Carnarvon.

Manawatu Herald, 15 January 1895, Page 3

Carnarvon.

w — (fbom our own correspondent.) THE WEATHER since the new year has been very favourable in most ways. From sultry, scorching heat we are having Cool breezes with copious falls of rain which is the salvation of the young turnips and grass. HARVESTING is not general in the district, but on the Carnarvon Estate and on Mr B. B. McKenzie's the crops are being out— tho former in oats which is a very good crop and the latter is wheat which is also good. There is however very little wheat grown here though undoubtedly it could be grown on most places advantageously. IMPROVEMENTS seem to be carried on in this district most sparingly. With the exception of Carnarvon Estate which is being highly improved and a few other places, there is really nothing doing to improve the land, and yet there •* are but few tracts of country where improvements could be more cheaply effected with beneficial results than this. It is said that the man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew previously is a benefactor to his country. In some cases however -ttio process might cost too much, but in our case there woTtMijerna difficulty: in ,oui* land- j owners trebling the productiveness j ariiiirr^i^ edacity of their pro- j pertiea at a trifling cost now that' labour is so cheap and plentiful. Were this district in the South Island it would be completely transformed in a couple of years. Instead of manuka scrub, flax, rushes, &c, which are useless and which cover half the ground, there would be waving fields of grain, English grass and other good things. In the midst of this stagnation it is refreshing to see that we have some progressive spirits. Mr Orr, on the Whale Line, successor to Mr Deßoles, has, within the few months that he has been here, improved his property to an extent which I am sure would astonish his predecessor were he to see it. The old house and outbuildings have been largely added to, painted and altogether made as good as new ones. The garden has been tastefully laid off. A good piece of land has been cleared and ia now green with good English grass, where, a few months ago, only scrub and other rubbish grew. THE COMING FOXTON RACES are a good deal talked about among us—not that everybody takes the same interest in horse-racing. PrcbaMy'the greater number go to these meetings for the sake of a day's Outing and to see. friends. In any cast there are sure to be a goodly number go from this district if, as has been announced, the tram runs on that day. Many prefer going by tram as an easier and less troublesome mode of travelling, than riding or driving, and as for safety, it is % well known that the guard of the teanv Mr Wrigley, is one ot the most steady and watchful of men, and as I heard a man say the other day "He is a wonder. He has many heavy lifts of implements, goods, #C. off and on to his tram and little time to do it, but he does it with alacrity and ease and never forgets anything." January 12th, 1895.