VISIT TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 906, 26 February 1868, Page 3

VISIT TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF SOUTHLAND.

(The Company's Farms, in 1868.) In an article on subjects purely bucolic, it is somewhat difficult to be both amusing and instructive, — instructive to the farmer, amusing to your other readers — difficult in fact, while interesting the few, to avoid boring the many, however, I will do my best. Do your readers really understand the principal object and aim of this great " John Company?" Not all of them I am certain, for I often have heard such remarks as " O the Company is coming to a dead-lock — funds are running short — they are discharging a number of men at Morton Mains." It will be seen by-and-by that thisißa proof of success, not failure. Briefly, the object is the growth of wool an freehold runs, whose pastoral capabilities have been increased tenfold by the cultivation of artificial grasses. The breeding of cattle and pigs, the production of wheat, barley, &c. form most valuable adjuncts when the markets are favorable, but the grand end and aim of their existence is wool. At present the road thither is tolerably good, but a few days rain would speed'ly render it an impassible quagmire. The contractors are hard at work macadamising, but began so late in the season that unless with an exceptional autumn it cannot be finished very far out of town. The importance of this matter to the Company may be seen, when it is stated that their cartage from town alone amounts to 2000 tons yearly. Had the Eastern Railway been made, the tonnage both ways soon would have been nearly 10,000 tons, an amount almost impracticable to cart. Should the Company carry out the scheme often mooted by them, of running a light railway from their stations to the Bluff (to which port they are quite as near) thus removing all their traffic and business from Tnvercargill and its railway, and in fact diverting that of the whole Eastern District, those of the towns people who voted against the railways, will dearly rue their folly and short-sightedness. Reveuons a nos moutons. After travelling by the Dunedin road as far as the east end of Long Bush, casting a passing glance of admiration at the pretty farms by the roadside, you enter on the Company's magnificent estate, perhaps the largest farming establishment the world yet has seen. It extends on both sides of the Dunedin road, Woodlands (manager Mr, Adam Brown) on the left. Elemington (Mr Dugald Napier) on the right. At present your readers will turn to the right and accompany me through Plemington to the head station Morton Mains. Let us stop for a moment and look around. Nine years ago I rode from Dunedin to Invercargill, passing over this very spot, Then it was indeed a howling wilderness, in fact, if I may be allowed the expression, a very howling wilderness. A dreary expance of brown tussock grass, sombre, melancholy patches of bush and bottomless swamps, so bottomless that when travellers from opposite directions met on different sides of one of these ghastly bogs, (seldom more than 20 or 30 yards wide) one could only exclaim to the other. " Friend, between thee and me is a great gulf fixed, so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot." Again six years ago I passed by and there was little difference, now everything is is changed. All the dry land cultivated, the swamps drained, rich clover and grasses where the old tussocks used to grow, massive comfortable looking shorthorns and compact little Aryshires, replacing the wild and bony wretches which then infested the plain, to the inconvenience of travellers, and not to the profit of the owner, substantial, imposing houses for the managers, and hosts of cozy little white cottages for the laborers, vast ranges of stabling, granaries, wool sheds, sheeppens, and every possible appliance. Nothing strikes one so forcibly as the fact that everything is complete — nothing left undone — even the gates are well and carefully managed to form no impediment to horsemen, no small matter when you have to pass through some dozens. There is a simple contrivance worthy of inspection by the malignant cockatoos, who inflict on the hapless rider the torment of those antiquated abominations, " slip - panels." Without even stooping, you put out your hand and raise a light vertical bolt : released, the gate flies open, you drop the bolt and pass through, merely give a push to the gate, which shuts and fastens itself, and on you go again. This ig indeed a dispensation of Providence. A capital wooden roadway, on the "grating" , principle, ia laid down in front of the

stables and offices, fchu& winter thet-e lias no terrors — so far as mud goes. The gardens are beautifully kept, but of course are only in embryo. We will leave our horses in an equine palace which a fevsr years back would havebeen deemed ashamefully luxurious habitation for a family of Christians, and take a walk with Mr 'Eobert Hamilton, the able manager, . to whose energy and skill is mainly owing the success which hitherto has attended the Company's operations. "We now glean a few particulars, in the form of definite statistics C. E. M. (To he continued")