State Buys 5960 Acres Of Teviotdale Station

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29784, 29 March 1962, Page 16

State Buys 5960 Acres Of Teviotdale Station

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, March 28.

The Government is to buy 5960 acres of Teviotdale station in North Canterbury, the Minister of Lands (Mr Gerard) said tonight.

This is being done in accordance with the Government’s policy of co-operating with the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board in tackling the worst infested areas.

The purchase by the Government leaves 3566 acres of the station, which in the 1850’s covered 25,000 acres of the coastal range between the Waipara river and Slip creek from the sea to the Omihi valley.

Ag reement has been I reached with the trustees of the G. D. Greenwood Estate for the purchase of the Teviotdale land. “As Teviotdale is situated near the site in the Waipara riverbed where the first infestation of nassella was discovered, the area purchased has a long history of nassella infestation and presents a problem beyond the economic capacity of a private owner to tackle, as there is only a limited area of arable land available." Mr Gerard said An extensive scheme would be carried out by "kill spraying" with dalapon, to be followed by oversowing as a first step in the control programme. Mr Gerard said Dalapon should be applied not later than January or early February, so the programme would prevent as far as possible the dispersal of seed next season.

“It is hoped that this menace can be brought under full control and the land re-

stored to full productive capacity for closer settlement," Mr Gerard said.

The block bought is bounded by the sea, the Waipara river and the Mount Cass road. Yesterday the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Christchurch (Mr G. J. Watt) said that the name Tiromoana —“view of the Ocean”—had been proposed for it Trustee’s Comment The G. D. Greenwood Estate is administered by trustees, Mr H. D Greenwood and Mr F. S. Wilding The farm is operated by Mr Greenwood’s son, Mr G. D Greenwood. Mr H. D. Greenwood said last evening that the dissociation of a large part of the estate was no occasion for celebration, but the national viewpoint on the eradication of nassella had to be realised. It was part of a national policy to take over land on which eradication was considered beyond the capacity of the private owner. The remaining land is arable and Mr Greenwood said that farming operations there would be changed from grazing to agriculture. A portion of the sheep flock yet to be determined will also be bought by the Crown at a valuation being made today. The Waipara area was the first in which the tussock was identified in New Zealand "To my knowledge, nassella has been on trie property for 50 years,” said Mr Greenwood. “I doubt if it has been there longer. Die tussock first appeared in the Waipara riverbed at the junction of the Orr.ihs river.” Earlier Purchases

Earlier this year, the Government purchased 9200 acres of North Canterbury farmland infested by nassella The Lands and Survey Department immediately began spraying 1000 acres of the land assigned to its management.

Contractors are discing other areas.

The sum of £lOO.OOO was voted for the purchase of triese infested properties in the year ending tins month But toe outlay for the eradication of the tussock, which is expected to result in profitable reclamation within a few years could be much greater. In a reoort presented to the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board by a subcommittee in August. 1960. Teviotdale was described as a special case because of its size and the degree of infestation.

It estimated that the prime cost of the necessary rehabilitation works would be £250.000 which, at that time, would have had to be shared by the landowner and the board.

About half the property was described in the report as arable land. Of this, 1854 acres were classified as heavily infested and 2268 acres as lightly or moderately affected.

Of the 4935 acres of nonarable country, 2703 acres were then heavily infested and 1499 acres were lightly or moderately covered by the tussock. Seven other properties in the area, from which purchases have already been made, were also seriously affected. * Occupied in 1850

Teviotdale was first occupied in 1850 by Robert Waitt who came to New Zealand from Scotland in the 184 C’s By the end of the decade he ran 12,000 sheep there. After his death it was let briefly to John Tinline. of Rakaia, but it was soon sold to Mr Greenwood’s grandfather, Mr George Greenwood, a partner in the Motunau station. He died in England soon after he purchase. Teviotdale was operated by a manager until Mr G. D. Greenwood took charge in 1878 It became famous for having one of Canterbury’s oldest Corriedale stud flocks and was rated as one of the best runs in the province.