A Tour in New Zealand.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 945, 21 May 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Tour in New Zealand.

No. X. — The Oamaru District. fFi’om the Melbourne Leader], Proceeding northward by rail from Hillgrove, from which Mr. Sise’s stud farm was visited, the coun-ry continues rather poor and hilly up to Herbert, at a distance of 65 miles from Dunedin. Here a wide expanse of rich rolling downs is entered upon, which constitutes the important agricultural district of Oamaru. The downs stretch away with unchanging richness for about 50 miles to the northward, the average width from the sea to the high range of snow-capped mountains, which form the western boundary, being about 40 miles. In the parts of Otago and Southland already visited, the fertile lands generally run in narrow strips between high hills of inferior value for agricultural or pastoral purposes, but here rich soil extends in every direction as far as the eye can reach, the quality varying only from good to excellent. From 1 foot to 3 feet of strong black soil resting upon a stratum of limestone, a climate suitable to the growth of both cereal and root crops, and a port at Oamaru which, through the enterprise of the inhabitants, has been made a safe harbor for ships, are the leading elements which make this district one of the very best in New Zealand. Originally a level plain at the bottom of the sea, this peculiar stretch of country has at a subsequent period been thrown by volcanic action into its present form, of downs, table-topped hills and valley’s the high and low laud being of equal richness. Elderslie, the estate of Mr. John Reid, situated on the Ngpara Branch Hail way, 13 miles from Oamaru, is one of the finest in the Colony, and is interesting as affording some of the best examples, not only of sheep, horse and cattle breeding, but also of various branches of agriculture. Consisting of 40,000 acres of highly fertile land of the kind already described, the estate enables Mr. Reid to carry on various branches of stock raising and cultivation upon an extensive scale. With the exception of 5,000 acres leased from the Crown, the land is all freehold, and 20,000 acres have been brought under the plough, the remainder being as yet in natural grasses. The whole property is well fenced and subdivided, there being 250 miles of fencing, and it is rapidly being sown down in English grasses, The usual custom is to break up the new land, sow a crop of turnips, then take off two grain crops and lay down in rye grass or clover. By this means the soil, instead of being impoverished, is greatly improved by cultivation. Mr. Reid, who was at one time engaged in mining enterprises at Egerton, and. subsequently in business in Melbourne, has had Elderslie for fifteen years, during which time he appears to have expended a very large amount of capital in improving an estate which is well calculated to yield him a handsome return. In addition to highly cultivated turnip and mangold crops near the homestead supplying fodder for the stud stock, 1,000 acres of turnips are annually sown broadcast. This crop costs 13s per acre ; and store sheep, at the rate of ten to the acre, are purchased and fattened upon it for market. The growth of grass is sufficient all the year round to keep the ordinary stock, so that the turnip crop is eaten off by stores bought for the purpose and kept for about two months. This year, in addition to the usual 1,000 acres of turnips, there are 2,000 acres of rape and 2,000 acres of new artificial grass. About 1,000 acres are annually sown with oats, wheat, and barley. This portion of the estate is cultivated my Mr. Reid himself, but in addition he has 5,000 acres cultivated by yearly tenants, who pay from 30s to 40s for the privilege of putting in one crop. The productiveness of the soil can be judged from the fact that the yearly tenants can make a profit at grain growing after paying such a high rental. Wheat growing at 80 bushels to the acre is no doubt a profitable business, and this yield is not uncommon at Oamaru. Mr. Reid thrashed 28,000 bushels from a paddock of 350 acres last year, and has obtained as high an average in former years as 65 bushels from an area of 7,000 acres. The average of Elderslie has never been lower than 28 bushels of wheat to the acre since it has been in Mr. Reid’s possession. From 17 acres 1,700 bushels of Norwegian oats have been reaped, aud from 50 to 30 bushels are ;

I common yields. Mangolds yield from 50 to 60 tons to the acre without manure ; and the turnip crop, as already stated, will fatten off ten sheep to the acre. Lucerne thrives well, being cut four or five times a year ; and the English pasture is capable of keeping and fattening three longwool sheep to the acre. About 43,000 sheep are shorn every year, and these consist of a pure flock of stud Lincolns, a stud flock of pure Romney Marshes, and crossbreds. The Lincolns are bred from importations from the Kirkham flock, and the Romneys are the flock of the late Dr. Webster, whose estate has been purchased by Mr. Reid, and now forms part of Elderslie. It is considered that the large Romneys, the live weight of which is about 3801bs, for rams, are more hardy and require less food than the Lincolns or Leicesters, while they produce when crossed with the merino a sheep well suited for the butcher. A fleece weighing from 16 to 20 lbs., is cut from the Romney hoggets, and the Lincoln ewes and rams cut from 20 to 261 b. Last year’s entire clip averaged 11 lb. per sheep without locks and pieces, and the wool sold in London for Is 2|d per lb. The Elderslie herd of shorthorn cattle are no doubt destined to attain a very high reputation in this Colony. About three years ago Mr. Reid bought a number of pedigreed cows from Mr. Matthew Holmes, whose estate is also in this district. Mr. Holmes bought largely at Mr. Morton s sale in Victoria, and Mr. Reid has since addod to his herd by importing high class animals from Messrs. Robertson Brothers, S. Gardiner and William M'Culloch. The most noble bulls are Earl of Brunswick, three years, bred by Mr. S. Gardiner, Bundoora, Park, Victoria; sire, Oxford Flower Duke ; dam, Countess of Brunswick 2nd, by Duke of Brunswick (25937). Countess of Brunswick 2nd was purchased by Mr. Gardiner for 1200 guineas. Earl of Brunswick was placed first for three-year-olds at Dunedin, 1880. Lord Red Rose 2nd, red, bred by Mr. W. M‘Culloch, Glenroy, Victoria ; sire, Duke of Oxford 31st (33713) ; dam, Duchess 26th, by 4th Duke of Geneva (30958). Duchess 26th was imported to England from America by George Fox, and there sold for 1000 guineas. Duke of Oxford 31st was bred by the Duke of Devonshire at Halker, and used by Mr. Wilson, of Shotley Hall, Northumberland, where he proved a perfect mine of wealth. Among the cows, which are a fine lot the most striking are: Mignonette 2nd, bred by Mr. M. Holmes, sire Father Christmas, by Royal Butterfly 28th, from Christmas Rose, dam Butterfly 16th, bred by Mr. R. Morton, by Royal Butterfly 6th, 1875-7. Mignonette 2nd was awarded the gold medal as best cow in the yard at Oamaru in 1878, and the silver medal in 1879. Farewell, 3rd, red, sire Don Carlos, by Royal Butterfly 28th, from April Flower sth, dam Farewell Ist, by Royal Butterfly 28th (Morton’s). Farewell 4th, by Prince of the Jessamines, and Farewell sth, by Earl of Brunswick. The heifers contain many of high pedigree, among which may be mentioned : Flower of Derrimut 3rd, 18 months old, bred by Roberston Bros., Colac, sire 22nd Duke of Derrimut. 10th Countess of Colac, 15 months old, white, sire Oxford Flower Duke, dam Fanny 4th, by Peacock. Fanny 4th is dam of Fanny 9th, the dam of the celebrated cow Countess of Brunswick 2nd, purchased by Mr. Gardiner for 1200 guineas. She is the dam of Mr. Reid’s bull Earl of Brunswick, who was awarded first prize in Dunedin for three-year-old bulls. Matilda 18th, red and while, 20 months, bred by Robertson Bros., Colac, sire 22nd Duke Derrimut. Matilda 2nd is dam of some of the finest shorthorns in the Colonies, viz., 2nd Duke of Derrimut, sold for £6OO to Mr. A. G. Jones, who afterwards refused £1,200 for him ; and Duke of Melbourne and Matilda 10th, champion female 1872 and 1873, and sold for 1,150 guineas. Matilda tribe averaged at Colac, £997 10s in 1878, and £9lB 15s in 1876, 32nd Duchess of Derrimut, roan, bred by Robertson Bros., Colac ; sire 22nd Duke of , Derrimut; dam, 7th Duchess of Derrimut. 7th Duchess of Derrimut is : the dam of 24th Duke of Derrimut, ' who in 1877 was exhibited five times | only, and received five first and three champion prizes, and was afterwards sold for £2,572 10s, the highest price ever obtained for a shorthorn in the Colonies. Rose of Australia sth, red, three years old; sire, 14th Duke of Derrimut ; dam, Rose of Australia,

and her red bull calf Alvie’s Rose Duke, by S. Gardiner’s Duke of Alvie. These pedigrees are sufficient to show that no pains have been spared to lay the foundation of a first-class herd at Elderslie.

A stud of high class draught horses is a’so a leading feature of Elderslie. The grand old sire Heather Jock, a bright dapple bay, 16| hands high, with fine symmetry, strong bone, and a wealth of hair, has been used for many years, and has been as successful in his projeny in New Zealand as in Victoria. Heather Jock, who was bred by Mr. Thos. Watson, of Victoria, is by the imported horse Blackleg, (71), from Lily Cromwell, a well known prizetaker in Victoria. Miss Patterson if a very grand mare in the Elderslie stud, two of her foals having been sold for £1,050, and there are 12 other mares of equal style and pedigrees. In addition to these there are about 30 Clydesdale mares of a good useful stamp, so that the draught stud consists of about 40 mares and their progeny. A thoroughbred stallion and a few blood mares are also kept upon the estate. Tree and hedge planting have been extensively carried out, and the plantations are being added to every year. Various kinds of pines, firs and gums have been planted in clumps and strips all over the estate, providing excellent shelter for stock, and greatly improving the appearance of the property. Already about 200 acres have been planted with trees, most of which are doing well. Blue gums seem to grow as quickly as in Victoria, and to develope a more luxuriant growth of leaves The American pines grow with surprising rapidity, some of the trees showing -.as much as 6 feet of new wood in one year. Furze and hawthorn hedges are somewhat expensive, costing from 6d to 9d per chain for trimming, but they afford good shelter, and will in time take the place of the post and rail fences. A large ornamental building, like a college or a bank, at some distance from the residence, is the Elderslie stables and bull stalls. Oamaru stone is used for banks in Victoria, but at Oamaru for all kinds of buildings. The limestone which forms the subsoil all over this extensive district is the Oamaru building stone and excellent durable stone it is. Mr. Reid’s stables are built of this stone, the building being not only large and convenient, but ornamental, being the handsomest stable 1 have met with in my travels in the Australasian Colonies. The build ings enclose a square courtyard, 106 x 106 feet, and not only are drainage, cleanliness and conveniences for feeding well provided for, but complete appliances have been fitted up for steaming and boiling the food for the stock. From the western end of the building a long shed extends, which provides a covering for the large number of implements and machines required in working the estate. A very large and handsome house, surrounded by orchard and shrubberies, is approached by a carriage drive about a mile long, which winds through a pretty park, past artificial lakes and other pleasing features of landscape. The vinery, a glass-covered house about 100 feet in length, is a novel feature to a Victorian, who is used to grapes coming to perfection without artificial aids. As Elederslie is one of the “ show places ” of New Zealand, it is visited by numerous tourists and others wishing to obtain information regarding the resources of the Colony, and consequently very many travellers have kindly recollections of Mr. and Mrs. Reid’s hospitality. At the time of my visit I met Mr. D. Ward, of the Sheffield firm of Ward and Payne, who, with his wife and son had been a guest for some time. Mr. Ward, “ though on pleasure bent,” was at the same time looking after business. Both in New Zealand and Australia this successful manufacturer has been visiting the stations, conversing with the shearers, and posting himself up in all the details of “gapping,” “doubling,” and other I shearers grievances, so that he may i be better able to maintain for his shears tne popularity which they have obtained. This spectacle of a leading English manufacturer personally studying the requirements of his customers at the antipodes is a novel feature in the modern development of trade. Mr. Ward, like many others drawn to visit the Colonies by the Melbourne Exhibition, will have a good report to give when he reaches home ; and the opinions of such gentlemen cannot fail to carry weight in recommending Australasia as a field for the surplus capital and labor of

the old countries. The management of such extensive operations requires great energy and organising ability. Mr. Reid lives upon the estate, identifying himself with the various interests of the district, and taking an active part in the management of his property. In the management he is ably assisted by his two grown-up sons, one of whom devotes his attention to the sheep, and the other to the cattle and horses. The spirited manner in which so many leading branches of agricultural and pastoral industry are carried on at Elderslie is evidently not only profitable to the proprietor, but also of considerable benefit to the whole Colony.