A VISIT TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 616, 9 January 1867, Page 3

A VISIT TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF SOUTHLAND.

(p«OM OVD SPEOIAL COBBE3PONDBNT.) NO. IV. Homeward bonnd. Witb reluctance I turn my back upon tbe fertile and flourishing district in which I had seen more signs of progress and hope for Southland than in my most sanguine imaginings I had ever pictured. I repeat I turned my back with reluctance, feeling that I had left much unseen that I could bave desired to have seen, and many acquaintances who I could have wished to have longer remained with, acquaintances from whose conversation I gathered much practical information, combined with an unrestrained hospitality which we town folk seldom enjoy. Still necessit y has no law, and necessity called me away. The first station I halted at on leaving Morton Mains, was the Flemington Estate, an adjunct to Morton Mains. It woidd be only a repetition of former descriptions to minutely review what I saw, suffice it to say, that the sub-manager's house (Mr Napier) with its tastefully laid out garden, and numerous out-buildings was such as m-my Home country squires miirht envy. In every direction the same energy and skill tbat characterised the otber of tbe company's clearings was conspicuous — all Beemed as active as busy bees, and as earnest in their work as men could be. A few miles on I dr-'.w rein at Woodlands, the last purchase of the company's. Here again the power of energy »nd capital was plainly manifest, cultivation of every descrip' io-i abounded, but the short time I had to spare was chiefly devoted to the insper-tion of a n-zw and gigantic flour mill that is in the course of erection. This building is being constructed of wood, and ihe timbers used are of a size and strength that is seldom met with; tbe machinery is of a most massive description, confining ft^en^th with the most recent improvements that mechanical ingenuity has devised. "With my usual inquisitiveness, I wanted to know wliere such splendid timber was obtained, — that the engine and iron-work were Glasgow make could be seen at a glance — when I was immediately invited to trot over a mile and a half of a tramway that ran through a beautiful belt of bush, that brought us to a grove of splendid timber, close to which was a powerful steam saw-mill. Borne fine trees had been fallen, and some splendid boards were being cut. The tramway especially attractedmy attention. It is well constructed, and I understand that its cost was only £125 per mile. It would be (oily to argue that such a tramway woul 1 be adequate to the requirements of public traffic, but I am bold enouuh to state that a double line of a much more substantial description could be constructed for little more than £400 per mile. If such a line was make to the Mataura, great benefits would arise. Invercargill would be become the business place of a vast number of settlers who now are compelled to take their produce to Dunedin. There i 3 no question that Soul hland for its size is progressing, more steadily than any other Province in New Zealand, despite the drawbacks that have arisen. There is one other station that I called at whicb demands notice. It is that of Mr T. Hamilton of the Long Bush. This is a private farm, cultivated on the same principle as the companies. There is English grass, clover, &c, on a small scale, like to what I have mentioned before. There is, however, a new feature ; this is a cheese-making establishment, and I may state that what I tasted was of a very superior quality. This must finish my description of the places I have visitod. It will now be my aim to draw deductions from what 1 have seen, and the influence that the systematic cultivation of the land is likely to have upon Provincial progress. Having given an imperfect description of tha Eastern District, I shall apply myself to th« task of consolidating my previous comments. It haa long been known that some company's existed tbat were carrying on extensive operations in the interior, but no one appeared to realize what these operation were. The shipping columns, day after day chronicle 1 large importations of every description of gooda to Cochran, Granger, and Blackwood, until it became a matter of wonderment what they did with them. The problem has been 'solved. The company's take up most that they import, as the goods arrive, and not unfrequently grumble that tlie steel wire rope for the monster ploughs, or other rarely seen materials are not always in stock. But to return to the main subject, and place in a simple form the operations of the company's estates. To begin, I shall common -a. with, the land, (purchased) occupied, the quantity under cultivation, and the probable extent of future operatio s. It must be understood that what has been commonly called the Company's Stations, included a number of blocks of land purchased by home capitalists ; that althougb separate purchases they were by mutual understanding to be worked in unison, the superintendents of each station to aid and assist each other, and work together for the benefit of the home capitalists. Thus it. arises that in any previous writing, I have mentioned the names of several parties, as representatives of t.e Company. The satisfaction which the progress of these various stations have given, has led to a further arrangement, and all the stations I have mentioned are to be amalgamated, and increased capital invested. The new company is entitled the " New Zealand and Australian Land Conrpany, (limited)" capital £2,000,000, in shares of £100 each. lamiu a position to say that this enormous capital has been subscribed without the company having to resort to the ' Change ' for assistance, and that notwithstanding that the Company's operations are not restricted to Southland, almost all the purchased land they hold, aad tho chief cultivatory operations going on are in thiß province. The following is an approxomate •tafceznent- pf the land already purchased, and the

quantity already under cultivation :— » QUANTITY OP IAND. Moi tin Mains -4 000 acres Flemington ... ... 3500 „ Woodlands 40 -0 „ Mable Bush 7000 „ Wuimumu 30,000 „ Finlav's block, (qr) ... 4000 „ Halls block, (qr) 4000 „ Edendale 12,000 „ Mataura Estate 25.500 „ Seaward Downs 17,000 „ Oteramika Station ... 12,000 „ Total 123,000 There may be some slight discrepency in this list, but notof material import. I may say tbat it is tho intention of the Company to nlace the whole of this land under cultivation witb the least possible delay. Tt has idso been decided to erect an extensive malting establishment aud brewery in Invercargill. that barley is to be laid down in large quantities, the climate being deemed admirably adapted for the growth of this grain, and malting purposes. If these ap-pli-i noes are once in operation, it is more than probable that this Province will be able to supply the Au-tr lias with malt. The average quantity now imported from Fngland exceeds 2,000,000 bushels. The intentions of the company and the powi r they possess to carry them oui will form the basis of my next letter.