The Farm.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 35, 25 November 1893, Page 10

The Farm.

OUT AND ABOUT AMONG THE ; i'J FARMERS. ) (CQKTINUED.) We .'turned off to our left at the function of the Drummond and Isla Bant roads. This led to a pretty and interesting drive. In front of us and jgtretchiug far away on both sides was that rich and fertile table-land, Dimestone Plains. The Waimatuku stream, flowing along" close to the bottom of the iridges on the upper side, drains the terraces. It looked very pretty, flung with willows, as we crossed th e bra d ge. Th elsi a B ank post office, kept by Mr McHardy, is here. A few chains further on and we were in the township of Calcium, where there are the Presbyterian Church and the maiise (a nice place), public hall, Mr T. Meßenzie’s carpenter’s shop, and a number of dwelling'-houses. This is the ’centre of one of the oldest and best farming districts in Southland. The ground on the table-land is of limestone • formation, the. rock being exposed to view in many places, and frequently standing out abruptly on the ‘edge of the plain; in large boulders. At intervMs along the roadside I noticed large holes , in the adjoining paddocks down into the limestone, appearing to me like extinct geysers. On inquiry my friend informed me that'they had probably been made by the ‘; surface water ; running to one place and ifiltering through. He showed me one into which a small stream of water was running and said therp weresubterranean currents which carried a way the water. On crossing a paddock one day after a heavy downpour of rain he heard the noise of watej rushing along'under the ground some little distance from one of these holes.

The late Mr Chas. Quin was one of the first settlers .on, the plains, and tis son, Mr Joseph Quin, now owns a large farm there. We called upon him and learned that he had 200 acres of dais and 76 of grass and rape sown this year. Everything on the farm -wa§ looking splendid. His men were ploughing on the block farm acres surrounded by four main roads, with : s'©fcrbely a' break in.it —-preparing the ground for liat and turnip Seeds. Going 'along the ; back road towards Heddon flush, the splendid order of the hedges attracted our attention, and we could not help remarking that “a stitch in time saves nine ’’ truly applies' to gorse hedges. Mr William McKenzie, who owns the adjoining farm, was the first to introduce sheepfarming into.the district. He galped his experience in the Old Country, and succeeding in adopting it here, his. example was soon ifollowed by most’ of his neighbours. Being an invalid, 1 Mr McKenzie is - hbw unable to do much work, his nephew managing, and his! sheep compared favourably we had seen that day. ; j ; Mrs Lindsay’s farm, a little further on, is on a High School reserve, and was takan up by her late husband (Mr John Lindsay) over twenty-one years ago. It is kept in capital order, every member of the family attending to their respective duties heartily and •well. Here, as at the last-mentioned place, last year’s crop had: just been threshed out. . ; • * : aLeaving the Limestone Plains andcoming on to the Waimatuku flat any in, vye passed oh . the rightthe holdings of Mr John, and Mr James Lindsay, apparently settled upon good farms, * while on the left Mr T. A - . Buckingham., has-a.-marked by the ' jail'.trees,' which giye shelter -to his Residence and 1 outhouses. Continuing, and turning on to the Drummond road,’ we drove around Mr H FL ■ Stewart’s . farm, of about-. 30Q - acres, which lias only lately fallen into his hands.. On walking over the ground Mr Stewart showed me a paddock of oats that were further forward than any I, had' seen on the way up. He has 150 acres ,iii. oats and linseed, the district being well adapted for growing the latter. Mbst of his sheep, about 400 lambs and-' ewes, ' should find their way to the

freezing works if they continue to thrive as they appear to have done. While ploughing and sowing, Mr Stewart has not neglected other important matters, ;such as ditching, to which he has devoted a good deal of attention. Last year he threshed out 75 bushels to the acre on an average, some of the paddocks yielding 100 bushels, and he expects quite as good a return this The farm throughout is systematically worked, due consideration being given to the rotation of crops and improvement of the place. Staying for the night, the writer could see that Mrs Stewart, like most farmers’ wives in this part of Southland at anyrate, was a worthy helpmeet of her husband. On the opposite side of the road, well sheltered among the trees, the gums growing very tall and straight, are the farmhouses of Mr Chilton, and Mr P. C. C. McLeish respectively. Time would not permit of any further calls than that which we made upon this latter gentleman. It is thirty years ago since Mr McLeish came to the colony, a rather delicate lad. He commenced to work upon the farm now owned by Mr Fletcher near Thornbury, and which at that time belonged to his brother, who shortty afterwards sold out, and went home. Mr McLeish, although having the advantage of a good education, then turned his hand to any kind of farm labour he could get, but he was not frightened of work, and besides was saving in his habits. The climate agreed with him, and he has made a splendid farm of what was a swamp about 15 years ago —he has great faith in swampy land. He is a large sheep-owher, and uses a place he owns at Gladfield in connection 'with his Drummond farm in breeding and fattening them. Mr McLeish married several years ago a daughter of Mr John Officer of Gropers Bush. An early start homewards was made next morning via the plains.

Mr Robert Baird’s farm is one of the most highly improved in this district, and has more building improvements than can be found on any other High School reserve in Southland. Nowithstanding that his lease expired a few months ago, Mr Baird, making up his mind for a renewal, continued to improve the land in every way, and has sunk a great deal of money in draining and tiles, although valuation is allowed for nothing under the ground. The buildings consist of large stables, which would not disgrace a good-sized town as livery stables; cowshed and byre, coach and implement house, all well finished and painted. About 200 acres are down in crop —oats and linseed. They can always safely reckon upon from twenty to twentyeight bushels to the acre of the latter, which generally commands a failprice, and pays better than anything else Mr Baird can grow. The area of the farm is close upon 900 acres altogether, extending from the plains down on to the Waimatuku flat. Apart from his family, he employs a good few hands. Last year they turned out 2,600 freezers, and the number of his sheep at present is about 1000, all dry flock. Having plenty of grass feed, they have special facilities for fattening sheep, of which Mr Baird is a large buyer. For winter feed, large paddocks of turnips ■are grown, Malclon Island guano and Ocean Beach bones being freely used. New sheep yards were being erected, and rape seed was being sown for autumn use on our visit. Mrs Baird is a typical farmer's Avife, andmanages ffer department ax> ry well, and takes gr;eat pride in turning out good dairy produce. iPassing on to the Yellow Bluff roail, on our right Avas Mr William ..Benzie’s, Avhere ugav stabling had just been erected, and Mr Duncan Clarke’s leasehold : while on the left for some considerable distance along lay. Mr Joseph Quin’s block farm. Special attention has been gWen to thekedges in this part, Avhicli added to the general appearance of the paddocks, Mr Peter Teviotdale has about 100 acres down in oats, and has also the

whole of last year’s crop still in the stacks. Driving 1 on to the main road to Fairfax again, we stopped for a few minutes to see Mr William Mollison, who settled there about thirty year's ago. The- drain plough has been brought into requisition here with good effect, and his crop of oats, about 60 acres, were well forward. He has also fully 700 sheep on grass. Making for Flint’s Bush on our left, we passed some good grazing pad. docks—Mr James Pirie’s and Mr j. W. . Hamilton’s Bramble farm, Mr Mclntyre’s estate being on the right. Passing, opposite Mr Peter McHeiJl’s, the Flint’s Bush school, popularly known in the district as Mclntyre’s school, we inquired from one of the scholars what the attendance was that day. “ Ten girls and two but sometimes there’s twenty-two,” was the reply. We had heard earlier in the day various expressions of opinions as to this school being unnecessary, but it was not till then, as we looked upon the schoolhouse, teacher’s residence, and other appointments, and on the bronzed faces of the twelve little scholars, that we thoroughly understood matters.

A little beyond the school to our right were situated the properties of Mrs Turnbull and Mr Deacon, both old settlers.

To have passed by without calling at Strathearn would have been a decided slight upon the district, not to speak of the discomfiture it wmuld cause Mr J. W. Hamilton, who extends a hearty welcome to all visitors. At his first selection Mr Hamilton took up this fine piece of land, which, with the assistance of his industrious family, has been brought to a high degree of cultivation. Last year 45 to 50 bushels of oats were realised all round to the acre, while the growing crop of 150 acres of oats and barley promises to give a good return. At Eastbourne Park, at the Bush, now in lis hands, we met Mr Hamilton in as good spirits and as energetic as ever. He uses his three farms to good advantage by frequently shifting his sheep on to the different kinds of ground in fattening and breeding. By breeding from crossbred ewes and Leicester rams he can get about 150 per cent, of lambs that make good sheep for mutton. His fences—four or five miles altogether in length—are mostly of thorn, which, although not affording much shelter in winter, is very useful and does not spread. At Eastbourne Park—Boo acres in area —Mr Hamilton lives in the house built at great expense by the late Captain Howell. The avenue leading in from the road, the large orchard and garden, and the native bush around the place give it a fine appearance, while its elevation allows a splendid view of the district to be had.