IN AND AROUND BIRMINGHAM

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10309, 30 March 1894, Page 3

IN AND AROUND BIRMINGHAM

[by A. H. WILSON.] You go from Peilding to Birmingham by coach along the Simbolton Road, which has bseu formed right through to Pemberton and Rangiwhia, a distance of about forty-four miles. This road runs on the west bank of the Oroua river, and has opened up some of the finest land in New Zealand, embracing both sheep and cattle country. Tho land leaving Feilding is somewhat light until you near Cheltenham, about nine miles oat, when you approach undulating country with grazing flats, which, when all stumped, will rival the Leaston district as regards fertility. Already parts that have been cleared grow lucerne as good aa tha banks of the Hunter, in New South Wales, where monthly crops are the order of the day. The splendid qualities of the soil as regards dairying can be proved by looking at the Babcock testa at the Cheltenham Dairy Factory, where the percentages have tun as high as 4‘7 of butter fab in the milk. Every two gallons of this milk will make a pound of butter, and it speaks well for the *eettlers that they have combined and erected one of the most complete dairying plants in the colony, including one of Hall’s most recent chilling and freezing plants. Mr Frank Spencer, who has been so closely identified with the dairying industry in the past at Tai Tapu, has a large property bare, and was the promoter of the factory, and has steered it to a successful issue; and it speaks well for the factory that it is being copied by many others. Mr Spencer’s property is well worth a visit, and his efforts in clearing and stumping part of it are already meeting with success. It may be mentioned that the property waa formerly owned by Mr John Graham, tho recently-elected member for Nelaon. A very fine breed of Berkshire pigs can be seen running about, and as they are paddocked off and fed on peas and milk, they soon fatten and find a ready market at four pence per pound in the carcase. Again sheep, which thrive well, are an important source of revenue, his clip being very heavy last year. Altogether, on having a talk with Mr Spencer, you are impressed with the idea that he knows his business, and, further, looks after it. Mr William Mills, aa old Gloucestershire man, has a highly improved farm within a mile of Cheltenham.” He speaks of the time when he used to camp with sheep in Cathedral Square, and knew Christchurch in its embryo state. The root crops on his property are the heaviest I have seen in the North Island, and his haystacks are neat and trim, speaking of the practical farmer. A visit to hia orchard, where a heavy crop of lucerne is growing for hay, well repays one. All kinds of apples grow in profusion, and if New Zealand ever goes in for exporting fruit large supplies could be drawn from this district, the fruit being fine and comparatively free from blight. Mr Jones, another Gloucestershire man, close by, is improving his property by stumping part of it. Mr Jones is an old railway contractor, having constructed the Manawatu Gorge line, as also the Timaru breakwater, in conjunction with Mr Peters. Ha has erected a substantial house, planted an orchard and effected other considerable improvements. Tho people on this road have got over the worst of their troubles, and when you have visited the back blocks and come out on this road, you are comparatively speaking in a civilised country. Going towards Birmingham Mr Jacobs’ place is passed, and you come up with tha property of Mr Church, who was formerly a storekeeper. He originally came out to Victoria from the north of Ireland. Finding the New Zealand climate suited him, ho came over here, and went in for. storekeeping. Packing goods put to the back blocks was a terrible job in winter; but ho stuck to the store, and has now a farm and orchard which do him credit. As a fruit expert I have talked with few who can accurately explain the various kinds of apple?, and the science of fruit culture, but Mr Church is a thorough pomologist. His Berkshires would make Mr Vechr, of pork fame, feel that as regards future supplies, this district will be an important factor in the success of his factories. The “ giatleman that pays the rint” in the ould sod is likely to have the same duty to perform here, and, from what I see, he will do it. Mr Eilgcur opposite has a farm of about 400 acres. He is from Fifeshire, and has a touch of the Doric lefs in his speech, and says he is doing “ no sae bad,” which means a lot with a Scotchman. At tha junction of the Eiwitea and the Eimholton Roads there is a tramway going down to Bartholomew’s sawmill, which supplies most of the timber in tbe district. The Eiwitea school is under the charge of Mr P. O. French, a graduate of an English university, who has his school in good order. Opposite is Mr William Gibson’s farm. Whilst continuing along the Eiwitea Eoad you pass Mr Levitt’s place and arrive at Mr Alexander Perry’s. This gentleman is one of the oldest farmers in the district, and his property, comprising over one thousand acres of the finest bush land, moat of which is cleared, is well worth a visit. The purebred Lincoln ebeep on this estate shear fleeces which would make some Victorian and Queensland squatters visit their bankers with a lighter heart. Lincolns seem to do best here, although many farmers breed Romneys, but the latter are usually considered to be more suited for low-lying country. This property has had some extensive improvements effected on it; the house is one of tbe best in tha district, the New Zealand woods being largely employed, and their beautiful grain brought oat through polishing tho ceilings and the doors. I mentioa this fact more as a hint to many who, when building, might improve their houses by having this done, instead of having the natural besuties of the timber covered with paint. Mr Perry is a quiet unassuming man, who has a well-balanced mind. He and his partner have reared a large family, and are the essence of kindness to a stranger. Mr John K. Taylor has a property near here. Hia house, garden and orchard are surrounded by the natural bush, and ss be baa cut this down in the horseshoe form, and placed his house in the centre, tho shelter :s good. Many settlers make a great mistake through cutting down all tha bush round their places. Then they start planting trees not in-

digeaous to the country, which take years to form a shelter. Mr Taylor, to meet and talk to, is a counterpart of the party described in the chorus of the song, A fine old Englisli gentleman. One of the olden time. Llr Taylor shows mo his oxtonsivo and the pumpkins will shortly require tackle rigged to lift them. He talks of sheep-breeding, cropping and the markets,. sad one can sea he is a progressive man. To finish up with, he laughed twice, which fairly shook the ground. Then, as the song goes, he “ shufc me by the hand,” and said "bo sura and come again”—and I will. Mr William F. M’Beth has the next property, one of the sons of the late Mr M’Beth, of Dunsinane, near Marton, perhaps, in his time, one of the most hospitable men in New Zealand. Mr M’Beth showed me his stud of brood mares and their foals, all of which are good, stock. Ho has already disposed of many privately at high figures, and as he only uses the best of sires his stud will be heard '.of soon. Already I can sea a “dark-’un” in the shape of a chestnut foal, running in the paddock. He looks, innocent now, but I can see and hear a howling- crowd—a winning post—with the inevitable tote and hia number paying out in the distant future, with the accompanying " we knew it ” and “ I told you so ” men discussing his win. A crop of oats Mr M’Beth has just gathered for bay would have gone eighty to a hundred bushels per acre. He breeds good cattle, too, and will shortly go in for high-class dairy stock. Next him is his brother, Mr .Albert M’Beth, who has a well-arranged property here, as also a large one on the Kimbolton Eoad on which ha carries sheep. At Mr Alberts place you-receive a Madly welcome, and his wife and family gave me one of the.beet musical evenings I have yet enjoyed. There are three other brothers, all" of whom are first-class farmers, and both Messrs Duncan and Fred are building houses, to adorn and govern which they intend bringing home fair partners. Mr Eobart M’Beth is a well-known breeder of Lincolns. He has suffered greatly through lung-worm in sheep, as have many others. On his property one can see ensilage, and I Jhave seeu it on others in the district Where feed is ao abundant in the summer, farmers should go in more for ensilage, as it is easily made. It is a pity to see large quantities of green fodder going to waste, and cattle starving in the winter. Birmingham is, of course, a new township ; but as the country round about is first-class laud, it will grow rapidly, and buildings are going up all round. I met an old Dunedin man in Mr Eichacdaon, the saddler, who informs me that he has had rough times of it since I saw him, but he is rapidly asserting himeelf, as any first-class tradesman will do. Mr Thomas Lowes, a brother to Mr William Lowes, auctioneer, in Masterton, keeps the. hotel, besides running a sawmill and a farm, but he is equal to a large order of this kind. Mr M’Nair has a well arranged accommodation house, and the storekeeping is principally in the hands of Messrs Tomkins and Moffatt. The usual thirsty gentlemen play quoits outside of the pub for drinks. An occasional packhorse runs away, and the arrival of the coaches, with the appearance of the veteran whip, Mr Sam Daw, keep the inhabitants from adopting the prevailing suicide mania, which has become rather popular in the North Island of late. You can go to Apiti over the Oroua Eiver. The road first winds down to the river, passing the residence of Mr Fowler, and the sawmill of Messrs Lowes and Jarvis. Mr Jarvis is an old sawmiller, and is well up in all kinds of plant in connection with sawmills, besides having a firstclasa knowledge of engineering. The Oroua itself is at present only a small stream, but wheu the winter comes on it is practically impassible, but that grand old milch cow, the Government, will, no doubt, throw a bridge across shortly, and not before it is wanted. Many are. the tales told of hairbreadth escapes. Mr Webb, from Okaiu’s Bay, has a good property on the road side, and was cleaning cocksfoot on my arrival. The seed looks equal to that of the bays, whilst hia sheep are nearly all fat. iThe land out on the Feilding Block is of a fairly good quality, but lighter than the country round Birmingham and Cheltenham. As I intend describing the Apiti and Pemberton districts in my nest article, I will conclude this by saying that the district I have just left behind me is perhaps one -of the most fertile in New. Zealand. When one considers that within a. radius of five miles from Birmingham or Cheltenham you can grow grain.root crops (including potatoes), fruit and vegetables of all kinds, fatten the primest cf stock, grow the bast staple of wool, and graze the best milking dairy cattle you can pick, the force of my remarks must be apparent.