GOVERNMENT PURCHASE OF HIGHFIELD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11546, 31 March 1903, Page 2

GOVERNMENT PURCHASE OF HIGHFIELD.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) The latest acquisition of 32,700 acres by the Government for close settlement, of the estate known as "Highfield," i« about three miles north of the Waiau river and Waiau township, fourteen mike from Culverden, with its past and telegraph office.' It is not very difficult to see that surrounding Waiau there is a group of etatioiis which some day may eupply large freezing works, equal to those at Picton. North of the Waiau, in the group referred to, there ie Glen Wye, Woodbank, St. Helens, Leslie Hills, Lyndon, Highfield, Parnassus, Mendip Hills, Fernihurst, Hawkeswood, and Cheviot. Then south of the Waiau Montrose, Achray, Mount Palm, St. Leonards, Kaiwarra, Culverden estate, Balmoral, Tekoa, and • other estates which produce large annual drafts of lambs. When the late Mr E. J. Lee, in December, 1851, started from Bedborough's run, in Neleon province, to find a track to the Port Cooper Plains (Canterbury), he was agreeably surprised with tho then appearance of the Amuri County, as it compared with the then appearance of the Canterbury Plains. In all respects it has remained bo conserved by the runholders till the time follows on for close settlement, on a par with adjacent Canterbury runs; coming down to the confines of Ulenmark and Horeley Downs, and, Ijke them, it would be reasonable to estimate that the high Amuri would carry crops very well indeed, and that etretehes" of land similar toi Waikari Valley and Horsley Downe, where found in Amuri, should give in favourable harvests as good a yield- of wheat and oats ac in Canterbury, -with some advantages, perhaps) of earlier harvest into the bargain. For merino, half and crossbred sheep, it) comparee fully, since the date of Mr Lee's visit, and in 1855 the late- Mr F. A. Weld's inspection to find a direct route between •Nelson amd Canterbury, seems to have quite convinced these pioneers, who formed the decided opinion that there was a nearly equal future for Amuri with Neleon at one side, or Canterbury on the other. Today it is seen to be nearer the attainment of that equality. For pastoral purposes, which was the main business of both the gentlemen named. Tine whole route, said Mr Weld, "afforded abundance of feed for cattle sheep, or 'horses, is. generally speaking, level, and, although unquestionably a work of expense and magnitude , , no insurmountable barrier exists to the ultimate formation of a dray road from Nelson to Canterbury, which will .be practicable in most seasons of the year."' At the interval of forty-eight years the question of a railway survey follows that of the pioneers for a simple stock track.

Highfieldf to return, is near Mount Highfield, 1498 feet above sea level. The estate lies between the Waiau river and Mendip Hills. Lyndon settlement, 4196 acres, taken tlie year before last, is to the westward af Highfield, beyond which we find Leslie Hills, St. Helens and Hanmer Plains. On the extreme north of Highfield there is Mount Cookeon, 2827 feet. From the adjoining hille the eetate is well supplied with unfailing stream*. Timber is available from the Lottery and Wandle forests, principally birch. The new settlement has the sea and Amuri bluffs some miles to the eastward. The estate comprised 57,700 acres, as held by Messrs H. Wharton and Co., and of this 16,000 acres has been sold to Messrs F. and J. Northcote, and 9000 acres retained by Mr Henry Wharton. The Government purchase is therefore about 32,700 acres. It was an early selection, and for long remained in the hands of the late Mr J. S. Caverhill, being then purchased (about twenty-seven years ago) by Mr Henry Wharton, who had given up a property at Kaikoum, and who had commenced life as a New Zealand runholder at Starborough about forty years ago. Whilst Mr Caverhill did much of the earlier clearing and fencing, Mr Wharton has spent a large sum in improving the run and the stock, the whole of which is disposed of except the homestead and 700 acres, which goes into the possession of Mr Northcote. Mr McClure and a party of Government surveyors began last week to peg and map the allotments, and the auctioneers to-day commence at Culverden to dispose the cattle stock, the sheep to be sold on the property. The sale ranks next to the great Cheviot dispersal of March. 1893. when 109,481 «heep realised £42,308 6.-.I 3d (equal to 7s BJd per head), and 150 cattle brought £649 7s 6d (equal to £4 6ti 7d per head). In its proportions of area Highfield has been carrying more sheep acd cattle than Cheviot, and yesterday Mcasre Pyne and Co., associated with Dulgety and Co., disposed at Culverden yards 680 cattle at prices in advance of these obtained at Cheviot.

Leaving Christchurch and the many bye stations in a fog, by the time Amberley was ieached the eun had began to shine, and the weather at Culverden almost indicated that it will be fine throughout tha sale The train passengers included a number of the buvera and auctioneers, among whom were Messrs , F. Archer, F. Courage* junr., J. Stewart. W. Buss, J. W. Millton, S. Robertson, A. O. Bennetts, T. 0. Hay, D. Rutherford, W. Macfarlane, S. Gilks, E. D. Auvergne. C. P. Hujtonin. Leicester 3fateon, J. Ferguson. R. W. Oluipman. S. Gardiner, A. S. ForxJ, C. Newton, H. McDonald, A. Macfarlane, H. McLean, B. A. Auvergne, C. P.irnham, R. W. Morton, A. L. Joseph, T. Sefton, S. Sparks. T. Phillips. Beadle, S. Coleman. E. Clarkson, J. C. Clarkeon, — Clark, F. Northcote. Jas. Douglas, C. Dampier Crossley, A. Cameron, J. Cotmsel, Colin Stewart, H. W. Wait, — Starky, A. W. Birch, C. Wynn-Williams, A. W. Rutherford, M.H.R., D. D. Macfarlane, f. Chapman, W. Brodson, J. W. Dawson, W. H. Burton, A. liaiehman, A. Smith, J. Evam, G. Gardiner, W. T, Robdneon, W. Thomson, J.'McMorrin, H. Ltam, 2f.

McDonald, R. Latter, G. Clothier, M. Sullivan. . ' THE SALE. The cattle eale at Culverden yards trae opened by Mr Pyne, who said he "WOuW not waste time and read the condition*. All knew the Highfield «<ta.te had been sold to tho Government and the Messrs Kortlicote. There wan no better stock anywhere than the fat. and store cattle in the yards. Buyers might have fat- stock grazed at 1« per head, and stores a£ 6d. In offering tlu> first iot of ten fat steers they were started at £10, and cold at £11. The next lota of fate were 7 heed £10 15s. 10 do £8 15s, 10 do £8 lOe, 9 do £8, 10 do £7 15s, 7 do £7 10s, 12 do £7, 32 do £6 7s 6d, 10 do £9 10s, and 10 at £8 17s 6d, 5 large bullocks £12 2s 6d, 8 heifers £8 15s, 8 do £8 ss, 11 do £7 10s, 11 do £7, 10 do £5 15s, 10 do £5 12e 6d, 10 do £5 7s 6d, 12 do £5 10s, 3 fat cows £7 10s, Ido £7. For two, three, mi four-yea > r-014 steers 154 brought £6 4s 6d, 93 do £3.15s 6d, 57 do £3 7e, 30 do £4 lie, 29 do £3, 26 do £3 Is, ill mixed yearlings £2 13s, 6 dairy cows £6, 1 springer £6 17s 6d, cow with calf £6 2s 6d. The averages were: For two and three-year-old eteers £6 4s 6d, do heifero £3 7e to £4 Us, eighteen months eattie £3 Is to £3 10s 6d, yearlings £2 13s. The Chrktcuurch Meat Company were the buyers of the highest prioed bullock at £12 2s 6d. The sale waa a good one for the time of the year, and taking into account the dry weather. After the cattle sale buyers went oa to Highfield and Waiau for the sheep sale tomorrow. The auctioneers liave to dispose of 48,286 sheep at the homestead, and also a lot of good borsee and working gear of a iirst-class sheep station, where a fair extent of arable fanning has been introduced.