A TRIP INTO THE COUNTRY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1222, 17 March 1880, Page 2

A TRIP INTO THE COUNTRY.

B? QU$ WanRRSINQ Representative. Starting from Ngapara, my way to Livingstone lay over a long winding road . which traverses one of the head waters of the Waiareka stream. This road leij . me to those much-talked-of " Tables,* 1 th® greater portion of whioh forms part of. Mr. Menlove's property called Balmoral, ; and the " castle" and grounds are visible froni the road. The crops here in stack and stook betokened a plenteous yield of wheat, barley,and oats. From elevation a wide view is ahtwgd land lying betTYe,es Awampko, ;md ywi the joint property of Mesgva, Bo?* ftnd M-Master) yielded during theinfanoyof wheat-growing in the distriot rich returns to the fortunate tussock-turning [occupiers under the proprietors of the [ estate. Many of these so-called " croppers" ' having waxed fat on its )ap\ have themselves developed 'Uairda of portions o| \afls in question tyuth 'bft said.tW Wfr B GW of the first experiment of wheat-growing qb a large scale in this district, or even in the Colony, there being here at one time as many as 9000 Contiguous acres of wheat crops. I fancy that the great success of this ?en« :tme; gave that impetus to QuUiYattofl

throughout the country which led subsequently ~tcr the-maxria for land buying which banks and loan, companies, to their constituents' as well as their own cost, encouraged and stimulated, aud which led to the late monetary crisis. My speculation on cause and effect was -„jj. t_ j:_*. t,„»l I.— *t._ i

suddenly ctxsturoea oy tne prospect of a descent to the depths below. I may be singular in my feelingsin the matter, but I have always found that the environments of a " gully" are not so favorable to philosophic reflections as an elevated and extended view. After crossing the Awamoko, my ears were tingled by the resonance of hammer and anvil, and I soon came in sight of the abode of the local Vulcan. He was not in the act of •' giving hia bellows breath," but was working with might and main fashioning the hoof armor for the sturdy occupier of his shrine. This smithy and buildings it seems were pot up by the owner of the land for the convenience of his tenants, who had formerly to <'o to Ngapara, a dis-

tance of about five miles, from here. A late resident of that township, Mr. Henderson, is the present lessee. His forge is erected at the entrance to a very picturesque ravine, whtch some Philistine has euphoniously designated " Pryde'a <lully." It is worthy of a sweeter name. Its tortuous course is flanked by lofty rocks, in some parts presenting: the appearance of a solid wall of masonry, in others the most extravagantly fantastic grouping. I admired the view from the blacksmith's. Looking towards the Awamoko it is unique. On reaching the head of the little valley there was spread out before me an apparently uniformly level expanse of fertile laud, teeming with golden grain ; and seen here and there are the dwellings' of the hardy tillers of the soil, who seem, from the abundance of their harvests, to be well paid for their labor. The buildings alluded to are all of a substantial character, betokening comfort and even luxury. No sylvan scene presents itself herw to relieve the eye, nothing but the fence posts. I thought that the hands of the occupants, directed by taste, might do much towards rendering this park-like surface a thing of life and beauty. The sombre aspect of the surrounding hills and distant mountains would be subdued and beautified by foregrounds of scattered tree groups. Nature has richly endowed the soil and adapted the climate for food production. Let garlands be wreathed round her altars in thankfulness for her gifts, that as she has exceeded in her bounty, she may exceed in her beauty,. It is many years since I visited this part of the country. It wa3 then wholly devoted to Pan. I remember on my first viewing it there came to my recollection the pastoral scene on the shield of Achilles—

Here scattered cots and flowery meads between, And fleecy Socks, that -whiten all the scene.

This Toko-rahi estate was one of those visited recently by the Lincolnshire delegates, and, with other* of the district, was much admired by them, the density of the standing crops attracting their attention. Here, as they knew, exhausted nature receives no extraneous stimulating aid from the hand of man. Best and change are her only restoratives. Envying and grieving at the good of my neighbor and all that i® his, I pursued my way. The next striking object which arrested my eye was a group of huge, isolated limestone rocks, which lend to the estate its Maori designation, and to the scene a weird-like aspect. I then, came in view of the homestead group of buildings, constructed of the stone of the vicinity (a greyish foasiliferoas stratum), overlooking a somewhat pretty valley, and having for their background a far-stretching and gently-sloping tract of land, seemingly covered with gold and emerald. Here I found congregated a number of well-to-do farmers. My conjecture on the occasion, induced by Home reminiscences, 'was that the why of the assembling was the advent of rent day ; but I was informed that it was for another purpose, preliminary to that, viz., to attach their signatures to the deeds of lease. Opportunity was taken of a cessation of work by reason of the rainfall to do this. It may not be generally known that a large portion of this property has been leased on long terms (14 years), in areas of from 500 to 800

acres, at a moderate rental. The remainder is about to undergo the same fate. This, I believe, is the first venture of the kind ia the district, and, so far, has beea very successful, gratifying alike to owner and occupier. The tenants are not men " scant of cash " for investment, but men who seo in this mode of occupying the soil the speediest way of adding to their substance. I must say I see wisdom in this preference for a leasehold with plenty to a freehold with nothing. It might he well that the leasing system so happily inaugurated here were, followed by other large land owners of

the country. Night, approaching I discovered myself to a lowland gentleman (the manager of th» farm) as a member of (he fourth Estate. Bis veneration for mo in that capacity wa3 unbounded. After alluding to the recent visit of the Lincolnshire representatives, he inquired of me if I was on the Fife side. No* knowing the subject, yet fearful lest my ignorance would prejudice him against We, I took refuge io * neutral zone. I

WW welcomed in pure Doric speech and with true Doric unction, and, after a aumptuaas repast, I withdrew to sleep, peronauce to dream of my approaching visit to the golden city.