The Farm.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 16, 15 July 1893, Page 11

The Farm.

ROSLYN AND MABEL. (by our special reporter.) The frosty weather of the last fortnight has not been favourable to the work of the plough, and generally it may be said ploughing is not yet so tar advaneed ns it is some seasons in the early part of July. However in these days of the double and treble-furrow plough, a tew days’ delay is very soon pulled up, when suitable weather sets in. It is suggestive and marks the impro'vement taking place in agricultural implements to note the contrast in the different classes of plough now used, and brought out at the jiloughing matches, with the plain single-furrows, drawn by two horses, that were worked -at the first ploughing match in this part of New Zealand iu Sheriff's paddock, near Woodlands, thirtytwo years ago.

In this locality sheep-farming seems to be the main object of the settlers, as go which way you will it is sheep on turnips, or sheep on grass land, with turnips carted in and spread for them. Turnips are generally not so heavy a crop as they are most seasons, but the grass has lasted very well up to quite lately. The line farms of Mr Halliday, of Roslyn Bush, the Messrs Fleming, of Rakahouka, Mr John Mclntyre, of Mona Bush, and many others, with their large flocks of well-doing sheep, present a very attractive appearance to the passing traveller. The junction and Dacre Roads run through the centre of this district, and is much used for stock-driving to the Wallacetown saleyards and the Frozen Meat Works from the eastern districts, Edendale and Mataura. From the latter place Mrs Scammell’s roadside accommodation house, situated in Dacre, at the junction of the Edendale and old Mataura Roads, is a good half-way halting place for fat or other stock travelling either way. On the way to the Wallacetown Saleyards from Dacre the fine holding known as Broughton, belonging to Marshall and Sons, is passed. A large number of dairy cows are kept here for the supply of milk to the Woodlands Cheese Factory. On the same road is situated the Horse-Shoe Bush Estate belonging to the Scottish and New Zealand Investment Company. I understand this attractive property is in the market, and if so it .should not be long before it finds a purchaser. Like most of the land in this neighbourhood it is nearly level and can be cheaply cultivated, as the , most improved agricultural machinery can be worked with great advantage, and it is therefore suitable for either arable or pastoral occupation. It adjoins on the east the highly-im-proved Rakahouka Estate. Some of the farm holdings along the frontage of Mabel Bush have a pleasing appearance from the road, and are seemingly in process of being brought into good production, notably the holdings of Mr John Macdonald, Robert Young and the Messrs Morton Bros. Messrs Massey and Co. are still working the sawmill in Mabel Bush, and are.sending a good deal of timber to Woodlands. It is rumoured that Mr W m - Halliday is likely to contest the Mataura seat at the coming general election—that is if Sir R. Stout does not offer himself. Should Mr Halliday take up the gauntlet he will doubtless obtain liberal support. He is an intelligent farmer, both prosperous and popular, and would make an excellent member, representative of the leading industry of the colony—Agriculture, The sitting member, in addressing his constituents lately, does not seem to have improved his standing with them. His northern proclivities should direct him to a northern constituency. His dictum, “ New Zealand first, his district afterwards,” will hardly “ catch on ” yet in this colony. It may be statesmanlike and correct in principle, when applied to older countries, but in a young democratic country, shaping its institutions for the benefit of the people at large, it is just a little too much of the ideal statesman.

In every session from tire first of the New Zealand Parliaments to the present, there has been more or less of a struggle by every number to obtain the of as much public money as possible in his electorate, and as long as there is a central fund to draw from, and be divided, just so long will members have to play their part in the struggle to obtain local public works. The statesman who is above looking after the wants and requirements of his locality will find it left out in the cold, and his electors clamouring to know the reason why.