FLOCK HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume 137, Issue CXI, 10 June 1926, Page 10

FLOCK HOUSE

TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS.

At the last meeting of the trustees of the New Zealand Sheep Owners' Asknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund it was decided to appoint Captain F. H. Billington, of Napier, as principal, and Mr. J. H. Mitchell, of Balclutha, as farm manager of Flock House Station. Captain Billington has had a distinguished agricultural and military career, says the "Manawatu Standard."

The son of a Cheshire farmer, he was trained at the Cheshire Agricultural College, Leeds University, and West of Scotland Dairy Institute, and obtained tho following qualifications: Cheshire Agricultural College diploma and special certificate in practical agriculture; British national diploma of agriculture; British national diploma of dairying; West of Scotland senior diploma in dairying; honours certificate in agriculture and science, London; certificate of the Royal Horticultural Society of England. He subsequently served for eight years as instructor of the Irish Department of Agriculture, where he was a most successful teacher and made his mark as a sound practical agriculturist. During this period he visited Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and Belgium to study farming methods in these countries. In 1908 he obtained leave from the Irish Department of Agriculture to secure experience in the Argentine on a sheep and cattle ranch, and as manager of a 1600-aere dairy farm. Being in Britain at the outbreak of war lie went to France with the Irish Horse, and was one of the "Old Contemptibles'' in the " historic retreat from Mons. He subsequently became company commander in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and served continuously throughout the war in France, Salonika, and Palestine. At tho conclusion of the war he was specially selected for and given entire supervision of the experimental work carried out on practical lines by the Olympia Agricultural Company, farming some 20,000 acres for Lord Manton in various parts of England. On the death of Lord Manton in 1922 and the disposal of the estates, Captain Billington came to Now Zealand, and has since farmed on his own account in Hawkes Bay. Mr. J. H. Mitchell was trained on the New Zealand and Australian Land Co.'s Clydevale Estate, of which his father was manager for many years, and obtained a wide experience in tho management of stock and in agriculture. In 1912 he went out to Patagonia, Argentine, as overseer to one of th : largest sheep farming companies in tho world. At the outbreak of war ho went to England and joined up as a gunner in the Field Artillery, getting his discharge in 1918 as a lieutenant. Since returning to New Zealand and to date Mr. Mitchell has farmed successfully on his own account the homestead ' block of -the old Clydevale Estate. The appointment of these two gentlemen by the trustees of Flock House Estate will give a great impetus to the good work carried on by that institution, and will ensure to the trainees sound practical and theoretical training combined with firm and just discipline. __