TIMARU TO RANGITATA.

Temuka Leader, 28 February 1880, Page 2

TIMARU TO RANGITATA.

OEARI. Leaving Peel Forest and its lovely scenery, we descend from the top of the high terra e to the riverbed, where a good road has been formed all tli; vay to the •radio bridge. Sir J. Cracroft Wilson’s station, on the south side of the river, puts us in mind of the olden times, when the tri-weeiciy coacn brought her load of travellers from the Ashburton, where they

all cl slept soundly on tlie floor of the Commercial room, or the top of the table the night before, for bed rooms in those days were a luxury rarely met with, and many a conflict took place between the lodgers and the rata for the little grog-flavored bits of cupboards, which served as bed rooms. Arrived at the cutting, delicate ladies had to take their seats in the ill' furnished ferry boats to cross the tnrhule t stream, with. their horses towed alongside, tumbling .upon each other in trying for first place near the boat. The sight of the noble banks of the Rangita*a at the place of landing, was worth all the roughing. A great v olume of water must have scooped out the valley of the Rangitata, at a period so remote we cannot name it. All along the banks on the south side is one sheet of stone surface, with the tus. sock struggling to find its way to the light. This part of the plains would not pay to improve.

The Rangitata Bridge is one of the best in Canterbury. It is supported by iron cylinders, about five feet in diameter, and filled with concrete. These cylinders are sunk deep into the shingle, and the interim cleared of the same, to admit of the concrete being placed at the very bottom. There is thus a security for permanency, which nothing could excel. The whole structure of the bridge is well and subslan. tially built, but the usefulness of the bridge is much lessened for want of the lengthening, which is now soon to be pro. ceeded with. A few miles further on is the railway bridge. These bridges give us a proof of the fallacies of even eminent engineers. Mr Doyno stated that it was impracticable to build a bridge on any part of the Rangitata other than the site of the present traffic one. Notwithstanding this confident opinion from one who laid claim to knowing his business, Mr E. G Wright hesitated not to undertake the railway bridge. This is only one of the many mistakes of engineers, who do not know tho country, its rivers, or coast. On the Rangitata Island are some very good farms. Mr Grant has a largo block of medium land, and farms it well. Mr ton also owns some GOO acres. Tho crops this season on both these farms show what the land can do Several other small farms also produce good crops. Messrs Wright, Logan and others possess land here. There is a school, Mr Beechy being master’. Near the railway line, on tho south hank, is built a good hotel, of two storeys, presenting a good front to the east, and possessing several large and well furnished rooms Mr H. Holloway is tho proprietor, and seems to be doing a good business, but an advantage to him, ns well as to the settlers in tho Scotshurn and Mount Peel would be the piivilege of being booked at this station for Christchurch or Timani by the express trains. On tho south bank of the Rangitata rve earne across several good farms. Mr D Taylor has 250 acres, and a creek of excellent water ; Mr Fitzgerald, 240 acres ; Mr Austin, 500 acres ; Mr Canuivan, 120 acres ; Mr Edgar, 181 acres ; Mr Badham, about 521 acres, mostly good land. There are others on the high land, very worthless, with largo patches of dry, shingly land, and some land out on the plains would bo a gift to farm for nothing. For several miles between the Rangitata and the Orari nothing is to be seen but tussock. From the mouth of the Rangitata southwards tho land is of superior quality. Mr A. McDonald has ssme 7,000 acres, mostly prime land,.from the beach inwards for several miles. This is pars of what was originally Mr McDon. aid’s sheep run, when the whole island block, as well as the mainland, \vasa sheep walk. Notwithstanding the difficulties, many of the settlers had to contend with, in the shape of two dry seasons, the improvement of the district is very marked. There is besides the school and a postoffice on the island a schoolroom on the South Rangitata. Mr George Barclay is teacher, and tho average attendance is about twenty. The school is a wooden building well built and plastered inside, and is well furnished with every necessary, good desks and numerous maps. From an examination of some of the work, it is evident that the tutor devotes his whole attention to duties ; not only in writing are tho children making progress, but some good maps have been completed by them, which would do credit to any school of longer standing. The teacher’s house is neat and commodious, and stands on a portion (5 acres) of tho school reserve. The Board evidently have made provision for increase of population, both in the school roern and the teacher’s house. The former is capable of comfortably accommodating over 50 children, while the latter has six rooms and outhouses. The grounds are well fenced, and a belt planted all round. At Mr Cana van’s there is a post office for the district. Leaving the Eangitata, a ride of from five to six miles brings us to the Orari Station (late Mr Win. McDonald). We are sorry to say this is the only part of tho district we have been describing which has made little progress for the lost few years. Tho run now consists of on’y 6000 acres free* hold and 7000 leasehold, the latter lying between the station and tho Rangitata River, most light shingly land and river bed. A considerable portion of the freehold is of average quality, witii patches of very poor shingly land. The buildings, garden, etc. contrast unfavorable with ther stations—there arc signe of want of

life and energy. This run, like the Rak a ‘ puka and others, has been hashed up by the freeholders who have settled down p.lj over them. The run now only pastures 12,000 sheep, chiefly romny marsh. The

old land mark—tlife Orari ac omm’odation house on the soutMbank of the Orari —is now in a most dila«lated*atate, a portion being inhabited. -Mnew a handsome brick InnldingiF-wus recently erected by Mr T. Wadswoitn,’which contains over twenty rooms. This hotel has frequently changed hands since itsy erecting i five years ago. Tiio present' proprietor, Mr Hugh Brosnahan is doing a gcpftf'ijnsiness and coniemplates several improvements. This hotel is very conveniently situated for railway passengers who may be wait” ing for the passing trains, A coach leaves for Geraldine and Woodbury throe times a day, returning to meet the trains on their arrival. The business going on at the station is not largo, the graiu traffic not having yet set in. In what is termed the Orari district there are many old and well cultivated farms. The first and nearest the station is that of Mr Ensor’s, originally purchased from the Crown by MrStranks 20 years ago,and consists of two hundrec acres of very fair land. Mr Slranks, who also leased tho Orari Hotel, was one of the early settlers, and was often spoken of for his kindness and hospitality to travellers. Mr Stranks removed to the Crown Hotel,Temuka, where he shortly nftewards died in the pidmo of his life. Mrs Stranks, afterwards Mrs Arenas, while on a visit to her friends also died, Hie farm is now worked by Mr Ensor, a most enterprising gentleman,who also has erected a boiling down establishment, and exports largely tallow to England. Next to Mr Ensor’s is the farm of another old se»tler, Mr Griffiths, who took up 100 acres of land shortiy after, and added to it as time wont on. For many years Mr Griffiths was known as a hard working, sober, and industrious individual. The homestead is now buried with trees, but some excellent grass paddocks attract tho atteution. A little further on wo come upon tbe home farm of tho Barker Estate, This estate, originally purchased by tho late Doctor Barker, consisted of over 3000 acres of most excellent land,althongh most of ifr was thou swamp, a little over a year ago tho estate was divided into lots and sold, Mr Richard Barker, the eldest son of the late Dr Barker purchas - ing tho homestead, and with it most o. the cream of the land, which consists o f from ten to twelve hundred acres, on which was originally built the cottage which presently lies buried in the midst of a rapidly growing plantation. The lawn is beautified by a gloiious creek running all round m the most treacherous mannerSome very handsome foreign forest trees ornament tho grounds, but tho owner of the block seems to have an eye more to the useful than tiie ornamental, and reminds us of the old Scotsman who went twice Home from Canterbury to the Old Country for a wife, but returned with a brood mare instead.

When questioned as to why he did not bring out a wife, ha said ho fancied the mare, and as his moderate abilities would not permit of Iris h oking after both, ho took the mare first, as he thought the other might wait for another visit, or some thing as good might turn up. This way of reasoning, it appears, is not confined to Scotchmen, for a whole group of bachelors have settled down m the Orari district,who seem to be neither fish, flesh, nor any nea r relation [to warm- blooded animals, they are poor hands at laying out flower-plots, or grounds for lawn tennis. The owner of this farm, however, has an eye to business and has been most successful in sheep farming, wisely choosing at the first a class of sheep most suitable for this land A Inrgo part of the farm is of first-class quality, and some excellent crops are to bo seen upon it, although the owner goes in more for sheep-farming than cropping In the Orari district the Scotchmen, as they are termed,seem to grow belter than anywhere in South Canterbury. On the high ' ways they arc fit for broom handles Turn . ing a corner northwards, the road leads to Mr William Stewards block of 500 acres The principal portion of this farm was originally bought from the Crown by Messrs Guthrie Bros, who during the flax mania erected a mill, and lost money by the transaction. The mill stands as a testimony against their judgment in choosing this industry as their brood maro Mr Stewart, the present owner, purchased the farm from Messrs Guthrie, and has since added to it. A new two-storey house is just completed, which when a lot of undergrowth is cleared away, and the lawn laid out will make a very pretty place. A considerable portion of the land was originally flax and swampy ; a considerable improvement is yearly going on ; compar. ing this distritt, with its numerous beautiful springs, with the parched plains between the Orari and Rangitata, we must come to the conclusion that an acre is worth five for agricultural purposes Mr Stewart had a name for possessing a herd of well bred cattle, but ho seems to have lost it, or they are, like a candle ueder a bushel, not be seen, as wo only saw a very few good specimens The want of a good market discourages the breeding of good cattle This is to be regretted, as the fine symmetry of the cattle which used to be on Mr Stewart’s him was a treat to look upon Ihe many roads that are formed in

the Orarx district and the adoption of concrete for bridge works is in our opinion a wise course for the Temuka Road Board to adopt Mr Bisset’a is the next farm, situated on tho south hank of the Orari a mile or so nearer the sea The extent of acreage we could not learn The land is headed by a neat cottage near the river but high enough to be sefo from floods On our road towards Temuka we came upon another farm named theStumps,because we presume this part of the country was once a forest. Large stumps are met with almost everywhere, and the the sides of the drains look like a timberfacing on each side of the road This farm consists of about 800 acres, a good part of which was purchased by the late Mr Dunn, who died at a ripe age, industrious and persevering He acquired the farm by a dogged determination to succeed. Such harrishi -s had to be endured in the early days of settlement as the new chum would never think of, and it would be impossible to describe Mr Dunn and family were amply rewarded as tho sequel proves, Mrs Dunn decided to let part of her farm, now leased by Mr Sealey Some excellent sheep are seen on the farm, Mr Sealy judging that if it will not do to breed good stock it will not do to breed bad stock.

Mrs Dunn has built a ver}' tidy little cottage on a section adjoining tho Farm* and laid out the grounds very tastefully. Some rare specimens geraniums and other beautiful flowers are to be seen on the little mounds. The next and last farm under our notice is Tripple Stream,named thus from tho many creeks which are at times three in one and one in three. This farm, consisting of nearly 2000 acres, was first purchased by Mr Wm Gosling over 15 years ago, and afterwards sold to Mr Gregg of Ashburton at, we believe, something like LI 2an acre. Mr Gosling laid out a large amount of money in improvements, and re-built most of the homestead. In the groat flood of 1868 the Orari came down upon this farm ia great force, carryirg fences, bridges and houses, making a clean sweep all over it Some very heavy crops have been takan off this farm, but the land is better adapted for grazing It is surprising the amount of stock Mr Gregg pastures, but the breed of cattle would be dimcult to define, as all sorts can be detected in tho herds, except tho polled angus,and possibly this may bo introduced to complete tho list Grazing here, with judicious management must pay, and Mr Gregg was lucky in hia bargain Only in one instance do we see this land excelled for grazing purposes Some very heavy crops of wheat and oats are to be seen,but a dry season would suit better for grain growing on tins block Next Thursday we will finish up our aarrativo with an account of Lower Orari and Milford district