The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-10-23
LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND.
Prosperous Farmers-How Land
Sales are Conducted.

An EnSllSn traVeler IN new Zea-
land, describing the country
around Auckland, says in the Queen
that there are no haystacks in the
fields, for the winters are SO mild
that grass grows as fast as 1t is
wanted and there is no need to
make hay, except for horses in town.
Snow is almost unknown in
Auckland, and cattle maintain them
selves out of doors all the year.
This is great saving of labor COM
pared with what we afterward saw
in Canada, where horses require hay
for long time, while cattle must be
shut up in sheds and led by hand
for several months every year.
Some of our English plants have
run wild in New Zealand and become
great nuisances, the worse being
gorse, blackberries, thistles and wild
roses, and indeed we passed many
miles of good land which had been
ruined by gorse. Now, however, an
act has been passed compelling land
owners under heavy penalties to cut
down all noxious weeds.
Farmers were at work with ma
chimes like great scarifiers grubbing
gorse up by the roots, while others
were cutting 1t down close to the
ground, but this would only keep
1t in check and would not kill It.
The expense was so great that some
farmers found 1t cheaper to give up
the land rather than begin to battle
with the gorse, and such ground be-
ing abndoned becomes waste and re-
verts to the Government
1.-THE country was very much
like England, the grass being beauti-
fully green and very different from
yellow. parched Australia. The set
lers were all English, nd every few
with churches, chapels and reading
rooms. One man pointed with
pride to fine horse he was driving.
for which he had given S35, big
price in this country. 1t did not
cost him penny for food all the
year, as he merely turned it loose in
paddock when not needed and the
animal picked up his own food.
an another place we were shown
land covered with good grass which
had been wild scrub less than twelve
months before. This scrub is cut
down with hooks, allowed to dry in
the hot sun, and then fired The
ashes are spread about, grass seed
sown among them, and the first
shower of rain brings up the grass.
Hamilton is a rising town with
two bridges over the Walkato, and
possesses buildings and streets
lighted by gas, while it even has a
special reading room for ladies.
This country is in very prosperous
condition, and l cannot remember
|
with a single disappointed settler,
which was by no means the case in
Australia, while In Canada many
told us that they would be glad to
go home If they could raise the fare
but this of course is a matter which
cannot be discussed at length here.
THE prosperity is largely due no
doubt to the progress of cooperation
in butter making amnog the farm
ers. Central creameries are built
wherever the neighboring farmers
agree to take up a certain number
of shares.
"They are equipped with an en-
CINE, boiler and machinery under a
competent engineer and the farm
ers drive up in the morning with
entry made in the book and the
milk is at once passed through the
separator, whirllng around at 1000
revolutions a minute. Cream runs
other, and the farmer takes back
his own skim milk to feed his
calves and pigs, while the cream is
kept at the creamery.
ION certain days the whole of the
cream from many creameries is taken
to the central factory Of the district
and made into butter, which is sent
down to the ports, tasted by gov
eminent expert, who settles whether
it is to be branded as first or second
quality, and it is carried to England
in vast quantities in ships provided
with cooling chambers. The farmers
receive their checks regularly every
month, great convenience, and
lands, cattle and sheep are fetching
high prices as the result of cooper
alton on large scale.
I'VE took the rail to Otorohanga.
ia pni1ac couth nf Auckland In see