THE CHEVIOT ESTATE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10099, 26 July 1893, Page 3

THE CHEVIOT ESTATE.

[from our own correspondent.] PORT ROBINSON. In attempting to give a general idea of tho Cheviot Estate, it will perhaps be as well, in the first instance, to say something of the port. which will, for many years at any rate, be th >■ principal channel through which supplies v/ill be received, and by which the produce from tho property will reach the markets. For more than twenty years tho whole of the wool grown on the station has been shipped by thia means, and the facilities now provided are quite sufficient for present requirements. Port llobinaou, as the little bay is called, is a bight about a mile long, bounded at either end by reefs jutting out into the sea. These reefs form part of a semi-circle, with an opening in the centre, through which the small steamers pass, and form soma little protection from the violence of the waves which occasionally roll in after an easterly gale. In course of time, should the increasing trade of the port warrant it, it would not be at all a difficult matter to build a breakwater on this reef. The stone for the purpoco is to bo got on the spot, and the removal of it would give the double advantage of reclaiming land on tae sea frontage, and alaoi giving more room under the cliffs, which at this poitt are somewhat abrupt. The steamers are brought to an anchorage ia six fathoms of water within less than a quarts? of a mile from shore, a surf lino is than run out from a buoy anchored within four chains of tho end of the clip, the other end being made fast ashore. The surf-boat ia launched from the top end of a well-built slip 365 it ia length, having a grade of one in tan. On running off the slip the boat is at once in sft of water at low tide, and floats off comfortably. She is then hauled off to the etiamer by means oi tho surf line, and ou completing her loading returns in the eamo way bo the seaward end of tho slip, where a stael hawser is mode fast to her and nha is hauled up the slip into the goods shed, some 20ft above sea level. This is accomplished by means of a powerful engine, with winding gear. The boat, an iron one, which was built by Messrs Anderson, of the Canterbury Foundry, weighs 9 tons, and will carry 13 tons dead weight. , The engine la of 20 horae-power, fitted with multiplying gear by which it i capacity can be increased to 56 horae-power. Thera is a well-built shed at tho top of tho slip measuring 85ft by 30it waicb, with the engine-house, slip, and all the other buildings on the estate, including the mansion at the homestead, were designed by and erected under tho supervision of Mr John Sinclair, who has bean twenty-seven years on the property, and whose services have been retained by the Government. The boat is capable of taking sixty bales of wool or ninety bags of wheat at a trip, and can make on an average twelve trips pec day, and as many as one thousand bales of wool have been shipped in one day. The steamers appear to lie comfortably enough, and the service can be worked with ease during tho greater part of the year. The great advantage that' tho outlet by sea haa over carriage by laud will be seen when it is stated that the cost of conveying general merchandise by rail from Christchurch to Waiparo. is 27s per ton. To this has to be added foe cartage from the railway to Cheviot, a distance of about thirty-five milee, over, for the greater part of the year, decidedly bad roads. The cost of carriage of tho same goods by steamer from Lyttelton to Fort Robinson is 10s per ton. The distance from tho port to tho homestead by tho Hurnnui road, which ia the only one available for heavy haulage, ia about 11 miles, but when the new road is finished tho distance will be reduced to about six miles. This will bring tho most remota part of the agricultural land on the estate within ten miles of the lauding service by a fairly level road. By thia it will be seen that the estate will have to depend upon sea carriage. Arrangements have now been made with tho owners of the u.e. Wakatn, which has supplied the trade for some time past, to look iu every week, and theie ia no doubt this convenience will be much appreciated. The goods shed ia fitted with cranes and winches, and is in first-class order, while the slip is at the present tune being strengthened and repaired, in order that it may be fit to cope with the increased trade which ia expected.

AS A SANITORIUM. There is a nice stretch of about a mile of beach reaching from tho landing service to Gore Bay. In this bay stands the seaside residence of the late Mr Robinson. It is situated in a picturesque spot under the MU on a. nice piece of flat land about forty acres in extent, facing the sea. The climate hare ia very mild, not a sign of frost having been seen during the present winter. Thia spot should make a splendid health resort, and would certainly compare favourably with Sumner. Beyond this is the mouth of tho River Jed, where stands a pleasure-boathouse used by the late owner of tho estate, and there is a nice sheet of water for rowing purposes. THE ROAD TO THE HOMESTEAD. Turning up the Jed Valley the present road follows the river to the homestead, passing on the way some nice pieces of wall-grassed, flat land. On approaching tho station proper tho river, which lower down ia confined in deep gorges, opens out and shows a shingly bed, winding considerably. About half a mile from tho mansion are several houses, one of which has been let to Mr Bruce, and is to bo used as an accommodation-house for travellers. THE HOMESTEAD. The central feature of the homestead ia the mansion, properly so called, as it is an enormous and aubeiantially-boilt house standing in spacious and well-laid-out grounds! Close by is the manager’s bouse, another substantial structure. Within half a chain of this stood the largo store which was burned down soon after tho Government took possession of the property. There arc also » number of other buildings,including tho Post and Telegraph offices, the wcolsheci, and several cottages. There are some magnificent plantations, and miles of hawthorn and other live fences, TOWN AND SUBURBAN SITES. Fronting the large house are what are known as the flax paddock red North and South dear parks. These are comprised in an Huipliitheatre about two tuousand acres in extent, for the most part beautifully level, and surrounded by gently-rolling downs. The land in thia area ia of very rich quality, with a heavy clsy subsoil. In pieces it rather wet, but can bo drained at little cost. Heie it is intended to lay off a township surrounded by small suburban areas of agricultural laud, for which the spot is eminently suited. _ It will be possible, by using a creek running along the high laud on the north-east boundary of this Mock, to provide tho larger portion of this area with a high pressure water supply; Tho position is moat suitable for*' u. township, being ;,t iho junction of the mam lines of communication, viz., the road’ running north and south from the Hurnnui to the Waiau, tho roads westward to tho Wart and Tor more, country, that to the port and other lines opening up contiguous lands. The site ia central and conveniently situated, with due regard to the agricultural and pastoral divisions of Cheviot. The estate being mom or less isolated, when the contemplated improvemerits to tho roads are completed it ia probable timt it will thaw a considerable amount of business from the surrounding country, and there in no reason why ia time a flourishing township should not be ia. existence on this ipot. THE BUILDINGS. The large woolshed on the property alone remains unlet, hr-ving been reserved for the convenience of the present lessees of the various blocks. The other buildings have been let ia mott iasUncea to the persons who wove in occupation under the /ate owner.* or (Jhsv’ot. Taei*', with the .-mail p.'.ddocks attached, bring i;i u rental of about £4lO per annum. O3KENAO PJCATUIV iB. The estate comprises about 83,000 acres, and is bounded on tha north by the river

Waiau, along which runs the splendid rabbit-proof fence erected by the Rabbit Board. It also takes in a bush section of 296 acres on the other side of the river, which is the only native timber of any cizs on the property. Down the western boundary runs another substantial rabbit feae«, which is said to have coat .£250 per mile. The fence extends in an irregular line for about fifteen miles, and shuts the estate off from the Mount Palm, St Leonards and Kaiwarra stations. This line of fence is guarded by three mai (for whom cottages h.ave been placed at intervals) to prevent the inroad of rabbits, while the northern fence is similarly guarded by two mao. The river Huranui forma the southern boundary, while the property extends b the sea on the east. As rabbits have hem, and occasionally are, killed on tb estate, a man is kept on the property whose special duty it is to inspect the run periodically to prevent the inroads of the pest. The highest point on tie estate is Benmora, which rises to a height of 1750 ft above sea level, while the Wart mountain reaches 1630 ft. The Seaward range rises to an altitude of 1181 ft. A fine piece of table laud on the Port Hills is 784 ft high, and the saddle on the Human road is 492 ft, Some of the downs overlooking the homestead fiat rise to a height ol 299 ft” the ridge from she homestead to Vaiau along the line of dray road to the Harunui ia 213 ft, and the land on the banks o! the Waiau at the north end of the Waiai flat is at an altitude of 90ft. The average height of the agricultural land is about 200 ft, while tha downs range from 500£tup to the highest point given above. Ihe homestead is situated at a height of 180 ft, Snowfalls are rare, and do not lie for aiy length of time. * TEH BLOCKS. The country is divided into nine blocks, viz., the Homestead, East and West Waiau, Seaward Range, Port Hills, Huranui, Benmore, Tormore and Wart blocks. As far as could be ascertained, agricultural areas are being surveyed on the Homestead block, where the numerous fine hedges, fences, natural divisions cud quality and character of the land offer splendid facilities for such settlement. On the Waiau downs, which is admitted to be laud of magnificent quality, and also on tha Harmful flp.ts it. is estimated that theie are at least 20,006 acres of good agricultural country, with another 10.000 acres of contiguous low-lying downs, in addition to a large proportion of the Wart, Tormore, and Port Hills blocks, which is capable of being ploughed and cultivated. Prom what could be gathered the scheme of settlement includes, where practicable, the letting of areas, including both flat land and hill-aides together. The agricultural areas will probably vary from 100 acres to 300 acres outside tbe

small farm and suburban holdings. The hill lauds will be cut up into areas of from 500 to about 2500 acres. The immediate attention of the Survey Department is being directed to the subdivision of the fthoro lease sections, viz,, the Waiau, Homestead, Huruuui and Port Hill blocks, comprising in ail about 37,000 acres. Those will probably be placed ou the market ia October nest. The remainder af the estate will be surveyed and offered for selection on or before April, 1894, when the leases expire. DAIRY FARMS. The grass haa grown luxuriantly during the winter, and feed is plentiful cm all parts of the property. In addition to the area fit for cropping a largo portion of the laud ia admirably suited "for dairy farming. If a dairy factory were established on the estate, there is no doubt good results would be obtained. If a cool store were erected at the porf; the butter could bo taken to Lyttelton by the weekly steamer and placed on board the homeward bound steamers within six hours. This industry should be tha more profitable on tho property, for the reason that the product occupies but small space, and would cost Joss in proportion for freight than wool or agricultural produce. HAILS. One of the chief difficulties at present to bo contended with in She lack of mail communication. Although there .la & post and telegraph office on the property, there is only one mail a week from Christchurch. This leaves town on Saturday morning, arriving at Cheviot the same evening; leaving there again on Monday morning. Tho resident* have forwarded a petition to the Chief Postmaster asking for a biweekly mail service, and it is understood that tho matter ia now under the consideration of the Postmaster-General. Considering that there are fully two hundred persons oa the place, and that the number is increasing every day, the accommodation asked for ia not unreasonable, and it is to bs hoped that tho Hoa J. G. Ward will sea his way to grant the request. Although very large sums of money are being spent by the Government on Cheviot, it must be remembered that tho bulk of tho money goes in wages, and io spent in the interests of settlement.