THE PELORUS. SOUND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1600, 18 November 1912, Page 8

THE PELORUS. SOUND.

NOTES BT A TRAVELLER. ' , The Pelorus Sound district is unique in more ways than one, writes our Travelling Correspondent. It is a country practically without roads—only bridle-tracks —except in a few places. Consequently : the settlers 'pay no road rates,' there. being no county council or road board to receive them. The only rate paid is one to the hospital at Picton. The thirds and fourths accruing from the sections have been expended in the maintenance of the bridle tracks. There aro over'2so miles of tracks, but they are seldom used, as tho general mode of travelling is by motor launch. The Sounds on the whole is pastoral country, very few cattle being kept.. In the greater part of the country it is birch land, with little soil, and in many localities none whatever, just yellow clay right on the surface, steep, and often rocky. The greatest drawback up to the present with which the Sounds farmers have had to contend, is fern, which is every-, where. After a new burn the grass only lasts about three years, when up comes the fern, taking complete possession. On most farms they cannot use cattle for crushing, as the land is not suitable, and as no dry 6heep, or only a limited number, are pastured, it is impossible to crush the fern with a ewe flock. But now that danthonia is making rapid head-, way,, the days of the fern pest are numbered, though it may be years before that is attained. The wool grown in tlie Sounds is.of good quality, fetching satis-, factory prices. Nearer, the mouths of the Sounds/the bush, lifts been of a more mixed nature, consequently the land is infinitely better and much cleaner, and fern is easier to get rid of. On some farms tauwhinie is in evidence, but as it .usually improves soil in whi«h it grsws, the settlers are not afraid of it. - One serious pest which will need careful watching in the Sounds is foxglove. On some farms it has got a hold whieh will be expoasive to eradicate. Tho usual method is to poll the plants; .It is not labourioiis work in any sense, and the settlers think that to pay a regular wa»B •f one shilling an hour and food is too much, but as labour is unprocurable in the Sounds, or practically so, it is a case. of "needs must." The mail services aro on the whole good, and mostly give the settlers a delivery twice,a week.