THE PARTNERSHIP OF H. G.-S. AND T. J. S. 239 



consideration of the matter, I am confident we worked not only 

 Stuart's paddock, but the balance of the trough of the run, on the 

 right lines. 



The Kocky Staircase was the second block crushed and sown ; then 

 came in order The Image, Tutu Faces, The Educational, Pompey's, and 

 the Sand Hills. For many seasons we managed to increase our flock at 

 the rate of about twelve or fourteen hundred sheep a year. Prices of 

 surplus stock, too, rose from four and six to eight or ten shillings. 



In the early 'nineties we felled, block by block, most of the light bush 

 'of eastern Tutira, obtaining on the ashes of the fallen timber great crops 

 of rape and turnip, and afterwards fine swards of rye, cock's-foot, and 

 clover. Year by year the flock increased, until in the middle 'nineties 

 the station passed from the 'teens to the 'ties, eventually reaching the 

 high -water mark of 21,300 old sheep shorn, and over 9000 lambs. 

 Tutira clipped that season a total of a little over 30,000 sheep and 

 lambs. 



After that date commenced the ebb. We began to find it difficult 

 to keep up the numbers ; the soil was everywhere losing its first exuber- 

 ance of fertility, white clover was largely disappearing, rye and cock's- 

 foot flourishing with less than their pristine vigour. The felling of the 

 light bush of the eastern run postponed, however, for some time, any 

 very noticeable diminution in numbers. Besides, if the flock did 

 diminish in size, we consoled ourselves that the sheep were better 

 grown, better fed, and better woolled than formerly. 



During this increase of flock and increase of area under grass, time 

 had not stood still ; though we had enormously improved the value of 

 the station to its Maori landlords, our own interest in it, apart from 

 increase of stock, had been annually lessening. 



We now for the second time entered into negotiations with the 

 natives in regard to a renewal. From a business point of view this third 

 lease was an even more unsatisfactory document than its predecessors. 

 For reasons elsewhere perhaps excellent, but of which the wisdom 

 was, I think, doubtful when applied to areas which could not pass out 

 of the hands of the state, we were debarred from the obtainment 

 of a lease of more than half the run. The rent was again doubled, 

 with the proviso, however, that, should the western moiety be taken at 

 the termination of the old lease, still having nine years to run, the rent 

 of the later lease should be halved. On the part of the station there 



