MARLBOROUGH NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1566, 9 October 1912, Page 10

MARLBOROUGH NOTES.

SUCCESS OF CLOSE SETTLEMENT. Ono of tho greatest.surprises to a visitor on the Starborough ami Fla.xbournc settlements (says our travelling correspondent) is (ho rapidity with which tho plantations are growing. These stations in their former condition, except round the homesteads and the rough, nigh hill country away at the back, were absolutely void of trees. Now, ynce they have been cut up for close settlement, every farmer is planting Iroes,-more or less, for orna- • went awl shelter. It is only eleven years since the station was cut up at Starborough, and to-day there are truly noble; . plantations everywhere. Pinus insignis, muricata, and the various sums have been mostly , used. There are thousands which are now' up to forty feet high. These industrious and fortunate farmers who still retain their holdings (many have : sold out at high prices) have entirely changed the face of the country. There , is hardly an indifferent dwelling to be seen anywhere. On the other hand, the homes which one sees all over reflect the utmost credit on their owners, while their ' sheds, barns, and other buildings are .-quite in keeping. Another thing which at once arrests the attention, is tho great amount of ploughing which is going on. Where there was one acre ploughed while they were worked as stations, it is probably not over the mark to'sny there are to-day at least,a thousand....TfioJ.ca.fryißff,; and productive capacity of' these fine settlements have been enormously increased. Many, many more thousands of sheep ore there to-day, while the acreage in oats, barley, and peas must run into a very larco area. Blind liiver and Sea View are also two ; other settlements which carry a big population of progressive farmers. These men ore alfo making "two blades of grass to grow where there .was one before," while tho paddocks seem to bo full of sheep and lambs. There are no cattle, outside, a dairy cow or two for home use. Emphatically, it is not cattle country—at .(east under existing conditions. Richmond Brook is another fine settlement, tho»?h this' was a portion of the station of that name cut up by its owner. Here, again, the same thing is seen—fine plantations, good liouses and buildings.' and every sign of prosperity.