LAND BOUGHT BY GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23087, 1 August 1940, Page 6

LAND BOUGHT BY GOVERNMENT

—— PART OF CHETNOLE ESTATE WELL-KNOWN WAIMATE PROPERTY [From Our Own Reporter.] WAIMATE, July 31. One of the largest land deals in business history at Waimate, was transacted recently, with the purchase by the Government of a substantial part of the well-known Chetnole Estate. The price is believed to be about £3O an acre. The properly comprises some 1030 acres, of which the Government has purchased 750 acres. The transaction Was negotiated by Dalgety and Company, Ltd., Waimate. the vendors being Chetnole, Ltd. The Chetnole property has an interesting history. Many years before the subdivision of the well-known Walkakahi Estate, which took place at the close of last century, Chetnole Was being broken In from the rough and farmed. Mr Melhuist purchased the estate from the Government, and raised and fattened cattle. Improvements in the form of an extensive tile-draining system were carried out by Mr Melhuist, who later leased the property to Mr Brown for a period. At a later date sheep as well as cattle were bred on the estate by Messrs Fleming and Rogerson, who entered into a 14-year lease about 1885, and established a fine Ayrshire herd. Mr James Breen, the next lessee, took over about 1898, his sons carrying on after his death until 1912, when the late Mr H. Ruddenklau bought the property. Under his ownership more extensive improvements were carried out, principally extensive draining, fencing, and the erection of up-to-date buildings. On his death the property passed to his son, Mr J. G. Ruddenklau. who formed a company, Chetnole, Ltd., to farm the estate. In recent times Chetnole gained the distinction of being one of the largest wheat-growing areas in the province, but more lately a change-over was made to sheep. Long before Chetnole. Ltd., was formed, however, the property was considered to be one of the most outstanding in size, methods o f fanning, and organisation in South Canterbury and North Otago.