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Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 19 September 1891, Page 3

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been identified with the progress of this district from the da to of Us being first offered for sale, and with for over 49 years. He is emitted as being one of our best fanners, and his farm, one of the best of farms, around up.

Previous to the land being ac-

quired by the Provincial Government the area lying between the boundaries we have mentioned was parcelled out into runs, and the portion, the subject of our sketch, was the run occupied I)}- Captain Jordan. In the large paddock in front of the residence is a rise with a -'trig" station, which has been officially recorded as "Jordan's knob," a lengthy reference to a mishap which occurred many years ago, Avhon, at this place a Jordan was thrown oft" his horse and hurt his " knob." It will be remembered that this country, lenown as the Rangitikci-Manawatu liloek, was, after the purchase was completed from the natives, fiercely disputed by the Maoris, and for some few years the Government feared to put the land into the market, and they therefore permitted those who had held leases to remain in occupation, guaranteeing them the preemptive right to the pick of 040 acres of their run at one pound an acre.

Whilst all this was going on, Mr Horny Hammond was engaged in managing the property of his father's at Bulls, and frequently had occasion to visit the Jordan's, and therefore had a very accurate estimate of the value of the property. Reasons having arisen which justified action being taken to dispose of the interest of the rights possessed by Captain Jordan, Mr Henry Hammond purchased them, with the stock, and eighteen years ago first entered upon his interest in this district. \Yhon the land was opened for sale by tho Government, not only was the preemptive right purchased, but 550 acres further secured, and then came the time when a stout heart and hard working hands had to be kept at the disposal of the land to transform it from the state of nature to that of neatest, best tilled, and most productive farm for miles around.

The property now comprises some 2090 acres, every bit of which, except the 000 acres of cleared bush land, has. been broken up and put into cither a crop or grass. The land is mostly open plain, undulating, having a gentle fall towards the west, lying really on the top of a large rolling down, the eastern portion, on adjoining properties, having a dip to the Oroua River. In the earJlT . ilays a heavy and valuable bush existed on the banks of the Oroua River between the mouth of the Oroua up to the Awahuri, portions of which still stand, though very much cut into. This bush used to extend across the block, narrowing considerably wijere the main road and tramway line runs through it, and it is just to the north of this strip, and under shelter of a pretty piece of the bush, still standing, that the homestead lies, about a mile from the main road, and abutting a by-road known as Hammond's line. Every acre of what was called open land was covered with flax, toi, titree scrub, and lias had to be cut and burnt. Every acre now, is down in the best of pasture and crop. The land is fenced by various kinds of fences, there being the original sod banks with gorse, wire fences, and stabs, yet each fence is the picture of order. The live fences are cut by contract to make a low live hedge on top of the bank, and every contract provides for all plants growing alongside being grubbed up. The property is divided into 20 paddocks, and water is obtainable in all ; some have dams, feed by surface or rain water, others are fed by springs, but through most a creek winds about through which water flows except in the driest of summers.

At the present time 200 acres aro in crop, 50 acres being in wheat and 150 acres in oats. Very shortly 200 acres more will be broken up and put in turnips.

The sheep are a fine flock of wellbred Lincolns and number some 5000, from which, last year, an average clip of 91bs a head was ob tamed. The lambing has been very successful and the lambs look particularly well, but the tally has not yet been taken so that we are unable to give the percentage Besides attending to this number of sheep, 200 head of cattle, besides farm horses, are constantly being fed, the cattle being fattened, and Mr Hammond makes it a point, as paying best, to fatten cows in preference to bullocks, and he disposes of 20 fat cows a month at the local sales. He finds he has also to purchase another 1500 sheep during the year to fatten oft.

The homestead comprises a most commodious and comfortable dwelling house, stables, sheds, &c. Standing nigh to the granary we noticed a poweidf .1 traction engine, which is not'^^iently used on the roads except in' taking the threshing machinery about, but during its stay at home is employed in bruising oats, cutting chaff, &c. Mr Hammond is very emphatic as to the value of feeding with bruised oats, beclaring that at least one third of grain is thus saved. The wheat crop last season was not so good, but the oat crop over the whole portion sown yielded pO taifthfili) to the n«n»,

The bind is a stiff clay, but is onsily drained, gdod outlets being obtainable. The property is well supplied with metal roads, and has a station on the tram line within a mile and a half, thus giving a cheap outlet to the Port of Foxton ; it is alh.j orily 4 miles from Sanson and seven miles from Awahuri, arid three miles from Campbelltown. Hard work and clever dealing has enabled Mr Hammond to call thia valuable property his own. By clever dealing we wish it to be understood that we have no idea of imputing "sharp" dealing, but clever dealing implies that a man has used his senses for many years about stock, so that he can not only tell about the weight the animal before him will go, but what, after a certain amount of good feed has been put into him, he will then weigh. These are the men who will make many farms pay where those lacking such a necessary education would starve. It is no discredit to say that MiHenry Hammond bears the reputation of being a particularly shrewd judge of stock. Mr Hammond arrived in the Colony in 1K42 with his parents and his uncle and aunt. Messrs Matthew and Richard Hammond where the first settlers who showed at Johnsonville what bush land was like when stumped. After a time of hard work and fortunate dealing the tAvo brothers went up to the Rangitikei and took up the farm, identified to this day with the name o f Hammond, viz., " York Farm." Some years ago the two brothers dissolved partnership, when Mr Richard Hammond retained York Farm and Mr Matthew Hammond purchased the late Captain Daniel's property at J Julls -Sow these two old gentlemen ' rest in peaeo and their sons reign in their stead.

Mr Henry Hammond has brought up a large hnnily and is becoming surrounded by sons-in-law. The eldest daughter is now Mrs A'Court, whose husband lias a farm at Awahnri ; anoihor daughter was married to Mr Phillips, of Snnson; and another was united on the same day as her sister Mrs Phillips, to a Mr Hammond, who is now in occupation of the old York Farm. The eldest son, Robert, a tew years ago married Miss Gower of this town, and they live close to Waitohi. There are still at home five daughters and two sons.

These are tho settlers who make the Colony. It is a bad day for New Zealand when her Ministers indulge in such fads as to refuse to permit the sons of such men to emulate the actions of their fathers in securing a home for themselves. Men, like the early pioneers, object to the pampering 1 or interfering hand of authority, they are ready to pay a fair price and have the bargain complete. The Government want, like a fussy old mother-in-law, to be always able to interfere with the settlers, but until the regulations are altered, our young men will be shy of putting themselves within such political clutches. Quite right too.