THE BRONTE ESTATE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 15

THE BRONTE ESTATE.

A FINE PROPERTY. SOME EXPERT OPINIONS. The Bronte Estato almost adjoins Tasnian, and is tho same class of country, and is generally acknowledged to contain some of the finest apple land in the celebrated Moutere district;.it is distant from Nelson one hour by motor launch,or motor car. Eeports have been furnished by Mr. Kirk, Director of Government Orchards; Mr. Williams, Orchard Instructor, who was Mr. Kirk's chief assistant in Nelson; also by Mr. Thomas Norton, of Hawke's Bay. and Mr. Frank Walker, the Tasmanian expert, and others, and one and all speak in tho highest terms of the propertv-. Mr. Williams has resigned his position as Orchard Instructor to the Government to accept the charge of Bronte Apple Lands; and he will, when required, undertake the entire charge of the orchards for those persons who cannot give time and, attention to their properties themselves. Mr. Williams has bought 50 acres of land at Bronte, and it is his dosire to plant the whole lot. in apples next June and July. Mr. Williams's brother was lately persuaded to come from Tasmania, and he will probably acquire land alongside his brother's property. The Williams Bros, are both fruit experts, having devoted their whole time from boyhood to fruit culture. Mr. Thomas Horton, of Hawke's Bay, who is an acknow-

ledged expert, has kindly allowed himself as a reference, aud he volunteered to supply any intending purchasers w;ith full information whonever he might be called upon to do so.* Bronte has many advantages which other properties in the district do not possess. There is.the sea frontage, good roads, gentle slopes facing the sun, and sheltered from the few winds experienced in the district, comparative freedom from frosts, and deep water at most stages of the tide right up to the property. The fine harbour known as tho Western Entrance is accessible to any Anchor Company boat at almost any 6tato of the tide, and at half-tide to much larger vessels. It is within half a mile of the village of Bronte, so that fruit could bo E laced on board ship with a minimum of aulage and delay.

EXPERT REPORTS, Mr. Kirk,, in his report, writes as follows;—" The beautiful long gentle slopes to the north are nil that can be desired. I had a mattock with me, and examined the soil in numerous places, and found it just the land for fruit growing, especially for commercial apple culture. In each.valley there arc large areas'admirably suited for co-orerative fruit growing on an extensive scale." Mr. Thomas Horton, in his report, says: "I consider the following might be expected as n fair and reasonable return from an orchard, planted on (for argument's sake) the Moutcre Hills country, in six or seven years from the time of planting. I- am basiner my calculations on the supposition that the land has been properly 'cultivated, and the trees carefully pruned and sprayed and given proper attention, and that the trees wre two year"; eld at time of planting. The fruit, yifld per trco should bn five cafes. This at 105 trees per acre would give you R73 casts, and at Rs. per case the prnss income would be JHIB 15s per acre. This will seem an exorbitant return, bnt it is n-ila within rm«in that it should lip as quoted. Should t.lie yield be a. Tory low one indeed, nod "should tlin price he also low on account of "hit nv frnm nr.y ntber cause, I ePA«ider it. quite safe tn predict Mint the crop would never average less than 21 eeses per tree, and Hr» prieo Tievnr l«ii thin 2s. Od. per case, and r-t M'.i* 10-r «Hnwf» Mio nrr-ss Tcfurns would work out at JIM 7s. od.. per acre. At the present time th°Te are (sections which have reared of "scrub, nbinifh.. nd. nnd partly plaited. OMier """.tinr* .b.nve been Mmtilr olenTP'l of tvr'ili. nnd ether's n,"nin have been cleared and nartlv plniH'hed. so that rnin-hncrT": can have the pmnerh - >n fiiv one of the three places. Th" oVlprotM tn M"> conference. <if the Xev- 7r»!)'»n(l Ornvvi' A~op:-<tinn. I.Wr held nt Motueka. v's.'ted the Ibvmlo I'stoK «v<\ M">y •"-"'•"• 'nwnimous in their M p'tnlir,Tt"OTl. While Hie tree' are enmin<r i"to profit a creed r onree of income eon Id be obtained by planting tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, peas. beans, ete.. for all of which a great part of the land 's admirablv suited, and which can be planted between tho rows of trees without retnrding . the growth. l'oultryfarming can also be conducted to advantage. The, place has been carefully ronclcd nnd subdivided into convenient lots from 12 acres upwards. Large areas have been cleared, fenced, ploughed, and planted with choice apple trees. It is contended bj tho owners that, apple nnd fruit-growing is the best and easiest paying branch of farming, ns no special scientific knowledge 1 is required bv anyone taking up av-ple-growing land for prolit for, a3 before mentioned, arrangements can bo roado with the expert on the property to prepare the land, plant tho trees, and generally supervise them until they coino into full prolit.

SELECTORS ON THE LAND. Among those who have made purchases of Bronte land arp the following :—Messrs. .7. L. Williams, Government fruit inspector, Nelson (50 acres); i). Blanche, H'nnganui (11 acres); Parker and Collins, liicuhcim (33 acres); H. D. llallamore, London (3-1 acres); C. Higgs, I'almerston North (27 acres); A. L. Morris, Wellington CM acres); J. A. I'raser, Wellington (23 acres); A. K. Jackson, Nelson Cy acres); A. I" Steadinaii, I'alincrstoii North (33 acres); Captain Barnes, of the Whakatane (10 acres); M'Neil, of tho

s.s. Petono (25 acres); Anderson, of tho s.s. Pofcme (32 acres). Of the foregoing, Mr. Dallamore, who is a solicitor, Ims a considerable area in apple trees; Mr. Primer has about 12 acres planted, Mr. Higgs 15 acres wln.o Messrs. Morris, Jackson, and Captain Barnes have all their areas under cultivation in preparation for tho season s planting. . When one. considers that these lands have been opened up only a ycai\ tho work already done on them is a strong indication of the faith reposed in them for orchard-growing purposes.