A LONELY RANCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 93, 13 January 1908, Page 4

A LONELY RANCH.

STOCK FARM *T THE AUCKLAND ISLANDS. AN INTERESTING STORY. frBOK OUR SITCIAT, COEKESrONDENT) Christchurch, January 11. ; The publics know a great deal more aboafi l the Auckland Islands to-day than they did a few : months ago, thanks to tho -thrilling*" • story of the Dundonald castawaysand tho i records of the sub-antarct:6 expedition,. but .v - 1 it has-.probably' missed, general' observation,, remarks tho "Star,"- 'that- the islands havo rbeen and arc being used from tho business - i- point .of view: as a stock farm. l Thoproprier t - 1. tor is Mr. -G. S. Fleming; • otie 'of - 1 the Canterbury-piljjrims, .-and tho 1 owner of-• a large run'in Southland. . His story of the • acquisition, stocking;' ■ and working of' the , -. ■ distant Tandh is- mdisfc- mtoresting: v- rv. . v,-> ■ It is about ten since ho acquired the. : . - lights..of. the Aucklands. vHo wont: to- tho ---> dgeut'g.., oflico, . and :nn accordance - with cus-.>-torn, promised.to giyo an early decision. Tho .- agent assured him;:tliero Wag no- need, for nobody .would jump: his claim: ■ Thero were, . | said he, only - 111 the world;willing: ■- j .! .to.-undertake the project, and tho.oandidito -■ was the only, one in Now Zealand;;; .There» . j being 110 other -means of communication, he t ■ chartered a steamer and shipped two l sand sheep, somo Stores, bnildmg materials, . ;and, other necessaries ;and sot out..,- -Tho. . 'sheep Were, landed ifi first-class condition; but - . • made -a- sdnous 1 • 'inistßtkb; iii camping- •fthem> , v v iv'; .' low.'^--feeding..- gr6uiid--.v■«before .i. driving .thenii tothe plateau '-where' he llieant • themtS'stay.-"' -Thfey' got' fond of- thd feed 'ii ; thero, ■■ and; at last got v too' weak td facci -the'- < hill and -ditd'-by hundreds.- His next -ship--ment'of stock' failed because the steamer-had --' .to turn, back .'through ■ stress . -of-.- 'W-ea'Dher.--'.' - ;"The hand" of Godi": tho"shipping company !• called the-interposition, but Mri ; Flemulg and ■>■. tho jury-:-agreeu that 'mail had been coilt-n- . butorily-;neg]igehtJ and; he' ■ > "damages.' -" 'r j v s - .-,r?,i:-; : .vs'p;L-i- 1 - !•: Mr. Fleming made about half-a-dozen trips ■ ■ ' ! to; the island , >' some' : of, theni plejU'' '': . sant, onough, others .'boisterous .'"'in-s-'tliev es-'r' I '.^; ; ireme/?-:and .durihghis':' visits;:vwhich" took-" •%■■■ place:'.at all;,seasons, f 'explored:', the-*-islands-v-.v.' .thoroughly, covering^a great ! , country. Ho visited tho. locality. iof. tha. .wreck of tho fam6ii3 Goneral Grant,-which, - 'it is 4aid,.rah-into a cave.- None.of the j , survivors . ~wero certaiiij. of- tho ; exact. locality, '.-.and :;. Mi-..;,, Fleminghas ,: .ex- '.. v pressed' the,:,.' bpitiioii. -- that:.; t-lie '. ; cayo ;; ;.- 'idea camo.about- throUgh the >■'< .ail, overhailging. cliff., 56.-faivth6 : ship, jrhichniilst have, Slid back into deep wator, has nob been : . found..-.,:,H0 saw ,\the' riimS .of, the-Survi-, , vors,township;.and travelled Over their,round-;.. about, route itoni I tho ,wrecli'r. Onanflt.-.to the:-: - faihi'ro te-find,the wreck, he:;says>there,can, -.- be very slight.hope : of;finding tlio gold.which. is said to: have been .011 the Gouoral:6raiit. , Tho .principal island, is ,27i.miles;long and;, 15 miles ..broad; and contains-25d;000 acresj and it is skirted with dense: and;tangled bush, while jtlio •plateau-fis.-iairlyj cleafrii'Tho.soil -is good, and tho island is rich iri'iVogetatioUir..! • hotli. in ;quantit-y, a'nd:,vafiet-y. i A little: entci^. : pnso and: labour 'would,,.ho l asys,.: mako <it- ■ suitable for most/kinds of stock.'- v. •: f '-Mk Fleming ■ suggests,that': jtficoiinectioa .'v;,•, with: the depots' established' for. tliei-relief. of', - castaways,' something- might be dono-to maKe them easier of access. i.Wire rope- la'ddets ':-, ;irtight be suspended ovor the cliffs in-various places, and'tracks should be• cut through• ,the denso'bush to elear;'-gi l oUild,vwitlKfiiig6i,— ''posts; ■ Then a very, useful guide-to the .-. pots i would bo secured 'hy' stringnig' a,'wir« . - . .from poles like a telegraph line; only mtre- '• r quent short posts-being)necessary. • 1 ! Mr. Fleming, finding,the expenso-of :charW ;.i teririg a steamer for every trip prohibitive, .bought , one; : and forearnied .liimsolf with-.-sucli..a"nautical education as.'.Would enablo him .'to. do his navigating with completo .- ."confidence; 'biit 'it.,w«S. t '• "• do that, -as la-w. w-'oUld' ltbt'. allow- lnm to ■ sail -his .ov,'ii ,vessel, without! a- -"tickot.." ; . Tho .whdJe'bf .t-he .expeHences of this-"Loi-d ; 'of tho'lsles;'! boiled d6frjn..a«d b'dlaiieed )ip,, indicate a'.lafgo ■percentage'of' h^rfship'^nd; : toil,; and; as'lho. saysL-it Is hoy'pla.cß.'forilhe,;;.'; carpet slipper and ;p.aper .'coliai'; adypiitujer. ;;, • jit is'a land for a .man, with a Strong bibdy . 'and.a : s'oul,;ivith'.ppetry l '.in , it,' i 'and, at ; peao ,7;; with'the .world-rrfdrVa.man who .loVesjstreriv', /•... ousness'.'