RANGITATA TO TIMARU.

Temuka Leader, Issue 202, 22 November 1879, Page 2

RANGITATA TO TIMARU.

WAITOHI

Nothing interests the newly-arrived European more than the Maori names of our towns, rivers, and native bushes. There is a charm about them which holds the wanderer somi-bound, while he tries to sped out such names as Arowhenua, Kaiapoi, Tokomairiro, Waitak', Tengawai, Waimate, or even Waitohi. The latter place comprises a strip of land of a pearliko form. The eastern end, or head of ihe pear, is formed by a road which leads to the Kakahu on the right, ami a road which leads towards the Upihi River on left, thus dividing the Arowhenua Station lauds, both diverging from the centre road, which leads from tho Temuka River right down the centre of the p : ar. On every hand mads lead to the right and to the left, cutting the figure into sections at right angles, down lo the western or sm dl end of the pear. The whole length would be about 14 nr 15 miles, the broadest part measuring about eight miles. Three main roads intersect the block from E (o W., independent of the roads which traverse the downs. Leaving the river Temuka, which skirts the Temuka township, the traveller wends his way westward. On the right, forming a northern boundary, is to be seen the Arowhenua Downs, a ridge of hills rising from 300 to 500 feet above the level of the sea. On the left, as a southern boundary, is the Opihi river, which glides gently past. The beholder on the terrace, with pencil in hand, can here sketch one of the grandest views that the tastes of the landscape painter could desire. Far away to the south lies Timaru with its clear shining stalks and turrets, its noiseless windmill, the rolling waves at its feet and the shipping |plunging at times. To use the words of an ancient writer—“ Dos ending down to the depths, appearing again upon the mountain t"p, all the billows at times appearing to pass over them.” Nearer is the Washdyke preserved meat works, with its tall chimney stalk, which covers a hive of industry. The Levels Station and Downs with its herds and flocks and beautiful green sward, the Point township with its wiercllike strings of bluegum plantations in the back ground appearing like the B irnmn Woods almost a thing of life. Ten or twelve years ago, nothing was to be seen but the brown tussock every where, and the Arowhenua homestead, to which the Waitohi Flat and Downs belonged. No road, no bridges, no culverts. When the first pioneers planted their feet upon the soil which they felt proud in calling their own, many were the remarks made as to the follj r of the men who could thus bun themselves the world and waste their precious time in such hopeless speculation. Indeed the Very Provincial Government considered settlement here so remote that it had not even provided roads in the survey, considering it only fitting for a permanent sheep walk. Now the whole block is teaming with life. In no part of the Middle Island is there so many small, farms under cultivation as on the Waitohi Flat, and in no part will one find such a mixed population. S retch, English and Irish, German, French and Spanish have each their representative. It would ho very difficult to determine which of the three first have the majority, yet with all this diversity in the matter of nationality, we have not heard a vreid of complaint of one against another. Peace and plenty is their motto ; peace and inoffensiveness is their rule of life. Riding along the centre road-as we have said, westward, the first noticeable landmark is a now two-storey concrete building, on a rising ground to the right, and commanding a view to a great distance. Oji enquiry, we learned that this was the residence of Mrtknbow. This hard-working, industrious settler has a farm of 200 acres freehold, and about 100 acres leasehold. Being a dairy farmer, the greater part of his land is in grass. On the left of the road, however, lie has a magnificent field of wheat, which needs no more moisture, and may he said to be safe from drought now, if it should ever come. The house contains six rooms, and is a square building, rather plain-looking, but will, no doubt, be improved as time wears on. Its milk-white front gives it a very attractive appearance. Next in order, is Mr Whiteman’s farm. Eighty acres are in barley. W. of Mr Wright’s bluegum plantation of some 12 acres, is Mr Whiteman’s home farm of 200 acres, nearly all in ■ crops of oats arid barley. On the left hand is a 1,000 acre block, farmed by Mr Richard Parkerson, who also holds a large block of land on the Arowhenua Downs, to the right. Mr Parkerson has here a paddock of some 170 acres of oats, and 60 acres of oats ; both promise good crops. Entering a cross road, which leads to the Opihi, on the right hand, is a farm of 300 acres, lately belonging io Mr J. Grant, and the farm of Mr Walker, of 260 acres. Both farms are mostly in grass ; indeed both gave evidence of requiring a rest ; too much cropping has born its natural fruit, a bed of sorrel. Passing Mr Walker’s farm a road at right angles with this cross road introduces the traveller to a change for the bettei : clumps of trees presents themselves to view, here and there a neat little patch of pines insignis relieve the eye, and on the west is to be seen a clump of blue gums sheltering the residence of Mr Seaton. We missed the road to this residence and could only,from the appearance of the crops and the heathy state of the land, say Mr Seaton must be an industrious farmer. On the left Mr E. Mitchell has a farm of 280 acres, 80 acres of which is in wheat. The appearance is fair and in no danger as yet from overgrowth. Passing along the road we come upon tho neat little plantation referred to, we then confront a warm - looking tidy residence, almost buried with trees and shrubs of all sores and sizes. The depth of soil turned up on the roadside gives the cause _ of such rich soil as hero presents itself in every direction. A road (scarcely yet formed) which leads from a high terrace to a large river bed pasturage, opened up to us a grand view. The Point Road res : - dcnce of Mr Richard Parkerson, with the large stretch of blue gum plantation ; Parr Brothers mill, atone time in operation. The Arowhenua home station, once the centre of the Arowhenua bush, now all disappeared. At our feet the orchards, avenue and flower plots, so tastefully laid out by the proprietor, Mr Vincent. This residence is most_ picturesque, gentle, sloping downs loading to the liver, with well, sheltered paddocks with all life within them, gloating over their abundance.

The beautiful centre flot fronting the residence (which is a building of twostories in the Gothic stylo of architecture, fronting to ti jo N.E.) is most attractive. We observed many rare plants and flowers of Australian origin, which were Well sheltered by their Californian con.-ins in the background. The angular corners are planted with pines of various sorts, a are also tiio side-walks from the entrance gate. Everything has a healthy look about it, and testifies to the wise advice of the Scotsman to his son to keep ce’y planting. They are growing when we arc sleeping. Nothing, we repeat, adds to the value of property more than plantations, and .nothing helps more to soothe a ruffle mind than a saunter along one of these beautiful retreats. Mr Vincent exhibits good taste in the way he lays out his grounds. Differen. from others, he imitates nature, and does not plant in rows The farm comfits of some 1,400 acres, 200 of which are in crop,partly in barley in the lower river-bed land, which seems most suitable for this cereal. Mr Vincent is occupied more in sheep-farming than in crop-growing. We observed, amongst other machinery, a Hornby gorso-cutter. It would be well for|raany of the farmers in this part of the Flat to put this machine in operation. Tho fences, generally, are not in good order. Leaving Mr Vincent’s, we passed on the left a neat little cottage on the roadside, in the centre of a clump of trees. On enquiry, we found this was the residence of Mr D. Young. Mr Young farms about 270 acres —70 acres in wiieat, 50 in oats, and 30 in barley. The wheat is a heavy crop, and will be in danger of lodging, if much more growing weather should continue. The oats also look well. Mr Young seems to be a painstaking farmer. Everything has a neat appearance, and the land, excepting one paddock, which seems to suffer from over-cropping, is in good order. Mr J. Seaton works a small farm, nearly all of good land. Riding along W., we came upon a lofty building of wood, in the Gothic style of architecture, which we found to be a Wesleyan Church. The Flat has got a church, but has no publichouse. Who will be sorry for that ? It speaks well for the settlers in that part of the district devoting a portion of their earnings to such a good purpose. If a kind Providence has so blessed and prospered them in temporal things, is it too much for them W a build house for his praise. We wish them God speed in this undertaking. Opposite the church we came upon the best crop of barlev in the district full in ear ond rich to abundance ; it belongs to Mr Orr. On the left, near tl:e the 'errace, are some good farms and crops. One, Mr Pearce’s, shows well ; also Mr Huh ns and others, while on the left is Mr Jack’s, Mr Thompson’s, Tiezers, Mr Nixon’s and farther on Mr Baxter’s, Mr Hamilton’s, Mr William’s Mr McCormack’s, and Mr TraTs. We come now to near the point of the pear, or the small end of the Flat. Although this is not the end of the Arowhenua block. Far away in the distance is the Rangatira bush and (he Gully bush, and on the highest of the downs cultivation is going on and some marvellously crops of wheat are to be seen on these downs, showing that the land is as good as it was reported to be when put in the market some 18 mont’s ago when lots of it sold for LI2 an acre and Viewing the S. side of the downs nothing but paddock after paddock of beautiful green appears to view, when? ten, or even rive years ago, nothing but brown tussock could be s-en/fe/ic.s intersect it on ail hands. Mr Marcroit. the far-famod Canterbury sheep-breeder, has some glorious crops of wheat and oak-'. This gentleman far,ns some 800 acres on tho very fop of the Arowhenua Downs. Mr Anderson also farms 300 acres here and has verv promising crops, as are also various other farmers. Along the N. side of the Flat, by the road at the foot of these: downs, and not far distant, is the residence of Mr J. Young. Mr Young, although he has not been over two years resident here, is creeping up tho side of the lull rapidly, and has some 200 acres under crop and looking well. Although those downs have a southern aspect, the crops are further advanced in some instances than any wre have yet seen. On Mr Stevens’farm, for instance, a very rich crop of oats are in ear, and others not fai behinu. Along the road, on nir return journey, on every hand evidence of overcropping is to he seen. It is a prey that men wall be so foolish as to keep on cropping when experience must have taught them that it would not pay expenses. Some farmers used to have an opinion that when land would not grow anything else it will grow grass. It is time this theory exploded. Fallowing will, of course, bring hack the land, but it would bo more profitable to farm on the rotation system. Mr Gentleman, Mr Thompson nnd many others hero about have their farms much in grass, and little crop on the Flat is to be seen. What is in crop, had it been another dry season, would never have covered the ground. About half a mile off is seen the Waitohi school buildings. Mr McMahon is head-master of this school. We understand that the attendance is about 50. The master’s house is well situated, at a good distance from the school, and has a good kitchen garden. Attached to the school is an excellent paddock of some ten acres, iu the V form, and laid down in English grass. It is a great boon to tho master, as he can keep a cow or two and a pony. A library is built near the schoolroom, and has a fairly stocked library. The same evil, however, exists here as in other libraries. Too large a proportion of the books on the shelves are novels. However, our maxim is—- “ Better read trash than nothing.” If it does no • other good, it encourages the habit of reading. ' Tins once acquired, the taste for selection will follow. Near the sclioolhouse dwells Mr Andrew Kirk. We could not learn the extent of his farm, but believe it to be something like 200 acres. Mr Kirk is an easy fanner, indeed ho seems to be one of those who will do no one harm, but if he can do a good action he will do it. His grass paddocks look well, and the crops fair. Passing this cross-road on our homeward voyage, we passed Mr D. Cunningham’s smithy in the corner. It has, doubtless, done good service in its day. Of it the question may be asked, which the farmer pul to a lazy workman, who was very fond of taking shelter under the nearest tree on the least sign of rain—“ What is wrong with the tree, Sandic—is it likely to fall over ? ” Davie’s smithy is in need of the support of some such loafer. Mr Cunningham, like his namesake, Dr Cunningham, is a, true orthodox old Scotch-

linn — quites at home iu singing ‘‘ .luhnny Grey t s Breeks,” or Roiin Tamson’s Smithy. He was not blind to his own interest,and, liketheunjuststeward although from better motives, has built for himself a good refuge from (he storms in the shape of a substantial stone dwelling, there to end bb- days in his adopted land,and in bis own freehold, surrounded by nature in its most beauteous form. Waitohi also possesses a general store. Not many hundred yards E. from Mr Cunningham’s residence is -Mr Liestor’s stove and Post Office. Mr Liester—who is our worthy agent—does a good business, and is a great acquisition to the place is most attentive to business, and most obliging to all and sundry. May a good harvest crown his efforts with success. Trudging homewards admiring the good roads everywhere to be met with, and admiring the activity and watchfulness of the members of the Waitohi Hoad Board, who must have faithfully done their duty, we came upon another proof-of tire prosperity of the settlers. About 200 yards to the left of the road, Stands upon an eminence the res : dence of Mr Samuel Currie. A two-storey buildfng, in the rustic style, built ef Kakahu white stone, testifies to Waitohi Flat having advanced another step in progress. The era of cheap buildings, of perishable materials, is passing away never more to return. Mr Currie must have spent a good deal of money in Ibis building—not less, we should think, than £BOO. It is a house of. six rooms, well-fitted up, and well finished. The view from the residence, eastward and southward, is most interesting ; tire eye can take in at one glance the whole of the Flat and far beyond, while eastward is seen on the left Temuka in the distance, westward the lofty peaks of the westernmost point of the Arowhenua Downs. When the grounds are laid out and planted in front of Mr Currie’s new residence and the entrance drive formed and a good substantial gate put on, the proprietor will have finished a good work, and be entitled to a good rest, if a bachelor can lay claim to such. Possibly when this work is accomplished and the owner surveys the whole as his own, he may then find there is something still wanting, a vacuum in his mind, which must be filled up. Mr Currie also laid out a township, which, no doubt, when better times come, will be sought after. Mr Currie’s farm consists of about 360 acres ; about one half is in crop and other in grass. The crops, especially on the downs, are good, A cross road, leading to the N. brings us to Mr Allen junr. and next to Mr : Allen senr’s farm. We can only repeat the same old story, the crops look inagnificient, and the pastures abundant. A bine gum plantation belonging to Mr Talbot is in a most healthy condition, and will very soon produce a lot of valuable timber. Mr Wm. Wright has here a magnificent paddock of oats on the sloping downs. Turning eastward we pass Mr Braddock’s farm on onr left, with his dwelling amidst the trees on an ominance. The crops are but middling ; but with good weather will pick up | and be safer than perhaps a too heavy crop if a moist season. All along the road on each side snug resid mces, nestled in the bosom of healthy plantations are to be seen. Mr James Wdght and Mr Wm. Wright, Mr James De.utie, Mr Lyons and °Mr Talbot all seem lo go in for extensive plantations ; indeed in most parts miles of bins gums in rows along the road serving tlm place of posts in wire fen (dug are to bo met with. Mr J as. Beatties’ is a tidy, well-kept little farm, presenting beautiful scenery, and good fruit garden. Mr Wright has some excellent wheat crops, very heavy, if well harvested, cannot yield under fifty bushels an acre. Everywhere there is a ! neatness in the fencing in of the plantings and an apparent kindliness in the soil which is wanting in a good part of the Flat. ■ Space will not allow of our going into particulars of many of these farms as wo should have liked The size of the farms varies from 25 acres to 300^acres, but several of the owners, Messrs Wright, Lyons and Talbot in particular have a large amount of farmino- going on in ocher parts or .Canterbury, some at Ashburton, some at Fairlie Creek, and iome upon the high downs and elsewhere. The well-sheltered grass paddocks everywhere to be met with makes us wish better markets could be found. If the freezing process or any other process could be found out for preserving moat for long voyages in a fresh state a great stimulant would be given to the farming interests, who have at present to depend too much on grain crops. Production could be stimulated to any amount irj this district if encouragmcnt were held out. The road we are now ou was provided by the settlers from pure goodwill, as no provision had been made for a road in the survey, and each one -willingly giving up his land, contributing besides to the making of a road, contrasts favorably with those greedy, grasping landowners who demand an exorbitant price for land to make a railway through their own property. Passing along homewards, as the day goes on, we go aside to have a view of what turns out to be Mr John Talbot’s grounds and residence. Here is evidence of work, taste and judgment. Rows of the finest English oaks to be met with in South Canterbury, with the acorns strewed all around, and young oaks springing up by the score from the seeds, thus scattered broadcast. Healthier trees, with their smooth, glossy skin, could not he got. Finises, bluegums, magnacarpuses, cypresses, in snort all sorts of nsef ul and ornamental trees are to be found here. Advancing a little further, we come upon a complete nursery of vonng fruit trees of all sorts. We learned that all the fine, healthy fruit tress in the different orchards were raised from seed,' within the last eight years. Mv Talbot’s homo farm is of about 250 acres, but ho farms largely in many other parts. Near by is one of the best paddocks of wheat to be seen in the whole district. Strong, healthy stalks and broad leaves, already preparing to shoot into ear. A very heavy crop will be reaped from this block, if all goes well. Next to it is a paddock of wheat, which is not so rich, but it will be a fair average crop. In the grass paddocks the richness of the feed is proved by the high condition of the flocks. Mr Talbot has gone in heartily for planting, having between 20 nnd 30 acres planted with blue gum. It may be here stated that Messrs Wright and Mr Lyons have large plantations of the same trees. Such persons arc benefactors to their country, and ought to be encouraged to the utmost. Mr Talbot’s residence is a budding of two stories, fronting on a well laid out lawn. In the background, behind the bouse, is a b irder of weeping willows,.fringing a sheet of water that encircles the grounds connected with the house, and has a very fine effect, besides being

plantation upon plantation meci-» the iv. Any one who set loot on the \\ aitohi-uloca. ton years ago, if he were to do so now would believe ho was in the wrong lie would not believe that this was tne old Arowhenua sheep-walk. Mr Talbot has begun to build with substantial material, an ! in. a few yciV’S" wooden buildings will be at a discount in the Wait oh i district, and as difficult to find as houses of any sort were 10 or 12 years back. The last place that space will allow us to notice is Mr Andrew McCulloch’s farm. This gentleman farms something like -300 acres, but besides this he Ims 500 acres at Fairlie Creek, and a portion elsewhere. The farm is iiscd for dairy purposes, and is consequently under grass. There is however a portion of it in crop,.which promises to yield well. Hub the best feature is a very handsome residence built of wood, placed in front of a clump of trees, and painted white. It looks well in the distance, particularly when it is viewed from the Kakahu Eoad. The grounds are well laid out, and the land good and rich, the pastures abundant, and the fences and roads rood. This farm lying so nicely to the sun makes it a very pleasant home, and the cottage fronting the N.E. makes it most cheerful looking. It is a wise arrangement to choose a situation for a house with a northern aspect, when it can be got Sunshine into bedrooms tends to promote health more than most people think. We must now take our lcaveoft.hr Waitohi Elat with its scores of well cultivated farms,its beautiful homesteads,-its .towering forests of man’s planting, its well farmed roads, and its concrete bridges and culverts. Everywhere there are signs of health and prosperity. Most of the settlers are pioneer settlers of the district, many of them experienced very hard times at the outset, many of .them held on when others gave way, and now that a. kind Providence has smiled upon them who is there that will envy them the success that bi>.s attended their labours? We regret that the little space at our command will not allow us to go farther into particulars. There are many homesteads in our minds eye that we would like to have written about many paddocks. Many flocks and herds that are worth a passing notice, at least, if we have passed over some let it not assumed that it was through no unwillingness on our part that such was done. Next week we willl attempt to explore the Kakahu district, and perhaps Pleasant Yalley.