A BIG DEAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16742, 24 December 1914, Page 6

A BIG DEAL.

GLENMARK ESTATE SOLD TO GOVERNMENT. 11,000 ACRES FOR CLOSER SETTLEMENT. At a price which is said to be highly satisfactory to the residuary legatee, Mr T. H. Moore, the balance of the great Glonmark estate, less a small block retained with the homestead, has been purchased by the Government for closer settlemont. The salo and purchase contract was completed in Wellington on Tuesday by Mr M. S. Brown, representing the trustees for Mrs Townend’s estate. In all the Government has acquired 11,482 acres, the plantations and homestead block, which have been reserved, representing 250 acres. Tho price paid has not been made known, but it is understood to bo a high figure. Glenmark was offered to the Government by Mr G. H. Moore in the early nineties after Choviot had been acquired by the Liberal Government, but tho price asked was considered too high and Mr Moore would not accept tho Government’s offer. GLENMARK’S HISTORY. Tho 80,000 acres of Glenmark were originally owned from the Waipara into tho Waikari Valley and on to thoHurunui River with lesser blocks by the Duke of Manchester: by Messrs Mullock and Lance, Horsley Downs; by Mr G. Mason, North Waipara;. by Air T. Sanderson, Greta Peaks; by Greenwood Bros., Teviotdale: by Mr G. E. Mason, Hurunui; and in the direction of the large Cheviot block by Messrs Clifford and Weld, while Mr J. Macfarlane held Mount Grey. About tire end of February, 1855, Mr George Henry Moore purchased 28,000 acres of public land at Double Corner for £14,000, Double Corner being the placename for Glenmark, Teviotdale and Waipara. Mr Moore was attracted to the Dominion from Tasmania by Sir George Grey’s advertisement of land for 10s an acre, and when ho arrived in the Dominion he “ mysteriously disappeared ” in order to avoid those who had land for sale. He proceeded into North Canterbury at once and his first night on the famous Glenmark estate was spent in a bushy three feet tussock. In July, 1856. with Ins partner, Mr Kermode, Mr Moore took up 29,360 acr.es at the •mouths of the Raknia and Ashburton, and in February, 1858, 36,000 acres at tho Hinds and other blocks were added to their holdings. MR MOORE ACQUIRES THE ESTATE. After the opening of the railways stock were sent from one run to another by means of long stock trains, and, in 1873 Glenmark was offered for sale ns a going concern in order to decide a partnership account between the joint owners. The sale attracted buyers from all over Australasia, aud Mr H. Matson was the auctioneer. The first lot was 35,871 acres of freehold and 11,500 acres of leasehold with 25,400 sheep. Mr 51 oore made a bid of £65,000, and then had a livolt contest with the Hon William Rolfeston, but finally secured the lot for £85,000. The next lot, Dean’s Peaks, consisting of 4099 acres of freehold and 7500 acres of leasehold. with 5000 merino sheep, was started by 51 r Moore at £7OOO, and ultimately was bought by Mr Frank Courage for £13,500/ A block of 3959 acres at Waipara was bought by 51r slooro for £6500, and the Black Hills, 34,670 acres held under depasturing license and 12,500 sheep, was acquired by him for £13,500. He also secured tho Doctor’s Hills, 82,306 acres under lease and 84 acres freehold with 12,500 sheep, for £14,750. Fifty acres at Weka Pass he bought for £75 and 100 acres at Saltwater Creek for £IOSO. 51r Moore also paid £52,000 for the Ashburton property, 7000 acres of freehold. 66,000 acres of leasehold with 4000 sheep. The properties of the partnership realised £186,574, and slr Moore acquired in all 46,974 acres freehold, 109.806 acres of leasehold, 34,670 acres under license tod 54.000 sheep for £171,875. TWO COSTLY FIRES. Tho estate improved considerably in appointments and in value, though in 1886 10,000 sheep were destroyed by fire. When tho capital value of the Glenmark Estate reached _ £326,000 there was a homestead on it costing £30,000, but it was burnt in 1891. Later Mr sToore offered tho estate, less 4000 or 5000 acres in the homestead block, at £4 per acre, but the Government valuers placed a price on the land which slv sloore would not accept, and in after years tho owner sold most of the land to private purchasers until only 11,732 acres remained. DISCOVERY OF MOA REMAINS. One of tho most interesting features of the estate, a feature which made Glenmark known the world over, was the discovers’ of moa remains in the ’sixties. They were found in a stream on Glenmark in a hollow of tho postpleocieno alluvium skirting the hillside. The remains included different species of tho Dinornis and subsequently remains were found in other parts of the estate, and all went to enrich the museums, many specimens being now in the Canterbury Museum.