A NORTH TARANAKI FARM.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1916, Page 4

A NORTH TARANAKI FARM.

A SKETCH. (By •'•'Tahi Hereni"). To visit a farm, be genially entertained, and have the whole working of the place thoroughly explained is a very interesting experience, but when the visitor wishes to describe what was, shown to him and to express to others the impression on himself that was made by all he saw it is often a harder task than would at first sight appear. At any rate, such is the experience of the writer in respect to Air. YV. B. Fusaell's farm at Waiongona. Here is a farm of some 200 acres of mixed flat and hill 011 the eastern bank of the Waiongona stream; a farm—but not only a farm, a home, too, provided with most of the conveniences that could be expected even in a town residence. To start, a stream running through the property has been harnessed for use by a substantial dam, and the water so controlled is made to work a wheel, the nucleus of a whole system of utility and convenience on the iiomestead. By the power thus made use of, electric light and power are carried throughout the farmstead. Electric light in the dwelling, milking-shed (a gem in itself, concrete floored, wliite-was'hed and absolutely clean) and the power-house itself are supplied from the dynamo worked by the wheel. But light is not the only use to which the elusive element is put. Power is taken from it for shearing and washing machines, wringers and eiruelar saw, so that the labor of ordinary home requirements is reduced to a minimum, and at the same time cleanliness in the supply of power is assured. The home is almost ideally situated on rising ground and commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country; at the same time it is a noticeable landmark and must often catch the attention of travellers by train, for it is specialy visible from the railway line up the Wsiiongona valley as a neat and prosperous homestead. Mr. Fussell, however, has not confined his efforts to the making of his home home-like. In the thirty years that he has held the property he has brought it into practical use, practically from its wild state. It is subdivided into many paddocks, mostly with live fences. Many of the gullies have been planted with shelter trees of such kinds that when thinning becomes advisable they will yield useful fencing timber, firewood, or even what our American cousins would call lumber, a matter well worth any settler's consideration when tree-plant-ing- ( Another most important item has not been forgotten —water, the absolutely indispensable element for health and cleanliness. Concrete reservoirs calculated to hold some SOOO gallons have lately been constructed on the south side oE the dwelling at such a level that by gravitation water can be supplied to any desired part of the house, liually, It may be said that not only is this a most convenient home and a practically profitable farm, but that persons nvlio wish to benefit by the actual experience of others may without rebufl get a very good and useful lesson from the owner, who is always willing to give the actual facts of his own experience.