GREENFIELD STATION AND THE NEW BLOCK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 343, 1 April 1874, Page 3

GREENFIELD STATION AND THE NEW BLOCK.

(By an Occasional Rambler.) On Monday last I had some business which took me by Breakneck and Glencoe towards Greenfield Station ; and on descending the hill from Glencoe, I shall never forget the ■ight which was presented to my vision — field after field of cut grain came into view, and the more I gazed upon them the more <losely seemed the stooks to be ranged together. I could not believe the earth could produce such an increase, especially as I had been told these spurs were too bleak to grow either potatoes or corn. On reaching the foot of the spurs, my doubts were set at rest by coming upon a steam thresher in full swing threshing wheat. As these machines were new to me, I rannot tell whether this one was good, bad, or indifferent; but this much I can say, evry thing was going on smoothly, from the carter driving in the sheaves to the pewing up of the bags. The process appeared to my iuexperience very complete. It was now 12 o'clock, and the engine stopped for dinner,- when I was kindly asked to share with them, which invitation I frankly accepted, and, to be honest, I was prepared to do a enaek. While doing justice to the good things, I asked a question now and then about the crops, the quality and quantity to the acre. One stated there would be 50 bushels, another 60 bushels to the acre, which rather suprised me ; not on account of the quantity, but on account of people holding out that farming don't pay. I know nothing of the price ; but presuming that Mr. Smith, the owner of Greenfield estate, gets the present quotations, it must pay him handsomely. I think the production will teetify to the quality of the. soil, as well as to the good farming which Mr. Smith is famed for. I certainly learned more that dinner hour about wheat than I ever heard of before ; and while they spoke admiringly of their wheat, I quietly thought to myself that their mutton was better, for its fine flavor has not gone from my mouth yet. The next day I pursued my homeword route by Tuapeka Mouth, ■where I met with, a few acquaintances. There is nothing very exciting there, the saw mill being tho only Bupport of the place now, as the majority of the diggers have preferred other employment whilst tho wages are good. After leaving the Mouth I came home by Ihe ecrubby run, for the purpose of seeing the new block which will soon be open on the deferred payment system. I overtook such a string of bullock teams as I have not seen for many years. They were all laden with wheat. One calling out, " Way, Dimple," another, " Come' on. Lively," aud so on. It put me in mind of the wool season on Darling Downes. I asked them where they got the wheat. "At Smith's," was their reply ; and •where were they going with it ? "To Harrawav and Robertsonis mill," said they. Was U ere much of it ? " There would be IGOOO bushels of splendid wheat." I endeavored to get their price for delivery, but they preferred keeping tbj»t to themselves, one admitting that it paid them very fair, and they couldn't grumble. Leaving them I was joined by a friend who knew this land, and kindly pointed out its boundaries. Depending upon my friend's opinion more than my own, he told me there was as good land in the block *j one could wish ; all that was required was good farmers, and in a few years there would be some fine farms on that spot, and I am deceived if he did not spot one for himself. It is my opinion that the whole of that run would be taken up were it open for selection. The sun now getting low, we pushed on to Lawrence, and in the evening related my journey, and in describing the sight and crops at Greenfield, the quantity to the acre, &c, I was told that I was far behind with my information, as they were now ior the last two weeks getting the finest bread from the various bakers in Lawrence, produced from this, wheat^that they had got for eighteen months.' After such fruits of the soil, both in quantity and quality, what can the Government or the runholder say to the growing demand of " land for the people." Let the people and the press persevere in the good cause of agitating for the opening of land for settlement and they' must accomplish their object.

The writer of "Passing Notes" in the *' Otago Witness " says :— " The sale of the Wakitip runs is perhaps one of the most remarkable features in, the history of land management that has turned up for many a long day. The moral is a plain one, even though the price of wool is possibly exceptionally high, If the runs throughout Otago could only be. thrown open in areas not too large for local competition, it would do nearly as much for the country as the extended nale under the deferred payment. There are literalty thousands of men who only want fcueh aineans of spending their capital as a small run affords, Iv'ew comers may, and do want their three to live hundred acres for a permanent home, but old Colonials are not so ready now to invest in this sort of purchase, there are successful storanen, miners who want to settle, et hoc genus omne, who will gladly welcome the charms of ten or fifteen per cent, upon their capital and labour combined, such as a small run will *fford. Judging by the stipulations as to the power reserved to the holders of miner's rights to run cattle, Government has been properly careful" to conserve the interest of thoie who live near the runs, and I doubt whether anything they have done will more fe4oQnd t° their credit than their last move.