IN DRY RIVER SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 287, 28 August 1908, Page 3

IN DRY RIVER SETTLEMENT.

A.TALK ON FARM OPERATIONS. TJnliko Tawaha, the Dry River Settlement, near Martinborough, cannot by any means bo called a 'failures (says our travelling correspon-, dent). This is an estate which was offered to, and accepted by, the Government, and not, as Tawah.v, compulsorily taken. Tho price at which Dry l River :,was-purchased (the property of tho 'late Jacob; Joseph) was such as enabled tho land., to be leased at living rcn.tals, and, what-.is also an important factor, in reasonably-sized areas. I was over tho greater portion "".of the estato recently, and was agreeably surprised to see the class of dwellings which tho lessees have erected. They show ;thatjOn , the whole a good stamp of men have beenisettled on the A co-operative cheeso -factory, has been built not far from the old During tho past abnormal-dry. season, the seven.;or eight, suppliers turned out between fifty and sixty tons, for* which a satisfactory/price was ob-. tained. The factory'is very complete, and reflects great credit on all'concerned. In connection with,this venture,\it may not be out of place to record' tho. splendid assistance which some of the largo landed proprietors gave, by way of a, guarantee .for the necessary funds tp put'up the buildings, thus making" the way. more easy for tho'. settlers who were to reap tho benefit. It would, of course, be invidious-.to. mention names, but "jey are well known, and highly respected, in the district. In spite of the very dry summer, tho settlers told,me they were satisfied with their operations. \ , On the Dry Eivor I met .several farmers whom I had known in other districts, and all said they were pleased; with what'they had already accomplished, and witlnfuture prospects. A considerable area is \being broken up, which will be planted, some with oats, others with rape 'and' turnips. \one onterprising- young bachelor, living in swept ; solitude, must bo congratulated on the \extreine neatness and cleanness of his cottage.. .But he says: "It is very little more troub]o to have'things clean and tidy, and the, satis-; faction is worth it." ' .He , has-.about 35Q acres, and, said he intended to have' it alb ploughed in time,, and laid down in English grasses, as most 'of this property has gono back to the native grasses and trefoil. I do not know that.l have .ever before seen such solid masses of tho latter as existed in one paddock on another section, in which tho farmer.said.overy blade of. grass seemed to have died out'. It is a. solid caipet of. trefoil. A very old settler in.tho,district told me that in spite, of'all that the newcomers may do, danthonia will again take possession, and they cannot stop it.