WAYSIDE WANDERINGS.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1096, 8 October 1883, Page 2

WAYSIDE WANDERINGS.

(By Pkdi.ar-, Waitotarn.)

One of the finest farms on the coast, was that bought by Mr Moore Hunter, now of Hawera, at the Government land sale, and after being in possession a few years, lie sold it to the present holders, netting a considerable profit out of the speculation. It comptises 400 acres, and has hardly a waste acre on it, besides being almost a dead level. The present owner, Mr Parsons, has from all accounts, worked the place admirably during the past few years ; and, anyone passing through it cannot jbul think the owner likes to sec everything in apple pie order. A paddock adjoining the main road has beep laid down iu the autumn in gnus and rape, and will compare favourably with any place I have visited. In cropping, Mr Parsons generally puts in from 50 to 60 acres, and. his last years returns were most favourable. This season ho has put in about 50 acres of wheat, and 10 acres of oats, and intends putting in about 50 acres of turnips. He gives his attention at the present lime to the fattening of stock, of which a considerable number lias been turned off this winter. Adjoining is the property of Mr H. Death, who purchased it inFebruary last from Mr Andrews, at something approaching £l2 10s per acre. The present owner Las put in about 25 acres of wheat, which, if anything, is looking too well at the present time. , The sheep on this property look remarkably well, being mostly of the Romney Marsh breed, and the change from the Marton district has proved beneficial tojthem, fro™ their appearance. The owner was unfortunate this past season for winter feed, owing to the crop of turnips sown by his predecessor turning out a failure ; but he intends this year to be in time, having something over 50 acres ploughed for turnips. The next property, known as Sea View Farm, is held by Mr Adam Johnstone. It comprises some 1700 acres, and is owned by Mr Peyman of Dunedin. The lessee has gone pretty extensively into cropping for the past two or three years, and will have over 200 acres of wheat, 60 acres of oats, a quantity of beans for horse-feed, and a large slice for turnipsi Of the latter he had a very good crop this past season, having turned off almost 2000 fat sheep. The majority of the sheep came from the Wangaehu valley after shearing, and the change to these parts evidently proves advantageous to them as well as to the purchaser, as they seem to do far better than the sheep bred on the places around. Mr Johnstone has a Dccring and a McCormick twine binder which worked through the harvest last season with little trouble. He, however, gives the McCormick thq preference. He has also in conjunction with Mr John -HirmHeyT-trf-Ofeebn T -pncchiisaiLa threshing machine, which they bad in use last' harvest. He has this year purchased a lot of old tents, sold by the Defence Office in Wellington, which he intends to use as coverings for the stacks, and so prevent the repetition of a loss similar to last season. On this property is the old Wcroroa, which was one of the strongest positions held by the natives in olden times. Coming along the main road towards the Waitotara township, we come to Delham Park, the property of Mr Donald Smith, of which I will speak again.