FRUITUNDS ORCHARD

Evening Star, Issue 15914, 21 September 1915, Page 7

FRUITUNDS ORCHARD

AT BALD HILL FLAT, CENTRAL ' . OTAGO. ' ' 30,000 TREES PLANTED. i [From Oub Special Cobuesponoext.] ALEXANDRA, September 20. On Saturday a large number of representative citizens, including a number of the fair sex and the Mayor and councillors of Alexandra, together with four of the proprietors, who had motored through from Dunedin, accepted Mr Ewing’s invitation and assembled at the manager’s residence on the property. The occasion for the festivity was the completion of the planting for the year, and as MrIvory later explained, they had planted in rows a matter of 87 miles of fruittrees, and to convey an idea of the labor employed in the pruning alone, he stated ■that it meant a stretch from Milton to Bald JHjJI Flat, and the extent of the undertaking was brought home to those present by this direct way of description.

Mr Ivory had for the occasion provided a cold collation, and presided himself until the Mayor of Alexandra turned up, having been unavoidably detained. The ladies partook of the ■ hospitality of Mrs Symes, who kindly ministered to their comfort, and brought them all down in time to hear the proposal of tlie various itoasts.

After full justice had been don©'to the luncheon the toast of “ The King” was given with musical honors, and the Alayor then, in a particularly happy speech, proposed the toast of “ Fruitlauds,” coupling with it the name of Air E. C. Reynolds (chairman of directors). He remarked that the fruit-growing industry was one which had come to stay—aye, it was to such industries they had to look in the future for the welfare of the district. The mining had had its turn, and had played a big part in building up their past successes, but like all such ephemeral industries it had come- to an end. To-day they stood at the parting of the ways—the. old, from which they had got so much; tlx© new, from which they, expected even more. (Applause.) The land they held in trust for future -generations, and in building up such an undertaking as this men deserved well of their fellows, and it was in recognition of this that the -large and representative gathering had assembled there that day. (Hear, hear.) He congratulated Air Reynolds on behalf of the enterprising men who had undertaken this big work for the grit they had shown, and speaking as an orc-hardist himself lie predicted a big success for the undertaking. Before sitting down he wished also to congratulate Air Ivory on his fine work in connection with the free planting. Air Reynolds (who on rising was greeted with applause) said that it gave him very great pleasure to respond to the toast, as at one time it looked as if -the efforts to promote this big undertaking were likely to be brought to nought; but he, was pleased to say -that the obstacles had one by one been removed, and they now saw in “ Fruit lands ” a property to be proud of, and one which, he felt sure, would _do its fair- share to restore to Alexandra some of its one-time briskness and prosperity. (Applause.) Four years ago the Flat had been held by a small syndicate on options, and they had subdivided the property'and offered the freehold for sale in areas suitable for small fruit farms. Unfortunately the arrangements made for water, which were supposed to he -those upon which this valuable assistant could .be obtained, were at the last moment objected to by the -then Alinister of Alines, and the” sale was stopped by receipt of a wire from the Alinister on the evening of the sale, November 15, 1911. The present proprietors purchased the options from - the small syndicate, and having converted -them into freehold offered the land; but owing to water difficulty again only a small portion was disposed of, it being felt that the price demanded by the Government—viz., iCs to 20s nor acre per annum—fivas excessive by would-be purchasers. In June, 1912, the Alinister of Public Works intimated to the: ATncent Comity Council that- if they desired h© would hand the water ■ over to. them for distribution by a water board to be iormed, but for some reason or other this was not entertained by the council. After innumerable interviews and correspondence with the Public Works Department an agreement was completed in December last, and the company, with the security of the water supply, felt they could proceed to develop the property. Tie desired, on behalf of the owners, to thank the Alinister of Public Works (the Hon. Air Fraser) publicly for the concessions, and his only regret‘was that he (the Alinister) was not able to be personally present with them that day that he might see that his confidence was not misplaced, and the enormous change which had been wrought upon the place. (Loud applause.) It was unfortunate that these delays had stopped them getting to work earlier, as had they been able to start when they first acquired the property some of their produce might have been marketed in the local market or South America this year. However, he invariably found things worked round for the best, and in this case it led to their introduction to Air Ivory, and the estate boro eloquent testimony that day to his ability and resourcefulness. (Applause.) They had contracted with him for the planting of 200 acres, and to-day they were there to celebrate the completion of that work. He trusted it would not be long ere the whole flat was planted, and' helping to make Otago Central what was predicted of it—the garden of New Zealand. (Loud applause.) Water was the one thing needful, and as he stood there talking to them there came to mind the lines of on© of the hymns sung regularly in the churches: “ Which floweth as a river, making life’s desert places bloom and smile.” Well, if there was a desert outside ,of the Sahara six months ago that place was Bald 'Hill Flat- (Laughter.) Today they found it a property to be proud of, and one which, given fair treatment, would, he' was certain, show its wonderful productiveness in the shape of crops of the finest of nil fruits—the apple. They had had the croakers, of course, and disparaging remarks, not wholly disinterested, had been made in the past; but to-day everything was altered. “He who runs may read,” and as in th© past the newsmen or runners had road the news on big signs as they ran, so to-dav those who flew past in fast motors could, without stopping, read the signs, and could carry the message far and wide that hero was a property which, if it did not flow with milk and honey—that always seemed to him to be a ratber sticky proposition (laughter)—it was one which was capable of growing fruit second to nothing in Otago. He had been informed by a professional orchardist only a few weeks ago that he had been shown some of the finest Jonathans and Scarlets he had ever seen in Iris life grown on Bald Hill Flat. (Loud applause.) As to the future, he could not say anything. Some of them were there that day for the first time spying out the promised land, but he had hopes that, after seeing what they had, they would run this as a huge fruit orchard for the mutual benefit of themselves and the district as a whole. (Prolonged applause.) He desired to thank the Alayor and Alexandra citizens for honoring them that day, also Air Ivory (who had provided the function at his own cost), for the opportunity afforded them of meeting those present, and he hoped the’v would welcome them not as intruders,” but as men who, wiith “ Advance Otago ” as their motto, desired to do their "bit” towards making the prosperity of this district and their beloved province. (Loud applause.) He expressed his pleasure at seeing amongst them their old and respected friend Air J. J. Ramsay. (Applause)—sufficiently recovered to be present, and as a man with the interests of the district at heart he asked him to "say a few words.

Mr Ramsay expressed the' pleasure it gave him to participate with his fellows in matters • like this. He congratulated the men who had been called “ boodlers ” on their public spirit. If “ boodlerism ” meant an undertaking; such as they had seen that day, then the more “boodlers” that came their way the better for the district. (Hear, hear.) Whatever he

could do in his small way to assist and encourage legitimate and plucky private enterprise he was out to do.' The Fruitlands Syndicate was a ’benefactor to the district, and he congratulated it and Mr Ivory on their fine work. (Applause.) , Other toasts were “The Ladies” (proposed by Mr Ivory and responded to by Mr Bodkin), “ Tlie Visitors ” (bv Mr Hunter Macandrew, responded to by Mr Marsnn, ex-Mayor of Alexandra), and “ The Press ” (by Mr Bodkin, resnonded to bv Mr Ramsay). The Minister of Public Works (the' Hon. U .Fraser) wired regretting his inability, to be present owing to public business retiring bis attention in Wellington, but wishing the project every success. Mr Wraigth, of Roxburgh, also telegraphed apologising for his absence. - A vary pleasant day was brought to a conclusion by tbo whole party lining up alongside the large number of motor cars and- being photographed by Mrs J. J. Ramsay.