A VISIT TO GREENHILL.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 484, 7 September 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

A VISIT TO GREENHILL.

[BY OUR TRAVELLING COERKSrONDKN'T.] j Gkttjxo somewhat into the sere and j yellow leaf, and also troubled at times j with that dreadful tiredness that is be- j lieved to be born with somo people, your '•Travelling Correspondent" has almost forfeited his claim to the title, and stands \ in somo danger of having it changed to i " Walker." However, au invitation from the popular proprietor of Green hill I is not an everyday occurrence, and no excuse is needed in asking our readers to accompany us on the trip, particularly as sve can promise thorn an introduction i to some beautiful and highly-bred cele- j brities, whose pedigrees, by the way, will stand a closer inspection than will those of more important personages I occupying a higher place in the darwinian scale. August is scarcely the | time of year to travel in Waikato, even j in its best parts, and the country j extending from the Waipa River | through Patcrangi to Te Awamutn bore in its whitened pastures the signs' of prolonged frosc. The turnips also were about finished, and ploughs were to be seen turning over the turnip land preparatory to sowing in grass or grain. It is worthy of mention that the best turnips seen during the trip were upon a portion of the Rukuhia Estate and Mr Meadway's farm, both in the neighbourhood of Heather's Greek, these crops giving undoubted proof that the sandy soil of this extensive alluvial flat, which is generally regarded as very poor land, is well adapted for turnip growing, Mr Gardner, the manager of Rukuhia, having several thousand of heavy, wellwoolel Bheep running on his turnips. The Paterangi and Ngaroto districts show, to the passer-by, many signs of permanent improvement during the past couple of years, and this is only what should be with such fertile, easily-worked land. The Greenhill Estate extends from Ngaroto into Te Awamutu, the granary being conveniently situated near the first-named railway station, and from the residence, which stands above | Te Awamutu, one of the most charm- j ing views in Waikato can be obtained. Meeting with a hearty welcome from | Mr W. Taylor and his big sons, we arc j soon inspecting the points of some handsome Clydesdale mares. First among them is Christina McCormick, the heroine of maDy show rings, and the sheet anchor of the Greenhill stud, most of the best stock having come from her. Christina is in great heart, but it is doubtful whether she is in foal. Her mates in the yard were Lass O'Gowrie, a well-proportioned brown by Renfrew Jock, and Gowrie Maid her daughter by General Fleming, the trio forming a group of grand mares. In the next yard were three Clydesdales worthy of special notice on account of their quality, and also as new-comers, having been purchased at the Hon. Mr Holmes'.sale. The first is Silvia, a brown mare rising three years, and now in foal to an imported horse. Silvia is a stamp of mare rarely seen, standing 16.3. with immense bone and substauce yet of very free action. Mr Baxter, who secured her for Mr Taylor at IGOgs. considers Silvia a great bargain. The next newcomer is Mayflower 2nd, a brown got by Crown Prince, a marc of great quality and substance. The third is Blythsomc got by Crown Prince, a bay with good legs and feet, and likely to prove a useful brood mare. The acquisition of such important additions to the Greenhill stud shows that Mr Taylor is determined to keep in the first rank of Clydesdale breeders. In the adjoining yards were groups of Clydesdale fillies rising two and three years old. J'hese are mostly by Royal Conqueror, a few of the younger ones being by Better Times, and in these massive and beautifully proportioned young draughts the clearest profit is given of the ability of the above stallions to produce the best of stock if matched with suitable mares. The brood mares of which there are a large number altogether with nearly all the young stock, (save the best of the seasons foals) are kept at Wroenhill, the young ones running out on the turnips with the cattle, and on this feed they seem to keep in good fettle. Leaving the horses for a time we turn to the Shorthorns, and as a preliminary look up our old friend the Duke of Clyiievale, who is always to be found in a small paddock adjoining the main road, and in view of the house. Mr Taylor remarked that the latter was the chief consideration, but it may also be that he is not unmindful, being fully up-to-date iu business matters, of the Duke's value as »n advertisement, and no better could there be than this magnificent roan bull, who though in working condition only is always a grand specimen of the Shorthorn. It is not every day that one sees a bull with an unbroken record in the show ring and with eight championships to his credit. Owing to increasing years and weight it is doubtful whether the Duke will ever be put into the show riDg again, but there is no question as to the presence in full numbers of his sons and daughters. Of the latter four very choice heifers have been picked out for exhibition at the forthcoming showsthree roans and a red—only eight and ten months old, but well-grown and handsome youngsters, with coats that you could bury your hand in, and like nearly all the young stock, were ex-

tremely quiet to handle, showing no tear even with strangers. Among the young bulls to be brought out this season are two roans and a white, about 10 months old. The roans are veritable chips off the old block, being very like the Duke in build, and will certainly take a lot of beating in the show ring. The white was a better grown and lengthy beast, but lacked the symmetry of his mates. The pick of the young bulls, however, is Lord Rothsay, an importation from Turanaki, being bred by Mr A. A. Fantham, of Hawera. This bull is now 20 months old, colour dark roan and white, and is certaiuly a beautiful animal, being conspicuous for length, evcDness of top and bottom lines, finished off with a nice head. Li choosing such a bull to mate with the Duke of Clydcvale heifers Mr Taylor has shown a wise discrimination, and the result -will be that even a better class of young bulls will be placed on the market at the annual sales. Waikato cattlevieu will have an opportunity of seeing Lord Rothsay at Claudelands in a few weeks. Leaving the homestead, we rode over to see the young bulls ; these (23 altogether) were running on young grass and soft turnips, the succulent feed being just the thing to send them ahead, without unduly pampering or forcing them. The colours were roan and red, only two whites in the lot, all got by the Duke of Clydevale, und many of them showing his points in a marked degree. After seeing the sire and then the herd of grand Shorthorn cows, many of which are noted prize-takers, it is not difficult to understand the popularity of the Greenhill bulls, whose pre-potenoy in getting well-shaped, thriving stock is now almost a bye-word. The shades of evening closing in our visit to Lochiel had to be held over until the following day, a contingency by no means unpleasant with such a hospitable host and hostess.

Next morning, after a stroll through the turnip paddocks, where a number of well-finished bullocks are idling their time, waiting for that rise in price, which is so long coming, and just glancing at the two milking stations on the estate, where 00 and 40 cows respectively are milked on the share system for the local creamery, we are soon on the road to Lochiel, a name that is inseparably associated with the memory of one of the best men that ever trod the soil of Waikato. But though " the King is dead, long live the King," and Lochiel is still the home of the Clydesdale, and in Mr Win. Taylor a fitting successor has been found to carry it on. Here Mr Jas. Baxter is in sole command, Lhc conditiou and health of all the horses showing the faithful manner in which his responsible duties are carried out. Royal Conqueror, the handsome, upstanding senior of the stud, is first led out, his condition being just right to commence the season, which promises to be an exceptionally heavy oDe. The Conqueror stock have become very popular in Waikato, being generally full of spirit and with fine free action, combined with the best of bone and hair. The next stallion to take our attention is Better Times, by Hard Times, a bay of massive proportions, but scarcely the inches in height of his stable mate. This horse has furnished well since his arrival in Waikato, some years ago, aud will bear picking to pieces better than many a more showy animal. His girth and chest are something wonderful, and having good legs and feet, he should be well adapted for mating with mares inclined to slackness or leggyness. Better Times.reminds one of old Prince Arthur, and like that famous aire, he is likely to get good serviceable stock out of almost anything. The last of the Lochiel Clydesdales, is, Lord Elderslie, another importation from the South, and also by Hard Times. The new comer is a brown colt, rising three years, of great substance and bone, and .promises to fill into a fine horse, being —like his half-brother—'of the nuggetty, solid sort. The dark colour is popular with breeders, and having particularly good feet and hair, Lord Elderslie should prove a valuable addition to Waikato stallions. The solitary representative of the thoroughbred at Lochiel is in the person of an old friend, Lochinvar, just now in the best of health and spirits. Of the latter Lochinvar seems to have taken in a large supply at some time or other, for his motto seems to be go, go, at all seasons, and if his stock are like him they should be rare ones for a long journey. As a thoroughbred Loehinvar is of a stamp seldom met with, combining height with lots of bone. There is nothing weedy about him, and his stock, now rising three years, promise well.

Before leaving Lochiel we glance in a<s the Clydesdale foals, comfortably housed in large loose-boxes, where they are liberally fed on pulped roots, chaff, steamed barley and oats. The size and condition of these foals is the best proof of the wisdom of giving them extra good treatment during the first season. Mr Baxter considers' that the lir3t winter settles the future of the horse, and that corn feeding is necessary to build up a sound constitution and give the required bone and hair, and certainly the colts now at Lochiel are an object lesson in this respect. It may be gathered from the foregoing notes that Mr Taylor is fast getting together, in spite of frequent sales, a large number of highly bred stock, and it naturally follows that a clearing sale will have to be held every few years, if only to make room for fresh blood. Such

a sale would be an important event in Clydesdale and Shorthorn circles, and would afford Waikato stock-breeders an opportunity of securing animals that in the ordinary way are almost unobtainable. Mr Taylor is not the man to do things by halves, whether in buying or selling, and a sale of stock at Greenhill would be worth going a long way to see.