THE CHEVIOT ESTATE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11870, 20 April 1899, Page 6

THE CHEVIOT ESTATE

ITS SIXTH ANNIVERSARY. A PROSPEROUS SETTLEMENT. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, April 19. To-day being the sixth anniversary of the settlement of the Cheviot Estate, a few up-to-date 'figures and facts relative to its progress and present condition may be of interest. There are now on the estate 310 tenants and freeholders, in a total population of over 1000. The Government has constructed, in opening up the block, 129 miles of roads, and lias made great improvements in the landing services at the Port, at a total cost of £64,000. The annual returns give a- total of £14,000, the interest on the outlay being a little over 5 per cent., and file Government lias been enabled no borrow the money for the investment at a low rate of interest. The net result is a handsome margin of profit on the investment. The settlers are in excellent spirits this year; the crops of wheat, oats, and barley having been abundant, more than compensating for the lower prices ruling. Near the coast, however, the weather has been rather dry for crops. An excellent and well-equipped dairy has been established by the Government out of the funds of the estate, and is very efficiently and profitably managed by Mr Cook, of Christchurch. He has also established a large and well-provided store, which, I am informed, is a great public convenience, the prices of goods being moderate. Four or five schools have been opened on the estate by the Board of Education, and are well attended. The settlers are living in hopes that railway communication will be provided to M’Kenzie, and that a bridge will be constructed across the Waiau River. It is expected that the road along the coast, which is a very good one, will be completed this winter, and be used for the greater part of the traffic, and especially for stock, instead of the road from the Whalesbaek to Waiau. A discovery of petroleum has been made on one of the small grazing runs, and, if the borings show satisfactory results, an oil factory will probably be set up on the spot.