Page 5 Advertisements Column 6

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9149, 3 September 1888, Page 5

Oar district is showing more signs of progress recently than during any period for years. More attention is bestowed upon the land now that timber and gum have become resources of the past. New settlers are coming and old abandoned homes are getting occupied. The rusty ploughs are getting burnished, and harrows that formed substitutes for gates (Irish fashion) are again put to their legitimate use. Notwithstanding the codlin moth scare, orchards are being planted and attended to. Years ago the export of wheat from this district was considerable. There are now youngsters, almost men, who have never seen an ear of wheat. Their fathers explain to them that wheatgrowing will not pay. Some, however, have plucked up courage and put in a few acres this year. The limestone land of this district, provided it is drained, is the very best description of land for wheat. Old Mr. Kelly, over twenty years ago, had a paddock of splendid wheat, as fine as you would see in England. This was on undrained land. Ido not know what was the return. I believe the old man gave it all to his game cocks —that is, what the swarms of rats that infest the place left of it. Mr. Kelly did not go in for farming. In those days his bushes were yielding a' golden harvest, consequently farming was only taken up as amusement, or for breaking in young bullocks in the plough for bush work. There are thousands of acres of the same description of land now lying idle, with & few gaunt cattle roaming over them. This heavy, undrained limestone land makes poor feeding ground for stock, but when drained and properly worked, it becomes the very best for wheat. It is to be hoped some of our new settlers will try the capabilities of this land. They must not heed tne croaking of old settlers. —[Wade correspondent,l