MESSRS. CAMPBELL AND LOW’S GALLOWAY STATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 667, 29 January 1875, Page 3

MESSRS. CAMPBELL AND LOW’S GALLOWAY STATION.

Last week we visited Messrs Campbell’s and Low’s woolshod, at Galloway ■Station, and were highly pleased, little expecting so busy a scene to meet our view ; or that our district could present such a sight as was there exhibited, in the shape of hosts of men husil v encaged in saving the golden fleece,” and preparing it for market. The number of hands employed, in eluding sorters, shearers, pressers, scourers, shepherds, and general hands was not far short of eighty, and all working with the regularity of a beautiful piece of mechanism, evidenced the whole to he under the control of a master hand. Galloway Station, which now includes the Raggedy and Omahao runs, and comprises some 10,000 acres of fine alkaline ranges, interspersed with magnificent grassy valleys ; and although rough and apparently thinly grassed, appears to he splendidly adapted to the depasturing of merino sheep, to which purpose, in common with other large runs in the Dunstan District, it must ever be devoted. It carries 80,000 sheep, and from these have been obtained, this season, from 1250 to 1300 bales of wool, each hale averaging about 4 cwt., which was piled up in great stacks, both outside and inside the wool stores, and from the lowest computation must, at present prices, be worth from L 25 000 to L 30.000. Wc gleaned, also, that the lambing on Raggedy run had resulted in an increase of 85 per cent; and of 00 per cent on Blacks and Omabao run, or over 23,000 lambs in all, a result which, so far as wc know, has not been surpassed in the Manhnherikia district (famed for its lambing) or in any other district during the present season, which has been an exceptionally bad one. These lambs, from the demand, must be worth this year , at least 6s per head, orahout L 7000; makingagrand total of nearly L.35,000 for the year’s revenue ; and seeing the country is all fenced and sub-divided, the expenses with some ten shepherds, and other permanent hands, cannot in our opinion bo more than L7OOO a year for rent, &c.. The net profits, therefore, cannot he far short of L 28.000 per annum. The two sheds in which the shearing process is performed, have four shearing floors, to accommodate forty shearers, the number engaged at the time of our visit. Besides, each has a screw press

constructed on the latest improved principles, and tlio ,r»pidity and ease with which 4001hs of wool was pressed into a halo was astonishing. To the kindness and courtesy of Mr .W. A. Low wo aro indebted for the above information, which was gleaned during our visit, therefore it may be taken as authentic.