WAYSIDE WANDERINGS.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1092, 28 September 1883, Page 2

WAYSIDE WANDERINGS.

r (By Pedlar;) Traversing the Opebi road About a mile we come to the property of Mr David Peat* comprising about 1500 acres of land, of which about 1000 are standing bush. The manager informs me that contracts are let this Reason for falling 1 a boot 360 acres, wticb yviii effect a considerable improvement in the appearance of the place. At the present time: it is stocked with mostly young steers whibh.are* allowed to run on-It until they are ..fit to put into the fattening paddocks of the , Pakaraka: reserve; adjoining (also held by Mr D. Peat, under lease from the natives). • Cross--ing the road again brings,-us r tQ <; the property of Mr Wm.. Todd (formerly f owned by Mr J. M. Thompson). This magnificent; property comprises , about 1500 'acres of land and is one of the finest blocks on this portion of the Coast. The present; owner has gone largely ip for‘ agricultural pursuits since he has, been in occupation, and will,'this, year have in about 220 acres of wheat, TO of oats, and also intends, m „ a large piece in* turnips. Todd evidently thinks the beef fattening a. good paying spec, as the number of steers running show that he has filled the place op for some lime to .come., Last season he burnt off his. stubble ground, and sowed it down with turnips and rape, from which be received a large supply of winter feed, and finished off a considerable number of sheep on it. The latter are mostly of the cross of Leicester and Lincoln breed, and seem to! be‘ as healthy a lot as cim be seen about.

Every convenience seems to be studied on Ibis farm. A large stable for six horses, loose box, cart sheds, and feed room are under one roof,'and on the opposite side of the yard, are the sheep pens and wool shed, with every thing fitted np for carrying on work without delay. Coming down to the main road again we reach the properly of Mr W. F. Russell, of Wanganui. It is About 400 acres, and is at present occupied'under lease by Mr W. B, Fisher. This compact little place seems to be used by the occupier for grazing purposes ’mostly', ; the only crop being last season, a piece of turnips, about 14

'acres, which this year is being ploughed np for oafs, an adjoining piece of 16 acres being left for turnips.' The back portion of this property was mostly bush, but about three years ago it was felled and sown down with grass and rape, which seems to have left a good sod •' the former, and has, from the occupier’s experience, proved a great help in preventing the growth of thistles which generally deter grazing oh new bush land for a; year or two when first sown. I was informed that 250 head of cattle and 500 sheep had s been carried on this property for the past six months, and though the feed seemed hare, everything looked iii very good condition. I here saw one of the progeny of Mr James Hughes draught mare, Gipsy, and which seems in every way a worthy representative of the. old mare. The owner informs me he took second prize with her as a 2 and 8-year-old filly at Paten, and also second in Wanganui as a 3-year-old. She is in foal to Clansman, so will not appear at any of the local shows this season. Passing the Nnkumarn Hotel again brings ns to the properties of Messrs Joseph and Samuel Handley, of 400 acres each. Here on the former piece we find a large area is sub-let for cropping for the two seasons, the owner evidently not being desirous of running a similar risk as he did last season. Mr S. Handley also has determined to only grow some tnrnips this" season, as the expenses, scarcity of labour and wet weather put a damper on a further attempt. At the lower end of this property is the scene of that memorable attack by the Hah Hans in 1864 or 5 on the forces of General Cameron (which will no doubt jflfltill fresh in the memories of some of v nßßbldcst of your renders) when the natives rushed on the camp just before evening. On the sandhill above is the grave yard where those who were killed, were duly interred. From the appearance of the fences, which are not allowed to get into.dis-repair, some feeling hand evidently watches over it. The next farm is the property of Mr Win. Parsons of which I hope to giVc you particulars next week.