The Elsthorpe Estate.

Hastings Standard, Issue 28, 29 May 1896, Page 3

The Elsthorpe Estate.

OPEN FOR SELECTION

The throwing open of this magnificent estate for selection on lease in perpetuity is of great importance to the inhabitants of Hastings and surrounding districts. The estate comprises 9461 acres of first-class land divided into 28 rural and 22 village sections, and is situated about IB miles from here on the main road from Kaikora railway station to Kauakau. The estate wad acquired by the Goyerameafc under " The Land for Set-

I dements Ac-t, 189-1," and has the re- ! putaiion of being a property of great ! pro'l.;, fi,'ness. It is distant from the i i~.dlw.iy station about 14 miles, with a relied road the whole dis- ! i:.i. •(•. | The property is beautifully situated, | lyibetween two ranges of hills. The j r. ■ ■ forming the eastern boundary is j of ii-ucstoiic formation, and carrirs good grass to the summit. That on the western side is sandstone formation, is in good grass, ami bears the advantage of a warm easterly aspect. The intervening valley is rich land, chiefly undulating, a large portion of it suitable for agricultural purposes. There are some clumps of bush and scrub on the estate, amounting in all to about 700 acres. Hitherto only about 1000 acres have been brought under the plough, but fully half of the property can be so treated. The estate is magnificently watered, and for soil and situation is one of the linest in Hawke's l'>ny, and capable of a high d'gree of improvement. Notwithstanding that it is not fully broken up. it wintered last season 20,000 sheep and 300 cattle and horses, all being grass-fed with no artificial food. AY ill: the exception of a few hundred acres it lias been surface-sown in English grass, though now intermixed in some parts with native grass. Properly worked its carrying capacity would be very largely increased. _ It is ring- fenced, and was divided into ten large divisions, and the homepaddocks, of which there are 25 acres, range in size from 10 to 150 acres. There are altogether about 70 miles of fencing on the property. A small village-site has been laid off on the main road near the present homestead. In and about the village, reserves have been set apart for various purposes, such as Po>t and Telegraph Offices, school site, recreation ground, cemetery, tvc., and apart of the bush, which i*s such an ornament to the place, has also been reserved. The ballot for sections will be held on Friday, 2Gih .Juno, at 11 a.m., at the Crown Lands Office, Napier.