington, the result being that he took the two shiploads and started them at Takapau, giving each man a farm on condition that it was to be improved by felling and grassing. They had to work so many days a week making roads, for which they were paid so much a day. This was of very groat assistance to them, for tho majority wore people of small means. Mr Ormond also started a number of small settlers at Woodville, taking them from Waipawa, Waipukurau, ana other parts of tho district, which was the means of opening up that largo and prosperous area of land in the southern part of Hawke’s Bay. CLOSER SETTLEMENT. Twenty years ago, when the Seddon Government came into power, tho greater part of tho Hawke’s Bay lands was held in > large runs. Since then there have been a number of estates taken by the Government, which have turned out a very great success. This has been tho means of educating the large landowners in cutting-up and disposing of their estates in smallor blocks. There is a large area of native and Crowji land lying between Napier and the Thames. When tho railway which has been started is pushed through as it should be, even if tho Government have to borrow several millions to do it, it will, with good roads and light railways to connect with the main line, be tho means of bringing in a large area of land for closer settlement. Tho light land, which was looked upon years ago as being useless, is now by means of artificial manuring and proper farming good grass country for sheep and cattle. One has only to look at the returns of tho Gisborne district to-day and compare them with those of thirty years ago to see how that part of the country has progressed. I am sure that if the Government purchased the large area of land lying on both sides of the railway, belonging to the natives, it would bo a profitable investment for the country and a benefit to the natives, saving them from becoming a burden on the State in tho near future. Paying natives largo amounts of money only means that it will be squandered in a few months, as they have no idea of the value of money, with the exception of a few, who are making very good settlers, both in dairying and sheep-farming. Mr Ngata has been carrying on sheep and cattle farming with his tribe with very great success, and he deserves every credit for the trouble he has taken. THE BALLOT SYSTEM. I would strongly recommend that, when opening up the land on the East Coast, the Government should do away with the ballot and adopt Mr Ormond’s idea of having tho land settled by associations. A number families could then go to the Government and ssy that they wanted a certain area of land. The land could then be surveyed and cut into blocks, according to quality, and drawn for, thus ensuring that each family would secure a block. 1 think tho Government would find this the most successful way of settling a large area of country. Of course, if tho would-be settlers bad not sufficient money to make the improvements it would be necessary for the Government to lend it at a roaonable rate of interest. This would bo the mean* of bringing into profitable occupation a vast area of country that would provide homes for a larger population, and furnish a largo revenue to the Dominion. DAIRY INDUSTRY. On the West Coast, from Wellington to Taranaki tlie climate is different from that of Hawke’s Bay having a larger rainfall and as the land is nearly all cut up into small blocks, both grazing and dairying are being carried on there with very great success. This will continue in an even greater degree than at present when the stumps and logs are all decayed and the land can be ploughed and brought into a better state of cultivation. -I have here the returns of a few herds ot cows on the West Coast and in the Wairarapa district, from which you will see that if the farmers would only take more trouble to have their cows tested and the right strain of blood used, there is no reason why tho majority should not have os good results as are shown by these returns. It clearly shows that if, inr some eases, dairying has not been profitable, it is not tho fault of tho land or the climate, but tho want of a better system of fanning and testing their cows.

s?. u wa s." 2 B 1! lr Name of Address -gU fanner Cj.S - £ s. d. M. McPhillips ... Manaia 23 2 0 H. Rayner Carterton 18 15 2 Joe Udy Dalefiold 18 9 10 J. Brady Bunnythorpe 16 10 0 F. Lew:s Bunnythorpe 16 4 0 R. Rose Bunnythorpe 14 5 0 E. Holland ... Bunnythorpe 15 4 0 L. Lassin ... Bunnythorpe 15 0 0 T. Fowler Bunnythorpe 14 15 0 WASTE LANDS. Fifty years ago the greater portion of the land lying north of Auckland was looked upon as useless. Tonlay wo find large areas planted with fruit trees and vines, and large areas sown with native danthonia and other suitable grasses, carrying largo quantities of sheep and cattle. The North Island

I is, I consider, in its infancy, and with its ovon climalo unci rainfall and riou jand light lands, will carry an immcnso population. This being indisputable tho Government of the day would he quite justified in borrowing, in order to open up all waato lands.