CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 205, 31 March 1866, Page 3

CROMWELL.

FROM A CORRESPONDENT. Although tliis districtobtaincd its present prominent position from its mining resources, a more lasting prosperity will have to be fostered and increased by agricultural pursuits. The whole of the Dunstan district lias been possessed of a very large possession for several years past, and the high prices charged for agricultural and garden produce of every description speaks loudly of the utter neglect of the residents in making use of the lands lying at their service. The miners naturally were in pursuit of their own avocation, and were content to pay for their vegetables and other necessaries the high prices demanded for them. The men of business, as a general rule, made it their cardinal study how to make the most profit out of the goods purchased by them in Dunedin, and paid high prices for farm produce from the Taieri, not caring much at what figure, so long as they could obtain a good profit by retailing it to others. The miner, generally, has need of all his capital to meet the exigencies of his own pursuits, and cannot invest in any other speculation without rendering himself liable to pecuniary dimcults. With the tradesman circumstances are widely different. He has spare capital with which he may embark in other enterprises than his own immediate business. The tradesmen of Cromwell have of late devoted a considerable amount of attention and capital to farming in the district, and the harvest ing of their crops lately effected, has proved highly satisfactory. Mr Shanley's farm is the oldest under cultivation, and his oaten-hay crop is such as to create much admiration, and generate a determination to cany out upon a much more extensive scale the commendable work begun- The number of large ricks at the homestead, and the heavy crops of potatoes now in process of ripening, prove indisputably that the land is fructiferous in the

extreme, and that Cromwell may become a thriving agricnltural district, as well as a mining one. Mr. J. Barry has also been most successful in his farming operations. His crop 3 have turned out extremely well. In addition to the produce of his fenced land, he has stored himself with between thirty and forty tons of hay for winter requirements out of the various grassy gullies which come from the Mount Pisa Eangcs. The large farm of Mr. Marsh, on the banks of the Clutha, some eight miles above the town of Cromwell, has turned out a maiden crop of surprising excellence, and the cultivator is strong in hopes of being at no very distant date entitled to be ranked amongst the leading agriculturists of the Province. Mr. Goodyer's cultivated ground has also proved a success. Every spot wherein seed has been planted throughout the district has paid handsomely for all the labor bestowed upon it. At the Roaring Meg Mr. Hancox

earthed 2 lb. of common peas, and a few days past, the crop on being threshed. yielded between seventy and eighty pounds.