LORD OF THE MANOR

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 103, 25 January 1935, Page 15

LORD OF THE MANOR

Dalkeith’s Open Doors MR. KIRK’S IMPRESSIONS “If country life were always like that, what a Paradise it would be, ’ said Mr. J. R. Kirk, M.8.E., yesterday, on his arrival from .Australia, where he has spent the last two months, one week of which was passed at Dalkeith, Cassilis, New South Wales, the famous sheep-station of Sir Frederick McMaster. “Dalkeith is 50 miles from the railway at Mudgee, and 30,000 acres in extent'. Farmed on scientific lines, it has the, proud record of producing world-famous merino sheep, one ram from the stud bringing the record price of 5000 guineas. Sir Frederick, besides being a keen follower and supporter of sport, founded (he McMaster Animal Research Laboratory at Sydney University, donating £20,000 for this purpose. A thoughtful man, tie is thoroughly practical and has supplanted what he terms ‘antecleluvian tools and methods’ by his own inventions which he explains to interested visitors, not only with pardonable pride, but with a sincere desire to see them universally applied. “Saturday evenings at Dalkeith are a joy, for ‘neighbours’^within a radius of 40 miles around attend as his guests to witness the latest moving picture, he having installed a moving-picture plant the equal of the best in the biggest theatre in Australia, and this, with Che help of his son, he operates himself. In the attractive grounds is a large swimming bath, artificially heated arid in great demand after keenly-contested games on the adjoining tennis courts. It has been suggested that certain grasses which grow in the locality might be advantageous in the drier districts of New Zealand, and inquiry in this regard is being made, the matter having been raised by I.ord Bledisloe on a recent visit to Dalkeith. ■ “Sir Frederick, accompanied by his daughter, visited New Zealand during the Christmas season of 1033, being greatly impressed by its natural beauty, and. interested in its farming methods.” I -