decorations have been painted over during renovations. This house is unique; let us hope that it and its paintings will be preserved for the future, as the proud possession of its owners, and as a source of enjoyment and interest to future generations. The information given in this article concerning the early history of the house is taken from W. J. Phillips' article on Maori Houses on the East Coast, published in the Records of the Dominion Museum, vol. 1. 1942–4. The photograph on page 32 is by Ans Westra; other photographs are by Margaret Orbell.

? Mr Tonga Awhikau, of Normanby, Taranaki, received many congratulatory messages recently when he celebrated his 100th birthday. Mr Awhikau, who was once Chairman of the West Coast Lands Committee, fought hard in earlier days for the betterment of his people. He lives with his granddaughter and her husband, Mr and Mrs M. Tapara, at Normanby. Although he has lost one eye, he still reads the newspaper with keen interest. ? Mrs Martha Hirini, the Dominion President of the Maori Women's Welfare League, has been awarded the M.B.E. in this year's New Year Honours. Mrs Hirini, who has been a member of the League since its inception 11 years ago, has given it long and faithful service in a number of capacities; before elected Dominion president three years ago she was president of the Heretaunga District Council of the League, and also president of the Hastings branch. Her present position involves a great deal of travelling about the country visiting branches of the League, and this, her fourth and final year as Dominion president, will be taken up with visiting areas she has not been to previously, as well as covering as much familiar ground as she can to say her goodbyes. Apart from her work with the League, Mrs Hirini has worked on the committees of the Save the Children Fund and the National Council of Women. She is to represent the Council at the Pan-Pacific conference to be held at Tonga in August. In spite of all these activities, Mrs Hirini still finds time to spend with her large family, which includes several grandchildren and three great-grand-children.

Farmers' Club at Waima A Maori farmers' club, believed to be the first of its kind, is achieving good results at Waima, in the Hokianga. With the help of trained agricultural specialists, settlers there have embarked on a progressive programme of farm improvement. Concerned at their short dairy season and resulting poor returns, farmers at Waima decided three years ago that some action was needed to make their farms more productive. The average size of the farms is 120 acres, and although part of the land consisted of alluvial flats only a very bare living was made. Some of the men found it necessary to seek work in the off-season and others took secondary employment to provide sufficient income to keep their families.

Consultation of Specialists The farmers enlisted the help of Mr G. George, the local storekeeper, and that of Mr A. C. Price, a member of the Bay of Islands Farm Improvement Club, in gaining access to information and advice for improving their farming methods. One of the first steps was to visit the grassland research station at Kaikohe. Mr W. Burns, Department of Agriculture advisory officer at Kaikohe, then visited Waima and discussed further the benefits of heavy initial top-dressing, pasture control and pasture species most suited to the area. With a fuller understanding of the knowledge that could be made available to them, farmers formed a club with 26 members, in November, 1961. Since then the club has had lectures and visits from a number of other specialists, including pig advisory officers. farm improvement club advisers and veterinarians. They have visited improved farms and attended farming conferences.

Have Built Own Piggeries Four of the men have built their own piggeries with money advanced by the Department of the Maori Affairs and by their local dairy company. The Department of Maori Affairs has also assisted them in many other ways. At nearby Whirinaki, a settlement with similar problems, a club is in the process of formation. People there have been impressed with the achievements at Waima.