FARMING IN THE RIVBR PLATE COUNTRY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 112, 25 July 1885, Page 7

FARMING IN THE RIVBR PLATE COUNTRY.

The Lonilon correspondent of th« Auckland Star writes as follows under date, Loiiilon May 30th :—: — Captain Baldwin, of Dnnedin, who accompanied Sir John Hail on his mission of inquiry and investigation to the River Plate, passed through London last weak on his way to Germany to rejoin his family. I hopod to have enjoyed a long talk with him about the Plate country, but owincy to an unfortunate accident, we didn't meet till late on the afternoon of his departure, and he was then two pressed for time to be able to do more than give me a hurried outlino of their experiences and opinions. Sir J. Halls tour seems to have be<»n simply a pleasure jaunt. H> did not stay long in the country, and principally visited " show" placos. Captain Baldwin, on the other hand, made an exhaustive enquiry into the possibilities of the various provinces as sheep country. A te- S'r John's departure he undertook a fornii lal>le tour on his own account, penetrating even to Santiago and returning through the soutli-weßt dis'ricts of Buenos Ayres lit has, I could see, collected an enormous amount of data that will deeply interest New ZenUnders. To do more than run over the leading features was, with the short time at our disposal, impossible. Capt. Baldwin will, however, be back again in London in a fortnight, and then I hope to go into the subject more fully with him. Meanwile, the following brief sumnary from some almost undecipherable notes I pencilled on the back of an envelope must suffice. Captain Baldwin arrived on the Plate, from Rio Janiero, in March, and there met Sir John H.iII. They first of all visited some of the principal show estancias on the River Uruguay and and Banda Orientali — such as Salto, Delieius (Wilson's Eetancia), anl Taylors Estancia. The two gentlemen were, needless to say, received with great hospitality, ami made much of everywhere. The Bunda Orientali is a far better cattle than sheep country, the grass being too hard for shvep. Aftespending several days very pleasantly in this district, the travellers retuined to Buenos Ay res, an-1 went on to Rosario, up th • Paruna River, visiting Mr Kemmis's horse breeding establishment, which (as I daresay many of your rea lers mar have heard ) is one of the great "show" places of South America After t iis Sir John an 1 Capt. Baldwin parted company, the form ji* m ikin * for Europe, anl the latter goirnj on to M nlossa t<» see the S>uth Anonoan Exhibition, and subsequently crossing inio C tili (Santiago). On his way back Captain Baldwin passed through the South- WVs»t District of Buenos Ayres, knowu a? The First Sheep F.trmeis' Cimp, some of thfinest Itnd in the world. It comprises a block about luO mile? by 150 miles in extent, and carries between 25,000 io 30,000 sheep to the lcagae(G,6uo acres) or, in other words. A sheep to an acre. Tin's lan! fetches £20,000 a league easily. The most interesting visit Captain Baldwin p »id in South America was, without doubt, to Mr D ivid Shennan, an ex- New Zealand colonist, and a brother of Mi Watson Shennan, of Puteloi. Mr Shennan s the great man oF his province. He owns two of the finest estancias in the country, one of them (Negreti) being a famous show place. The house alone cost £10,000. Captain Baldwin speaks Li glowing terms of the stock and management at Negreti. The estancia consists of 25,000 acres of splendid grazing lanl, carrying 30,000 cross- bred sheep, and 10,000 head of pure to three-quarter bred cnttle,besides 2,000 mares and well bred Clydesdale entires. The annual sale of pure-bred and surplus stock alone yield some £20,000. Adjoining Negreti is Correlias, another estancia of Mr Shennans, consisting of 70,000 acres, most of it quite as good land as Negreti, or (in other words) worth 50s an aero. Capta n Baldwin also visited Cur. a aalan, an immense estancia belonging to a Mr Casey, which is managed by Mr Brett, nephew of Col. Brett, of Canterbury. This covers no less than 700,000 acres of splendid sheep country. Capt. Baldwin considers South America effera" extraordinary advantages to youths brought up on an Australian or N.Z. s'lecp station who possess a little capital. Excellent land can be bought far out for £800 a league (6,600 seres), and about the same sum (£800) will stock a league fairly. Two of Sir E. Stafford's sons an there and proving amazingly fortunate, though comparatively recently I started. One of them bought 3 leagues ! (19,800 acres) and paid £2,400 only. With about £5000 capital a young man can do well. I understand Sir John Hall formed much the same conclusion with regard to the advantages offered by South America to young sheep- farmers with a little capital as Captain Baldwin. They differ however on one important subject. Sir John Hall thinks that in course of time the River Plate estancias will be able to place as fine frozen mutton on the London market as New Zealand. Captain Baldwin says, "Never! They can't grow turnips. The sheep will get too fat." In any case there is no immediate danger to apprehend, At present, indeed, the River Pla,te shippers of frozen mutton are rather aghast at the

resuU. of their fjpfleulution. At cording t.o report in Buouoa Avivs, ihoy have •Iroppeil £'2%0M.