OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 26.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 138, 22 May 1884, Page 2

OUR DISTRICT AND OUR SETTLERS.—No. 26.

[by our special reporter.] The District of Patutahi. There is not a little stretch of land in Poverty Bay that deserves the appellation—“ with verdue clad”—more so than the beautiful and fertile lowlands of Patutahi. Scattered in various directions can be seen the homesteads of various small settlers, who possess a few acres of land which they turn to profitable account. The land in this valley is well adapted for agricultural pursuits, whilst the hills for many miles afford ample pasturage for stock, if brought under proper cultivation for that purpose. A township has been laid off, wherein already flourish the butcher and baker. A neat little school-house, used also as a place of public worship occasionally, graces the village, and in this school-

house has been established a public library—a benefaction in a district so isolated ana so far distant from the haunts of civilisation. Few as the inhabitants of Patutahi are, there are some leading spirits among them who are constantly striving to make their village life quite enjoyable. Occasionally there are concerts, balls, and social tea parties. These are attended by residents of the surrounding districts, and also from town, and are generally looked forward to with no little degree of pleasure, because so solicitous are the promoters to make their re-unions a success that they never fail to consult the calendar and select moonlight nights for these delightful rambles, rides, and drives into the country. A pleasure-loving lot are the Patutahians. They are equally as hospitable. A no inconsiderable land owner in this district is that very old identity Mr. Josiah Tutchen, of Gisborne, who pays very frequent visits to Patutahi and views his possessions. Then, who is there who does not know the loquacious Mr. Price, whose floury potatoes form a topic of< conversation at many a family and social meal in town and country. No one in the valley can beat him in the cultivation of the spud. The district is rendered picturesque by the presence of large numbers of massive willow and other trees, the presence of a formidable river and the land being intersected with brooks and running streams. Patutahi Valley lies at the foot of a circle of hills, and is approached by main roads from Gisborne or Wearenga-a-hika. The traveller to or from Wairoa has to pass through this district.

Occasionally the state of the roads is not as good as is generally desired. In summer months, however, few murmurings are heard. About two-and-a-half miles from the bridge over the Big River the estate known as Swarthmoor is reached. Standing an easy distance from two main thoroughfares is a large house. This is the residence of a good old English gentleman known and respected by most people in Poverty Bay. He is a North Lancashire farmer, who came to settle here about five years ago. I refer to Mr. John Sunderland. Swarthmoor is called after an English farm of that name, situate in a district memorable in English history as a great resort of the quakers. There were a few quakers at Patutahi on the occasion of the recent earthquake. Several societies of friends told each other how violently the ground oscilated. Yea, verily.

Mr. John Sunderland’s estate comprises 420 acres of freehold and 120 acres of leasehold land, and is bounded by four roads. The leasehold section is an education reserve. The residence, which is an oblong one, was erected by Mr. Sunderland about four years ago. It is a roomy structure, surrounded by flowers and ornamental shrubs. A number of trees planted are thriving well, and when matured will act as a breakwind, and give beauty to the spot. Mr. Sunderland has some very good stock on his farm, comprising 1,000 long-wool sheep, and 200 head of choice, plump and useful cattle. This year the wool clip was 22 pales. Swarthmoor is utilised for other purposes than breeding and feeding quadrupeds. It is one of the few places where agricultural pursuits are followed. It has been said by persons that oats cannot be grown free from rust in Poverty Bay. This assertion is erroneous. I took away from Swarthmoor a good sample from about 344 bushels grown on ten acres of land there, and threshed a few days prior to my visit. The sample can be seen at Messrs. Porter and Croft’s office. Potatoes, mangolds and other useful crops grow successfully here. Mr. John Sunderland has effected a large number of improvements since he first purchased this estate from the Waste Lands Board. He is hopeful of yet turning what was a wild waste when he first took it up into a fruitful garden. Presently, some of his fields will be laden with waving golden corn. May he live long to enjoy his estate.

I cannot conclude my notice of Swarthmoor without departing a little from the course I usually adopt in my sketches. “ Honor to whom honor is due ” is a trite saying, but the injunction applied is not acted upon at all times. As a rule lam careful as to making any special reference to the ladies, but as Mrs. John Sunderland is an exception to the generality of the fair sex, my sketch would be incomplete without making mention of her, and recording her good works in the district referred to. She is one who never appears to be weary in well-doing. Napoleon said: “In great crises it is woman’s lot to soften our misfortunes.” This is one of the chief characteristics of Mrs. Sunderland. Wherever there has been sickness or affliction, poverty or distress, among the inhabitants, this lady has rendered comfort and aid., The flourishing state of the village library is in most part attributable to her zeal and untiring exertions in procuring good interesting books, calculated to raise the moral and intellectual tone of the people. In various other ways she has proved herself to be a good friend, and, in the lines of Wordsworth’s—- “ A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command.” Lavenham, About a mile beyond Swarthmoor, hidden view by a cluster of trees is the homestead of Lavenham, named after an English village. To reach this spot you leave the township to the left, crossing the creek by means of a bridge. The owner of Lavenham estate is Mr. Langdale Sunderland, and one of our best and most enterprising settlers. Mr. John Sunderland is his brother. The area of Lavenham is 800 acres, freehold. It is boun» ded by the Repongaere Block and Patutahi, and was formerly in the occupation of the Hon. Randall Johnson. At the present time Mr. Sunderland has 3,700 sheep on the run and 90 head of cattle. His export of wool this season was 70 bales. The yield of grass seed—our most important industry—--300 bags. The estate has been divided into twenty-five paddocks. The distance from Lavenham to Gisborne is set down as ten miles. Mr. Sunderland is noted in this district for the excellence of his general stock. In draught horses, at our local shows he has carried everything before him. His shorthorn cattle are splendid animals. Two years running Lavenham has carried off the champion prize for shorthorn bulls. His sheep are very prime. There are some rams on the estate that have yielded a clip of 291bs of wool. Unfortunately my visit to Lavenham was necessarily brief, as Mr. Sunderland was taking his departure for an inland station as I called upon him. The adjoining estate is Repongaere, owned by Mr. W. K. Chambers, Chairman of the Cook County Council. (To be continued.)