THE PRINCE'S RANCH

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 8

THE PRINCE'S RANCH

NOW OWNS MODEL FARM. ROMANTIC CANADIAN SPOT. VANCOUVER, April 30 Now that the Dominion ot New Zealand has been honoured by the presence of the Prince of Wales, his southern admirers may ne interested to learn some details of the model farm recently purchased by the heir to the British throne during his trip through Canada (says the correspondent of tlie Christchurch Press). There is a strange magic in the lure of the prairies—(he wild harmony of its infinite spaces — there is a charm in the Alberta foothills, there is a • grandeur in the snow-capped Rockies beyond, and such is the setting for the ix xu-h acquired by the Prince of Wales, the Canadian Balmoral, as some have aptly designated the Royal property, other-

wise known as the “K.P. Ranch.’ This property, for many years owned by Mrs Bedingfeid and her sou, Mr Frank Bedingfeld, ai.ijoins the famous Bar-U ranch, owned by Mr George bane, who entertained the Prince last September, and who negotiated the transaction by which the heir to the British throne became an Alberta fanner and randier. Incidentally it might be mentioned that George Lane is a man of international renown in the blue-blood horse world, being the biggest breeder of the I’crchoron type, a class upon which he is recognised as the world’s greatest authority.

Bui to return to the “E.P. Ranch,” it may be staled that in the foothills of the Rockies, from Mexico to the Arctic Circle, a more charming situation could not be found —to the west are the snow-capped mountains, to the north and south are the rolling foothills and the gentle slope of the prairie to the east. Winding its way through the estate is the llighwood river, a crystal-clear mountain stream, where are found those choicest fish, the cut-throat trou . To the west in the higher foothills and Rocky Mountains proper, are found deer, bear, partridge, the big mountain grouse and other game. Qn the ranch the prairie chicken flourish. In every direction, from the ranch house, stretch, inviting glad carpeted in summer with luxuriant gras ■ and brilliant flowers. After his visit m tiie Bar-U ranch the Prince expressed the desire to spend twenty-four years instead of twenty-four hours there, and the lure of i: imp-lied him to leap from his bed in the grey dawn of his first morning there, jump through the window, unknown to his attendants and walk five miles towards the rising sun and back again. His Royal Highness saw visions that morning, and the culmination of the impression that was made wus the acquisition of the Bedingfield ranch, and, strangely enough, the Prince, should lie ever decide to make an extended stay on the properly, will have as a neighbour no less a personage than the young Fail in Minto, who has bought u 4000-acie ranch near the Prince’- farm. To Mr Lane, more than to any other Canadian, wa.s due His Royal Highness’s decision to bc-ome a Canadian landowner. Mr Lane took him away to the Bar-U ranch for a f’.iii day and night as Iris guest, and not. even tlie Prince’s retinue or personal attendants, beyond hi- body servant, were permitted to go. It was simply a family parly v.uh Mrs Lane a? hostess. The Prince, exhausted after a lengthy round of forrnal- “: . ilv-.-i ally revelled in the experience—it a. a- to him a delightful fairyland. The cov.boys, many of whom had served overan:| had already met the Prince, were Ids chums. The round-up, the cutting-out, ;!i? branding, the old trails, the clear skies, th? vast distances, were all a clear delight is it any wonder the Prince was impressed ? A residence, in keeping with the rank of :he owner, •.>■;]' be built. Plans are pre•..i.re.l lor an ample ixavh house that, will • ■ nI■ in, all mod ni convenience-, and will „> imfd at .-('inn distenee from the regui ■ hj .-tinctures, which arc now numeral! - and commodious. The foreman will be Tr P. R. Pike, who nccupit d a like position -.v.tb dr banc lor year-. As soon as the new mu-h 1m;: •? is rmn'/kto.!. it is understood ; In;! tv. , tin id rice's brothers will come mu fo; a holiday, and for a taste of real rant king life. in, I'rin ••? has chosen thoroughbred horse- . • nimrn cattle, and Shiv;,-h.rr sheep [nr T; to bis rtiiteh. The first of id- s L-fi live .‘■lock has already been id , by Professor V,'. L. Carlyle, Mr La:. ex; cit on animal hu bar.ory. On - in.? pioyfiiy ,he j-rinec di.-posed .o' : jy.,i>- :.nb err,is- that went with the : i !.C ; r .po. ;s in devote hi- live stock ■ - ix thorn 1 .! in;- d:x which will ire •n.iit up from lln- bn, 1 ' market. In Ps so ;.ir» T"dm . , on her first r x jimmy throt: .. tin* foothill?, in ted li.r i ; rai xi. 1 ; .romi.rni of what is 11 ., v the P.” ix.r,: and ho urns leaded Tie i ;■■■, erty, adding irs ,a? to l.imr, until Bit).) a-ros were uv-u , .. I.i addition to ibis Jd.bOD teres of le sed land pa-ssed into .•i.ut'oi id the itoya. lui diascr. ’j I;;-- lease was so. an d in lb ,5. and is known technic:d) >.- as ".ire 1 ;.;abi.-" tlu.t i-, it may not dc revoked for twenty-one 'Pat- after issue, mid at the expiration of that term, oneI,■ ist.l l of the holdings may be acquired fiom .be Federal Government by purchase for the .--uni of one dollar per acre. Mrs Bedinyield udir ■-.< after thirty -our years as as I've m:.muter of her properties, and is i'dii .id'-x'd one of the, most compel in I agri■uiiubsts and live stock raiser- in Alberta, rihe came to the province in the early eighth;.', and was the first whit? woman to settle in ..ha now tk.-B ing own of llr.h River, flow often the Prince will visit his ranch is itncc: tain. He did say hs would come as •ate:; :he could, taut stay as Jong ns pis.-iil.'s.