SOMETHING LIKE A LANDLORD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1138, 12 February 1884, Page 1

SOMETHING LIKE A LANDLORD.

A good story is told of the late Duke of Portland, which shows the care and attention some large landlords give to their tenants, if nothing else. It appears that the Duke found that one of his tenants, a small farmer, was falling year after year into arrears of rent. The Duke rode to the farm, saw that it was deteriorating, and that the man, who was really an experienced and industrious farmer, was unable to manage it through poverty. In fact all that was on the farm was not enough to pay the arrears, “John,” says the Duke, as the farmer came to meet him as he rode up to the house, “ I want to look over a little,” As they went along, “Really,” said he, “ everything is in a bad way. This wont do. 1 I see that you are quite under it, All your crop and stock wont pay the rent in arreai. I will tell you what I must do. I must take the farm into my own hands. You look after it for me, and I will pay you your wages.” Of course there was no saying nay, and the poor man bowed assent. Presently there came a reinforcement of stock, loads of manure at the proper time, seed, and wood from the plantations for repairing gates and buildings. The man exerted himself, and seemed really quite relieved from a load of care by the change. Crops and stock flourished, fences and outbuildings were put in good repair. In two or three rent days it was seen by the Steward’s books that the farm was paying its way. The Duke on his next visit, said—“ Well, John I think the farm does very well now. We will change again. You shall be tenant again, and as you now have your head fairly above water, I hope yon will bo able to keep it tin re.” The Duke then rode off at Id's usual rapid rate. The man stood inastonislunennr, but a happy follow he was, when, on applying to the steward, he found that he was actually re entered as tenant to the farm just as it stood in in its restored condition. The Duke, however, was, it is very’ likely, the happier man of the two.