SEEN FROM THE HILL TOPS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 681, 4 December 1909, Page 8

SEEN FROM THE HILL TOPS.

: '.THE HOMES OF Till! MEN WHO WIN.; . -From rtho Kahautara'. district (writes our .travelling correspondent) I went ovir. to Martinborough, lvhero everything .was looking^its best. In common with other parts of tho VVairarapa, Bottlers thero havo had a splendid season, : with: >j list sufficient rain to keop things going,-but not too much. In fact, the streams wero exceedingly low, in particular tho Hangarua, and Dry Eiver. The small cheese factory at Dyerville is ,doing splendidly. It com-mands-less than a! dozen suppliers, 'but they are sending in, a'wonderful lot of mitk. This is one of the • properties cut up under, the Lands for Settlement Act, and, :.off it was acquired'at a reasonable'price, the selectors havo a very good thing in hand, as the rents have 'been fixed: on a scale; which is proving' most satisfactory'to the lessees. ,One !of them, who had'been farming in-Taranaki, told me that

his-cows here -were doing, just as well as his former flock as regarded now of milk and.test. And then there was the added and. very great advantage;of getting tho land at less,than half the price. '~., •;■'■' .-", . _~' :<A large-area of land has.been put under crop at, the. Dry Kivcr, as. the run was formerly called.; In fact, people don't take'at all we'll to the namo of Dyerville, given it by Mr. Scd,d(m. I.i However, as' to its farming, it would seeni as if- much more is being grown than can, be: consumed locally, yet- when; one considers the great volume of traffic oh the main road betwoen' Martfnbqrongh. and the railway at Featherston, it is evident that a great quantity '.; of feed .is wanted. -'• The larger', stations in this district all report excellent. prospeets. Stock.' are' in first-class condition', and sheep have, clipped well. . The wool is in good condition'and well grown,' very, few broken backs coining into.the,sheds. Near Mnrtihborough- are the, stations • of. Mr. William Martin ("Hangarrin"),; Mr. John Mar? tin ("Puruatnnga"), and Mr. Arthur' Martin ("Otaraia"). ;Theso aro all, fully -improved properties, .employing-a largo, number, of men; -and-,each has lino homesteads, withi every modern"; convenience. Each of tho owners is. an enthusiastic ''gardener; the first and last-named .in-particular.-Mr. John Martin's garden is in the "making. His. former, -homestead over the -river, w.as-burnt down not long since. He has now ''erected a very handsome concrete dwelling on the, opposite side. The grounds are bcing;laid out, and in a short time' it will' become an ideal homo:':: Smaller,-hilt handy, little - runs are those which are'owned by..Mr. B. Smith; ; , Mr.. :.Wall,>Mr.:;E..,Clephane, and: Mr.';lfrank Perry. ->leaving■ Mnrtinborough, the: next station is ;!*Tablelan'ds,"7t.he property of Mr. E, J. Riddiford.-; r Seen r at' a' : distance, it; looks almost li.ko 'a.^township ';'.- the'-buildings are -so numerous, .'nll;,pairitea white,—picked'out...with red,, and having red : :roofs.;'ln the beautiful green setting! of. the -surrounding_'hills, they-.present, a particularly.' pleasing 'picture.; .Next > comes, another /portion' of. the ;"Tablelands" run formerly owned by Messrs. 'fully Brothers. This was ■acquired .foreclose settlement, and again; at a reasonable '-price,' arid . iri fair-sized ' areas. Hero .' again-.'. the ."settlers are having a; good time; and have:no reason to regret having-."got in." ' It is all pastoral country,. chiefly of fair to : good 'quality.;;lt was principally'tall scrub land,-but. it ;;• hbw v carrying .'a r good sward. Through one partjluns a seam.; of lime and shell rock.:' On again-for a few miles tho road gradu-;' ally rises to the'saddlo overlooking' the ' Hinakawa cqunty.'where the holdings are mostly largo ones, and "more broken,, but .still,:all *good. '6heep;;.land;: '.'"..•''.'-.' i ;.;'.;.'';■ "cutting up' of, the } large pro- , pertie'siis.taking:place, m' this district.' "Bush jGully,":-the / property, of Mr.--W. M'Laren,' ishow":cut;up; and,divided 'amohg:his' sons;' each, with"':their,'separate 'homesteads:'"',"Then there, are -."Kaikuri," ; the property,''of VMr."; A. YD; MTjeod;'-, arid -"Glen Drynoch," ; belonging to -M'Lcdd.--Brothers..-" There J is-' mpro -broken country: which' carries a", large ''quantity-' ofStock; v up the Pahao River is "Ngaipu" belonging to. Mr.- Sutherland;,' Next is "Moeraki," withits .very fine now residence, situated'on a'tableland above the Wainuiortf Eiver which;'joins the.iißahao a little* lower down."Mooraki" is'Mr),Cameron's run. Then comes '"Ngakonutf-'; m anaged by Mr. Macdonald, known: .to Mac," belonging: to Mrsr'M'Laren,'who.resides in Masterton.' ; Mr. Maiidbnald: dearly -loves,-, a joke and .is brimfulof,hutriour.;' I shall have more to say of:him ■next time. is a.splendid property, ari^d;.well, managed. '■?" '''•'. : , ...'.::

MOTH:IN; APPLES AND -PEAB?. i-A'.. certain remedy .is ' Swiffs , Arsenate ■ of .lead..;:Spray,:.after .petals'.'of blossoms fall. Continue; at intervals throughout the eeas<in.