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Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 43, 19 February 1909, Page 3

. Scotch thistles are not -pleasant to get into, yet the Northern Trunk line party had to ride through one thousand acres of them, from end to end, when passing through Mr. G. Riddell's estate on Wednesday. . These thistles, though a nuisance for several seasons, get their strongest the .fourth year, and after that they completely disappear. , Though-a nuisance for the time being, they are not regarded with disfavour by the settlers. The grass and clover covered)-by- these thistles would be fully one or two feet high iii places, and beautifully green. In fact almost : "every portion of land either, in the valley or, mountain side, was covered With verdant pasture, and being in. the. middle .of the summer, too, gave proof of the" effective shelter over Mr. KddeLs .large estate. Mr. Riddell is regarded by some in the know as being one of the richest-men in >New Zealand. Not -Only did he pay £40,000 for bis Omana estate in the-Hobson County, but he possesses .several .other large valuable estates in the Dominion, and has. money also welT invested in other propositions. He is a quiet, unostentatious old country' gentleman, and » great tn ourite with all and sundry, '•- . *'-,:??-?,'. ..,._;