TIMARA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 16

TIMARA.

A PICTURESQUE MARLBOROUGH HOMESTEAD. "Timara," or to give tho name the Maori interpretation, "Cabbajo Tree Field," is the picturesque home of Mr. Redwood Gonlter, one of tho best-known gct'tlers in Marlborough. The property has derived its name from the tact that in tho vicinity of the homestead is one of the finest natural plantations of cabbage trees to to found in the province. "Timara" adjoins, and originally formed part of, tho Hmvkcsbury Estate, to tho south of the Wairau Valley. It consists of fifteen hundred acres of flat's and low downs, and its verdant fields have a beautiful sunny aspect.. The sleek cattle on the hillside and the woll-eon-ditioned lambs which gambol in tho fields bear witness to tho fatness ol' tho land. Tho fertile soil yields four tons of oatsheaf chnfi to the acre, and grows a perfect' specimen of barley. Cropping is carried on extensively on the property, tho nature of the roil making it moro valuable for agricultural than pastoral purposes. The area ploughed each year is about SOO acres, one-half being laid down in cerculs. Each year peas arc grown in considerable quantify for a prominent firm of fofdsmen. I'or a number of years stud English Leicesters were bred on Timara wit'li pronounced success, lint fouio lit.tlo time ajo the whole flock was sold to Mr. K. P. Mowatt. Two thousand lambs and

wethers are, however, fattened each year 011 the property. Beautiful Surroundings. Tho'entrance to Timara is through a plantation of watt'o trees. This grove is about a quarter of a mile in length, aud immediately the visitor enters it at this period of the year tho senses are delighted with tho glorious ■ appearance and exquisite fragrance -of the ' golden blossom. In all the surroundings, there is a noto of "Welcome to Timara." With tho exception of "Ilillesden," a station higher up tho valley, there is no more

extensively planted property in Marlborough. About one mile from tho homestead is an artificial lake seven acres in extent. This is filled from tho Oniaka River which has been harnessed to supply power for driving (he machinery of a flnxmill which has been erected on the property. IV also provides tho homestead with an abundance of the purest water for household purposes, and in dry weather irrigates some forty acres or so of fields. These lands havo been laid out for irrigation on what is known as the "catchwater" principle, the work having been planned by the owner of tho property who, before taking up farming pursuits,

was in tho New Zealand Survey Department for twelve years and attained the raul: of District Survtyor before resiauing. Tho lake referred to is formed in a Ushaped bend of the hills, and it would seem almost as though Nature had fashioned tho spot for its present usa. Tho placid waters aro fully protected from the wind, .a belt of trees spanning the gap between tho two spurs of the hill; Tho only ripplo which disturbs the glittering surface of tho lako is that caused by tho diving of tho wild grov duck, or the occasional leaping of a trout. Whoro tho depth of water begins to recede, weeping willows havo been planted in thrco cres-ccnt-slmped rows. Theso rows ore about a chain , apart, and thero is 6ufiicieut depth of water for a boat to ply boU'SSft thorn. Ornamental shrubs of all

kinds have been planted on the surrounding hills, the varied hues ot Ihe folin;jo completing mch a picture as Nature onlj can paint. It is intended that this delightful Kjvot shall be Iho pile of a mod' cm residence at Bruno luturo timo. Flax Growing. A large raw which loads from t'lic reservoir to the mil!, carries a How of water great enough to develop 35 homo puwer—quite sutlicient lo drive the wholt of the machinery of the mill. As u protection against thorlage of water in dry weather, auxiliary power is provided b> a modern gas-producing plant, whiea drives n 52 horse power engine. The sup. ply of flax for the mill is drawn from ■a radium of fifteen mile?. An experiment has been made with a flax plantation fillceu acres of waste swamp laud near Timara Ifotue.-ilead beini; utilised for lbs purpose. Excellent results have been obtained. The young flux was planted six feel' apart each way, nud rapidly spread over 111* whole surface of the ground. Tho verdant foliage now waves at a height of ten foct or more. ■ The best evidence of the high quality of the product of Tiiuara Mill is the grade which it secures in Wellington. Of the last fifty tons milled, not less than one-third was grided "superior," two-thirds "flue," and only two bales as low as "good, fair, average." This is possibly a record for New Zealand—it certainly is a result which any miller might fee! proud to attain. Hut the mill lias even a greater distinction 1 o its credit:, for, at the Christehurch Exhibition, it was awarded tho gold

medal and special award for tho best specimen of homp produced in New Zealand. Iu addition to picturesque "Timara," Mr. Goulter owns tho' "Tyntosfield" run of ten thousand acres, about nine miles distant. This is principally good sheep country, but there are ■ about' two thousand acres of flats and easy downs which aro ploughabtc. Public Services. Mr. Goulter is the son of a sterling old picneer of tho Wairau, tho late Mr. Cyrus Goulter, and the esteem in which In is held is evidenced by the many ami important public positions to which lis has been elected. Ho has always taken a keen interest in local politics, and any movement having for its object the welfare of tho community or ihe progress of tho district, has, always had Ilia loyal support. Among t'lio publio positions which ho holds at the: present time is thrft of. chairman Marlboroijgh County Council, an honour which lias been conferred upon him for seven successive years. Ho is also chairman of tho Wairau : Road Board, president of tho Blenheim Club, president of tho Marlborough Defence League (which he was mainly instrumental in forming), and vice-chairman of the Marlborough Laud and Railway League. In addition to tho many public offices which he Alls, further demands aro mado upon his time in tho administration of tho affairs of the estate of tho late Thomas Carter. This la without exception tho largest landed estato in tho Marlborough province, and Mr. Goulter is one of three trustees. With such a multiplicity of outside responsibilities upon him and with so little lima at his disposal, it is rather to bo wondered at that he has managed his pri-. vato affairs so successfully. If there is ono thing more than another iu which In has materially assisted in tho advancement of the town and district it is in ccnneetion with tho extension of tho South Island Main Trunk railway line. 110 took the initiative in the formationof the Marlborough Land and Railway League, and was honoured with the chairmanship of that institution for hvelvo years in succession. It was through thu efforts of tho league, with Mr. Goulter at its head, that the Flaxbourne and Stnrbcrough Estates wore taken over by the Government and cut up'for close sctllement, thus facilitating the extension of tho railway line.