Puketitiri is an outlying district, thirty-eight miles north-west from Napier, in the county and electoral district of Hawke's Bay. There is a bi-weekly coach service, a post office and telephone bureau, a public school, and an hotel. Originally Puketitiri was a block of land set aside by the Government for a military settlement, at the time of the Maori war, but in the early “eighties” it was cut up for closer settlement. Formerly the greater part of the district was bush country, but a considerable portion of the district has since been cleared, and the land is sown with grass and cultivated. Saw-milling is extensively carried on in the district. The country is chiefly adapted for sheep-farming, the land being light and well watered. In 1895 stock from Puketitiri was unsaleable, but now (1906) sheep and lambs from this district realise top prices. The annual output of wool in the district is upwards of 800 bales.

The Hawke's Bay Timber Company's Mills, Puketitiri. These mills were established in the year 1896. The machinery is of the latest, and comprises twin breaking down circular saws, three bench saws, a planing machine, two boilers, and a portable engine stationed in the bush. The Company have a lease of about 800 acres of bush country, which is honeycombed with two miles of tramway for hauling purposes, and the output of rimu, matai, and yellow pine is about 60,000 feet per month, the bulk of which is carted to Napier, teams making bi-weekly trips. Logs run to an average circumference of three feet six inches. Spring waggons, capable of carrying 1,600 feet, hauled by five-horse teams, cart the timber to its destination. Eight persons are employed.

Hartree, Henry, Sheep-farmer, Puketitiri. Mr. Hartree was born in London, England, educated at Lancing, Sussex, and came to New Zealand early in the year 1870, in the ship “Alexandrina.” He spent some time on the Thames goldfields, then removed to Hawke's Bay in 1871, and shortly afterwards took up land at Wanstead, which he sold in 1888. Mr. Hartree next obtained a section of land at Ngatiwi, which he also sold, then bought a property at Patangata in 1891, and finally settled at Puke-titiri. He was chairman of the Wan-stead Road Board, and a member of page 418 the Patangata County Council for some time. He is married and has three sons and one daughter.

Mr. Hartree's Residence at Patangata.

Mr. H. Hartree.

Hawkston Station, the property of Mr. C. L. Mackersey, is situated about seven miles from Puketitiri, and is a freehold estate of 7,000 acres in extent. The land is chiefly undulating, and about one-third is ploughable. The run depastures 7,500 sheep (Rom-ney-Marsh and Lincoln cross-breds) and 200 head of cattle. An up-to-date shearing plant, including six Wolseley sheep-shearing machines, and a six horse-power American white oil engine, has been installed in the capacious wool-shed. The clip averages about 120 bales. There is a large comfortable dwelling house, prettily situated, and various outbuildings. Mr. Mac-kersey uses “Hawkston” chiefly as a breeding ground for his other stations. He bought the property in 1904.

Turamoa Station, near Hastings, contains about 800 acres of land, and is used chiefly for fattening purposes, and as a dairy farm. The stock comprises 4,000 sheep and 200 milking cows.

Otiramia Station, at Te Aute, is a leasehold property of 2,000 acres, and depastures about 2,000 ewes, 2,000 lambs, and 400 head of cattle.

Mr. Charles Lindsay Mackersey, the proprietor of Hawkston, Turamoa, and Otiramia stations, was born in Victoria, Australia, and educated at Warrnambool. He arrived in New Zealand in 1871, and was for many years engaged with his father and brother in operating the Lake station at Waipukurau. This property they sold in 1903, and shortly afterwards, Mr. Mackersey, accompanied by his brother, took an extended trip round the world, travelled through the United States, Canada, England, France, and the Continent, and returned to the colony via the Red Sea route in 1904. Mr. Mackersey has given a great deal of his time and attention to public affairs, and has been a member of the Waipawa and Panga-tata County Councils, the Waipukurau Road Board, Hospital Board, and County Council, and is a member of the Hawke's Bay Licensing Bench, the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society, the Farmers' Union, and the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. He married a daughter of Mr. T. Bostock, of Hexham, Victoria, Australia, and has four sons and two daughters. Mr. Mackersey has a town residence in Hastings, where his family generally reside.

Mr. C. L. Mackersey.

Hukanui and Pakaututu Stations (Nelson Brothers, proprietors, and William J. McKeown, manager), Puketitiri. “Hukanui” contains 7,000 acres, 3,000 of which are Education reserve, and 4,000 acres freehold. The Pakaututu estate comprises 7,600 acres, all freehold property. Both these estates were unimproved virgin country up to within a few years ago. Seven thousand sheep are depastured in the winter months, and upwards of 13,000 in the summer season, the breed being chiefly Rom-ney-Marsh and Merino cross-breds. Lambing averages about eighty percent. The homestead at “Hukanui” is nearly 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. There is a modern dwelling house, a wool-shed (capable of accommodating 300 sheep in the night pens), whares, and other outbuildings. The same conveniences are also on the Pakaututu station.

Mr. William John McKeown, manager of the Hukanui and Pakau-tutu stations, was born in Havelock North in 1872, and educated in Napier. His first experience in station life was at “Mangaohane,” Patea, where he remained for three years. In 1899 he page 419 was appointed manager of “Pakau-tutu,” and of “Hukanui” in March, 1905. Mr. McKeown is a member of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and is vice-president of the Puketitiri Sports Society. He married a daughter of Mr. James Walker, of Patoka, Hawke's Bay, in May, 1899.

Mr. W. J. McKeown.

Shamrock Station, Puketitiri, is a leasehold property of 13,200 acres, with the exception of an eighty-five acre freehold homestead block. It is held on a twenty-one years' lease from the Government, and is mostly rough country. About 3,000 acres is bush land, and the rest, although cleared of manuka, is somewhat overrun with fern. The run is capable of carrying 4,000 sheep, and will be fully stocked in the near future. At present (1906) there are upwards of 1,600 Romney-Marsh, Lincoln, and Merino cross-breds de-pastured. The buildings include a dwelling house, a large wool-shed, and other outbuildings, and there are also commodious sheep yards and a dip.

Mr. Harry James Hallett, proprietor of “Shamrock,” was born in Meanee, Hawke's Bay, in the year 1871, and was educated at the Napier High School. After two years spent in office work at Napier, he began gaining experience in sheep-farming on his uncle's station, “Hawkston,” Puketitiri, and took up his present holding in 1902. Mr Hallett is captain of the Mairi Defence Rifle Club, and a member of the Loyal Napier Lodge of Oddfellows. He married a daughter of Mr. H. Hughes, of Puketitiri, in October, 1902, and has one son.

Bunting, photo.
Mr. H. J. Hallett.