the Government was called in to investigate. It must have been an embarrassing moment when, after due investigation, it was found that the land didn't belong to the settlers, anyway. It was, and always had been Maori land, and no proof existed that it had been lent, leased or sold to the pakehas. The main point under discussion, however, was that the annual flooding of productive land could not be tolerated, and the Government cast around for something to give the Maoris in exchange for the lake. A block of land called Pouakani, in the centre of the North Island was offered and accepted. It was typical of the people and the times that a great hui, which the Prime Minister attended in person, should follow on the heels of the agreement, and many speeches were made to glorify this eventful occasion in the history of the Wairarapa; for it was naturally intended that they should immediately migrate to the north, and settle on the new land. It was impressed on them that this was to be a real heke, a migration, and not spasmodic infiltration or a visit like the swallows in the spring. They would have to bury some of their dead there, and thus hallow the ground, and sink their roots. But nothing happened for many years, and it began to look as though the Wairarapa didn't want Pouakani, in which case there were plenty of other people around who did. The Lands Department, for one, had ideas about taking it over; and the Waikato people, seeing it neglected for so long, were beginning to cast envious eyes over its rich, rolling pastures. Not that anyone could blame them. It wasn't until after the war, when the Morningside Timber Co. became interested in, and eventually bought about 6,000 acres' worth of saleable timber that Pouakani got the attention it deserved. Then the Wairarapa Maoris, in consultation with a judge and officers of the Maori Land Board, set about forming a committee of owners to organise the agricultural development of the block under the most favourable conditions of tenure. The State Hydro-electric Department began its friendly and successful negotiations with the owners, which resulted in 600 acres being leased for use as a temporary township, as well as a further area for the dam site and the area that was to be flooded. Regarding the township site, which is now Mangakino, the understanding is that the Works Department will hand it back to the Maoris after 21 years. Out of a total of just over 30,000 acres, therefore, there was still a considerable amount of land available for farming, even discounting the bush area, that never would be suitable for agricultural purposes.

Be Sure of your Copy SUBSCRIBE NOW TO TE AO HOU Altogether, the suitable farming land was estimated roughly to be about 12,000 acres, and, to help develop this, the first batch of young single men arrived from Wairarapa, and got to work on grassing and fencing. Incidentally, these young men were carefully chosen, since they were to be the first trainee settlers when the training farm was established. Behind the scenes, the committee of owners tackled the question of leases, selection of settlers, training, shareowners, casual employees and all the other problems arising from the venture. The Department of Maori Affairs field staff, meanwhile, went ahead with the specialist work, concentrating particularly on 376 acres which had been reserved, and cut into two training farms for dairying purposes. The development of the block went ahead rapidly from then on. At the time of writing, Pouakani is now a working proposition, and since all this has been accomplished in less than two years, it reflects credit on the Wairarapa Maoris and the Department. But we must let the figures speak for themselves. There is at present 11,500 acres in grass, and 40 miles of fencing, on which is planted about Woolshed of the Maori Affairs Department's farming scheme, Pouakani, near Mangakino. At Pouakani the Department also maintains a farm training school where twelve Maori farmers are at present undergoing training.