NEW ZEALANDERS IN CANADA.

Shannon News, 17 October 1922, Page 3

NEW ZEALANDERS IN CANADA.

’‘WHEN THE FREEZE UP COMES.” SOME STRENUOUS EXPERIENCES. There has just returned to Levin Mr and Mrs H. Sheargold, formerly of Ohau, where Mr Sheargold was in business for some years as a storekeeper. Some two years ago they decided to try their fortunes on the land in Canada, and left in company with another Ohau resident, Mr R. Lester, for the great northern Dominion. Mr and Mrs Sheargold found the farming conditions very strenuous and altogether different from farming in New Zealand. Added to that the protracted illness of both Mr and Mrs Sheargold in their second year of residence decided them to return to this Dominion. Needless to say Mr and Mrs Sheargold had some interesting experiences, which they related to a Chronicle representative. TRIP ACROSS THE PACIFIC. “We left Ohau in June of 1919 ajid reached Vancouver in July. It was a Sunday trip right through—Sunday at Auckland, Sunday at Suva, Sunday at Honolulu, and arrived at Vancouver on a. Sunday. The following- day (Monday) we boarded the train and reached Truro, Nova Scotia, on the Sunday a week later. ,It was a. good train trip, and every convenience is afforded travellers. At the end of each carriage there is a stove and cupboard with, all cooking facilities, which is very convenient for families to do their own cooking. A black steward looks after the cars and makes up the beds in the evenings for the travellers. We were disappointed on the run through Canada, expecting to see big wheat belts, but we were evidentlyout of the wheat area. The country is largely grazing, with cropping in d'f*erent parts, but nothing on a scale That the visitor would expect. Tt was nreity passing through the Rockies, the train stopping specially at one famous canyon in order that the passengers may view it. Towns were passed frequently, and one was able to got out and purchase provisions to replenish the family larder. j ON THE SELECTION. ' A day was spent in Montreal, and then we went on in the evening to Truro in Nova Scotia, the place being known as the “hub of Nova Scotia.” The town is not quite as large as Palmerston North, very busy and up to date in every way. Alter spending a iortnight in looking for a suitable farming property, we took up a place at Selma, in Hants County, at the top of the Cobriquid Bay, on the eastern seaboard. The farm comprised 116

jcies. and was a dairy properly. We tound we could not run so many cows as in New Zealand. A large part- of the farm had to he reserved for hay, as Hie herd had to he housed lor six or seven months during the freeze up, and besides using up Luge quantities of fodder, made a lot of work in feeding the stock. A “wood block” had also to be reserved on every farm for wood supplies, and bush was hot destroyed wholesale as in New Zealand. when; the slump came. Home-separation is used by all the dairymen, and the cream sent to a dairy factory close by. Up till the time of the slump butterfat was realising 54 cents, equal to 2/3, but the depression brought it down to 27 cents, or 1/li per lb. After about two years dairying, and experiencing much sickness, we decided to sell out, but unfortunately the slump came in between and must have made 1000 dollars difference to the result of the sale, as nobody wanted to buy. A hay rake went for five dollars (£1), plough three dollars (12/), and chain harrows seven and a-half dollars (30/). The dairy herd sold for less than half what we paid for it. However, we made the best of it, and took our passages for New Zealand.” THE FARMING ONDITIONS. According to Mr Sheargold, the farming conditions were strenuous. The working season lasts from five to six months, and everything had to be done in that time. The ploughing , should all be completed before ihe “freeze-up” comes in November, as the freeze lasts till about April. It is .Tune before the land is lit to work, and .after that follows the cultivation and sowing of crops. At the end of .Tune the crops are sown, and growth is marvellously rapid. The spring and. summer being very warm and the soil in moist and clean condition after the protracted frosts, vegetables, hay and other crops simply jump out of the ground. In-August hay-making starts and the farm work of all descriptions has to be rushed through by November. The new-comer asks why, as thesummer is so pleasant. But the local residents who know from experience say, “Wait till the freeze-up comes,” and* the frost penetrates to- as much as three feet in the ground. It is absolutely necessary, therefore, that the farmer should be prepared—crops gathered, hay made and stored, stock under cover, vegetables stored in cellars, wood stacked close at hand, provision made for water supply, and other such preparations. Then the 1 long winter starts, with frost md

snow. During the six or seven months of the winter a cow stall-fed will consume three tons, and a horse five tons of hay, besides other food, which gives some idea of thei v provision necessary for even a small' farm. Horses cannot be done without, for farming work. When thA farming season starts every settler ns going his hardest and cannot borroW his neighbour’s team, as it is fully employed. THE LAND TENURE. The land tenure, said Mr is a system of deferred payment. A settler on taking up a farm may get an advance from the Government, and this, with interest, is repayable at stated periods, and the property cleared in a certain number of years. In the case of Mr Sheargold, he had 15 years in which to clear his holding. The Government did its best to encourage settlement, and officials frequently visited the settlers to see how they were progressing. Good settlers were given every encouragement . to keep on the land. CANADA HAS ADVANTAGES. In spite of the rigorous conditions of the winter, the country had its advantages. The people are most hospitable and make splendid neighbours, giving the newcomer every possible a*sistance and advice. The towns up to date and clean, and the -"hoir. countryside in the summer has a fine, prosperous appearance. In winter the sleigh rides are a delight to one who has had no experience of the kind before; The horses travel noiselessly over the white surface and there is only the tinkle of the sleigh bells as the runners cleave their way through the yielding snow, which is a brilliant sight with the sun shining upon it. Whilst provision has to be made against the,rigours of winter, an icehouse made of blocks of ice and sawdust is constructed in which to store milk and other foods in summer, by which they are kept delightfully cooi. Despite the temperature in winter, the weather is not unpleasant, as the people dress specially for it. 1, "NEW ZEALAND THE BEST.” "After all,” said Mrs Sheargold, ‘‘we think New Zealand is the best.” There were no extremes here, and it is hard, she considers, for New Zealanders to become accustomed to jtlhe Canadian conditions, although it might be better further west. They were glad to be back, and though they did not regret their experience, were convinced that New Zealand was the country for New Zealanders. Mr Lester took up a farm at Maitland, in Hants County, hot far from Mr and Mrs Sheargold, and also intended returning to New Zealand.