THE HOBSON COUNTY.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 177, 23 December 1892, Page 2

THE HOBSON COUNTY.

REJDHILL. ( Continued.) Mr Dickson bas hundreds of shelter trees planted around the Nursery within which is a good stock of many kinds of trees and plants, fruit, flowering, herbal, and ornamental. Peaches, nectarines, lemons, &c , are planted and looking healthy well up the side of the hill. We saw a good show of roses in fine bloom, apple trees in quantity, rhubarb of enormous size, strawberries of a new gigantic species, as well as many young trees of different varieties, all looking clean and healthy. We noticed a fine row of black wattles of only two years growth but of nearly fifteen feet in height. Mr Dickson, however, is not of the same opinion as Mr M. Harding and does not favour the planting of the hill tops with this tree. He finds that they throw out very long roots and would require considerable attention to make them profitable. The trees require seven years’ growth before the bark becomes of any value, and during their growth would require a lot of pruning. When stripped the tree dies and the plantation would not renew itself profitably without a good deal of attention. What Mr Dickson has accomplished on his new selection in so short a time is enough to disabuse the minds of those who consider that there can be no prosperous settlement in the lauds between the river flats and the coast. As one rides along the road to the coast the aspect is not inviting but more inclined to give one an idea that the whole district is a sandy barren stretch, valueless except for the gum it contains. But let him visit the settlers who have taken up their abode in the neighbourhood with the determination of making homes for themselves and he will see that there are many fertile nooks which when well sheltered are capable of yielding good returns to the cultivator. Although there is an abundance of sand about there are yet many other varieties of earth. In the hollows and swamps there is to be found some of the best of soil; in Mr Dickson’s selection we saw some good clay in one place, and in another some good vegetable loam of several feet in thickness. Also a swamp thickly strewn with old kauri trees and which when cleared and drained (not a difficult matter) would make a most fertile spot. A gumdigger would never make such a place profitable, but a gutndigging settler would g) ivith heart into such a swamp and devo'e considerable time and money in clearing it, feeling that if the gum in it did not pay bint, the cultivation of the land would. The district is well supplied with water and each settler cm show a beautiful spring of clear water continually flowing from some cave or gully. We congratulate Messrs Dickson and Son on the amount of work they have accomplished and we trust that they may become more satisfied with their position as time rolls on. Mr Dickson is not alone on the hills for next to him Mr McCormick is in possession of some 310 acres, pat tly fenced and planted and with a dwelling erected thereon, Mr McCormick is a blacksmith by trade and intends, we are told, to do a bit in that way as well as in cultivating his laud The next section belongs to Mr McMahon who has taken up some 210 acres, and built himself a house. The laud is being fenced but only a small portion of it is yoc under cultivation. Mr McMahon has one or two cows and horses on the place and will probably be able to show substantial progress in a few years. Another settlor in this part is Mr M. Saudford who occupies about JOG aores. Mr Snndfaid is one of the oldest residents in j the district and at one time kept the Redhill store. He moved into his present quarters some two or three years ago and is evidently determined to make a home for himself ; bo hfts Ml Jt a comfortable bouse and done a good deal of fencing, He has planted several . shelter trees and has got some ten acres under cultivation. He lias also a few co ws and horses on the place. We were unable to give him a call when in his neighbourhood, 1 Qousequeu tly our notice of hisihomestead isnot ' as complete as we would have liked. These sections are bounded on the north east by the Oturei block of Native laud, and on the . east by the Aratapu swamp which is at ( present lying useless for want of capital. A few hundred pounds spent in the draining of this, large swamj would give the district ( the benefit of some thousands of acres of . rich jand. i