APITI.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2321, 27 March 1914, Page 2

APITI.

A ROUND COUNTRY TRIP

APITI'S HINTERLAND

Owing to the generosity of some of the Apiti residents and the forethought of the Chamber of Commerce, several of the visitors to the Show were yesterday given a glimpse of the country which has Apiti for a centre, an insight into the degree of fertility of the land in what most people think are the most unpromising localities for successful farming, and a good idea of what true hospitality means. Three motor cars were provided by Messrs Cummerfielcl, W. Guy, and Brown Bros., and were filled with Apiti residents, and Messrs D. H. ' Guthrie, M.P., Fred. Pirani, Chairman of the Education Board, Dibble and McTaggart, of the Agricultural Department, and press representatives. At 10.30, the party started off for Table Flat, some eight miles away. The road was in good order, and as the altitude rose from 1300 ft to over 2000 ft, some magnificent nioTintain and gorge scenery, interspersed with comfortable homesteads, cultivated fields, and promising 2)lairtations, although, sad to say, there were evidences of what liad been almost wanton destruction of forest giants whose great trunks were lying as they fell years ago, encumbering the ground, with little profit to the : owners. One of the greatest sights was the Oroua Gorge, where the source of the Oroua river is situate, the great Ruahine Range, clothed with bush, and softened by misty rain falling noiselessly, rising up in majestic beauty high above the land upon which we stood.

The party made their first stop | just outside Apiti, at Mr Nix's farm, to look at a crop of lucerne. Unfortunately, the land on which it was sown was not clean, and the result was disappointing. Mr J. B. Pettigrew's farm of 250 acres, which is an example of all that is best in farming, was next visited. An experimental plot of mangolds, "sown under the aegis of j Mr Bayliss, of the Agricultural Department, was not nearly as ' promising as Mr Pettigrew's own crops. He had sown vetches', carrots, mangolds, potatoes, and silver beet, all making a splendid showing, the carrots especially being an object-lesson to the beholder. The crops were clean and well-grown and the general surroundings of the farm were excellent. Mr Pettigrew has been 20 years in the district, Ec married there, and is bringing up a family on his farm, and he possesses that love of his property which is a strong element in the success of all good.farmers. It is in this locality that -Elliott Bros, have the field of turnips growing which won the £5 cup from the association on Wednesday, and a hasty glance over the property showed that they are farming in the best sense, making provision for winter feed, and bringing more and more laud under cultivation as the years go on. Here also Mr McMillan, for years a well-known Palmerston contractor, has a fine farm of 600 acres, and there is plenty of evidence of capacity and industry throughout the property. The next stop was made at the Table Flat school, where the pupils were drawn up in line by Miss Humphries, the teacher, who is most popular in the district, and the Chairman of the Committee (Cr. Lewis) was also there. Master Percy Miller, the senior pupil, read the following address in a clear voice, with fine expression: "Dear Sirs, —We feel it a great honour to Kave the pleasure of welcoming such distinguished visitors to our remote district; and trust you will enjoy our wild, mountainous scenery, and note with pleasure our fertile soil and many evidences of the future prosperity of the district. Although so far away from the railway and many other advantages, our school has bravely tried to keep pace with the larger schools, and we trust we have not failed in that respect. We are

grateful to the members of our House of Parliament, Education Board, Committee, and our teachers for'the many privileges and advantages granted to prepare us to. face the great battle of life which we intend to fight bravely and well, ever looking to the higher and better things of life. Above all, we want to be' a credit to our little mountain school and always remember one lesson learnt there of how to "play the game." We ~a!T join in wishing you all a very pleasant day and a hearty welcome to Table Flat.—We remain, dear sirs, yours sincerely, Children of Table Flat."

Mr D. H. Guthrie complimented the lad and the teacher on the sentiments contained in the address and the manner in which it was delivered, expressed his pleasure at being able to be with them that day, and hoped that he would have frequent opportunities of watching their progress.

Mr Pirani thanked them and said that if they were houest,.unselfish, and straightforward in their play, they would most surely grow up good women and men.

Mr Lewis thanked the visitors, cheers and counter-cheers were exchanged, and the party moved off to Mr Lewis' house to the accompaniment of the school children's chorus of "They arc jolly good fellows," After Mrs Lewis had entertained the large party at morning tea, whore the delicacies provided were done full justice to, and thanks for the hospitality were given and acknowledged in neat speeches, the trip was resumed, with Cr. Lewis added to the party. The round to Apiti and up the Norsewood road was accomplished in quick time, and then on we went to TJmutoi. Here we crossed the Coal Creek, -negotiating the hills and running down the valleys looking along the deep gorges, admiring the native bush flanking the swollen streams, and passing plenty of cultivated farm lands, ample evidence being given of the excellence of the land for both dairying and sheep-farming.

Kaheke school, with Miss Powle in charge, was visited on the way, the school gardens admire.d, and the teacher congratulated on the general appearance of the school, inside and out.

At the "TJmutoi school, Miss Guy was in charge of 23 children, whoso dinner-hour was on. They were lined Tjp, and Messrs Gutlirie and Pirani spoke briefly to them, the Chairman of the Committee (Mr J. Buckman) responding, followed by cheers, Mr Pirani then inspected the proposed residence site, made necessary arrangements with, the

contractor, visited the school gardens, and the party moved On again. A brief stop was made at Mr Buckman's pretty residence, and then a halt was called at Mr H. L. Osborne's, where an appetising lunch was provided for the large party, by Mrs and Miss Osborne. The farm is a capital one and is remarkable for the fact that the original settler was the F. M. -• Fisher, the front fence—the work of his own hands —having been his especial pride, and, indeed, it is not too bad. Complimentary remarks were exchanged after an hour's stop there, unci cheers given for the hosts.

A run back brought us to the Ridge road, where we visited Mr Malone's farm, sampled his wife's hospitality to the full, exchanged thanks and invitations for another visit, and motored to Mr McKay's farm, where a great lucerne crop was inspected, showing a growth of 2ft. in six months.

A return was then made to Apiti, which we reached at 5 o'clock, having thoroughly enjoyed one of the pleasantest, trips it would be possible to 'get. The thanks of the party are especially due to Messrs Hogan, R. Pratt, F. S. Guy, and the motor-car owyers, to whom considerable credit is due for the very complete arrangements made for the day's outing. All the schools visited were examples of cleanliness, neatness, and good taste in decoration, and the school gardens were, a credit to the teacher and the small number of pupils available for the work. THE FARMERS' DINNER. In the evening, the farmers' dinner was a great success. Mr D. Hogan occupied the chair, and 'there were nearly 100 present. The speeches were pithy and to the point, light and sparkle permeating most of them. The reminiscences of some of the pioneers were well worth hearing, and an optimistic tone prevailed throughout. The proceedings, which were marked with considerable enthusiasm, terminated just before 1 o'clock.

Owing to an omission of two words in our report of the Apiti Show, in yesterday's issue, it was stated that the advent of motorcars to Apiti " had shortened (the time to the) railway to two hours'' —the words in parentheses were omitted. As a matter of fact Mr W. Guy brought six adults in his motor this morning to Feilcting in an hour and a quarter.