A DRIVE THROUGH TUHIKARAMEA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3078, 7 April 1892, Page 3

A DRIVE THROUGH TUHIKARAMEA.

(by our travkllinq ookkespxdent). When quiet steady-going settlers like Messrs Lang and Carter send in exhibits of fruit, iind pull off champion prizes at tho Horticultural Show, it is only natural to expect that the newspaper man will bo around. It is in fact, one of the penalties of greatness. On a pleasant afternoon quite recently, your wandering sc7-ibfi found himself en route for Tuhikaramea, intent upon making a personal examination Of the famous orchards whose fortunate owners have lately become possessed of handsome clocks, umbrella stands, bags of manure, etc. One of the first objects to attract tbe eye upon entering the district is the new house now being erected by Mr Livingston in place of the old homestead, which was. destroyed by fire. This settler is also ploughing a long strip of land for grass. A short distance further on 1 found Mr Norman just finishing the ■working of a nice piece of new land, which is also intended for grass. Although well into the seventies, few young men can give Mr Norman many points, when it comes to a question of hard work, and like most of the old colonists he is a staunch believer in Bishop Selwyn's adage, " He that is well served, serves himself." From this conies a short drive along a good road, on either side of which lie great stretches of unimproved land, that seems to be silently calling for men and money; certainly not for more taxation-—brings us to Mr Lang's. This gentleman, like all true bachelors, was away from home. I may just remark as a timely warnto others, that it is generally understood among the initiated, to be almost useless calling upon a bachelor between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. He might bo in, certainly, say if the weather was bad, or he had broken his log, but the chances otherwise would be exceedingly remote, and my experience on the occasion under notice fully bears this out. Neither of the fruitgrowing bachelors were at home, and that is tho principal thing. In entering Mr, F. W. Lang's well kept plantation, the most noticeable characteristic was tho splendid appearance of the fruit trees, which are larger aud more healthylooking than any I have yet seen, and the immense quantity of ripe apples lying on the gronnd under them. In this comparatively small orchard, there must have been fully a ton of apples on the ground. Apples in every stage, from the lovely fresh fruit just fallen, to others far advanced in decay, there they were. Talk about planting orchards and canning the fruit; here was the fruit, but where are the cans ? We are told that apples are cheap in Ainericf, but I should say not more so than they are just now in Tuhikaramea. The writer keeps an orchard, and vividly recalls tho horror with which he first contemplated the large number of nearly a dozen apples lying upon the ground with the hens busy at them, but this appeared very small potatoes when contrasted with tho horticultural display under Mr Lang's trees; yet a large quantity arc being stored. All tho better keeping kinds are packed into deep bins, to bo brought out during the winter months and sent to Auckland when fruit of all kinds— particularly apples—sell well, and, I am told, that a considerable quantity of cider is being made—an estimable beverage—which I respectfully trust the owner will weaken with whisky before offering to his friends. I may digress just to mention that I have a particular " down " upon cidei:. During iny wanderings I have hud occasion to taste a good many samples, j and the more often I taste, the deeper —so to speak—tho " down" becomes. I know that I am touching upon dangerous ground. Even the proprietor of this journal, I understand, makes cider, though what unkindness his friends have ever done to him I am sure I don't know. It is also stated that, owing to the rapid increase of apples and the difficulty of otherwise disposing of them, there is every probability that cider will become the national beverage. With regard to this, I can only say, dear reader, that I Lope not. The growth of the peach trees was also something remarkable. Those have borne fair crops this season, and will probgbly become one of the best paying fruits. Tho reader will ask, What about tho moth ? Yes, it is here, and has, probably, something to do with the fallen apples. And now the soil. This is rather heavy, yet over-lying a substratum of sand; in fact, something of the same nature as the Whatawhata flats, but not so tenacious near the surface. A visit to Mr Lang's orchard i.s at any time interesting aud instructive. Hero can be seen what good cultivation upon suitable soil will do, and such grand trees are well worthy to be the producers of champion fruit. Following the; district road, the Tuhikaramea school is soon reached. This is under tho charge of Miss Walters, who has a little flock of some twenty children to train up. Tho Education Act, like many other things, is not considered to be quite perfect, but I should think that few can pass the little country schools that are dotted about without feeling somewhat proud of a national system which enables education to bo sent into those out-of-the-way places. When, as Mr Lnko has suggested, the plan of paying teachers by classification, and not by the roll of attendance, is brought into force, the small country schools — wliero tho one teacher is often the

only one Hie children over have—will lie more acceptable 'o the best men niiil women in the service, instead of being, as now, too often regarded as merely stepping stones ro the larger sun! morn lucrative city schools. But T must move on. Before leaving here 1 may mention that the fine river (firm, known as Gliisson's, for so long leased to the Messrs McMikeu, is nuee more tonnnted by its owner, Mr John Glasson, who lias both cattle and sheep now upon it. In passing Messrs Reid's and Viclter's pioperties, signs of vigorous farming are. apparent. Tho land is level, and easily worked, and being of a light nature, should be eminently adapted for sheep. Considerable stretches of turlvipß are to be seen on both sides of tho road, but in some instances the late dry weather has affected them unfavourably. Potato digging is now becoming goneral, and fair crops are the rule. Thrashing had not commenced, but before these lines appear in print, the hum of Mr Ilutchinsoii's steam thrasher will be hoiird through the still morning air. Upon reaching Mr Carter's, that gentlemen —true to tho traditions was out. This orchard is of much greater extent than Mr Lang's, comprising several .'icres of sandy soil, but it bears— like another I know of—unmistakable evidences of neglect. That a large amount of labour and attention has formerly been bestowed upon it, is undoubted, for there are a very great number of the choicest trees, and that they do well in this soil is proved by the fruit produced. But this fine collection of trees deserves better care than they have received for some time ; and in saying this, I am only echoing Mr Carter's own opinion. There can be very little doubt, that the uncertain, sometimes disastrous, state of the fruit trade, has had much to do with the neglect with which this, and many other orchards, are treated. If the market for fruit was steady, even though low, there would be some encouragement to expend time and money, but as it is, what between inseet pests and then almost giving the fruit away, under a pretence of sale, is becoming rather a losing game. Under right conditions an orchard of the class and extent of Mr Carter's should keep him and—l hud almost written—his family also. Here as elsewhere, the moth was present, but evidently in small numbers for very few apples were under the trees. In wishing Mr Carter and his orchard adieu, I may remark that profit or no profit he will have to devote more attention to it in future, or ho will live to see the Horticultural clocks going in some other direction; and that before very long. In returning by the main road which, by the way, is now a credit to the district, perhaps I should say to the county, I passed the Messrs McMikens , fine farm. Here the turnips looked remarkably well. Mr Hadfield had also a nice field of these roots, which showed up fresh and green on the hills in the distance.