A VISIT TO MIRAMAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 810, 9 September 1887, Page 10

A VISIT TO MIRAMAR

Most persons in Wellington—at any rate, those who have lived here for any length of time—know where Miramar is situated—Mr J. C. Crawford’s property - on the Peninsula ; but probably there are Very few who are aware of the extensive • dairy farm which is being carried on there. To those, however, who do not know the whereabouts of Miramar, it may be stated that the property consists of the peninsula on the eastern side of Evans Bay. Formerly, this block of land was used as a sheep-run, but during the last year or so the proprietor, finding the venture was not so lucrative as in former years, owing to the establishment of the forts, and the loss sustained by the ravages of strange dogs, got rid of most of the sheep, and now only keeps a ewe flock of about 1000, all the lambs having been sold in the local markets. The farm proper of Mirama'r is situated in a pleasant and fertile little valley immediately on the other side of the hills running along the east side of Evans Bay,' containing about 600 acres, and is surrounded with hills of a gentle slope, and looked at from the extreme end of the peninsula, has the appearance of a natur-ally-formed amphitheatre. The whole of this valley is divided off into paddocks of various and convenient sizes by well-kept wire fences. Of the cropped portion of the land 100 acres is down in oats, 70 in turnips, 70 in barley, but not as a crop, as the barley is merely sown in some sandy soil to bind it, and to keep the wind from blowing it about. The remainder of the valley is down in pasture. The dairy is carried on on an extensive scale. Sixty cows are milked twice a day, giving 140 gallons of milk per day. The animals are looked after as milch cows should be. They are housed each night, well bedded, and given as much food as they can eat. The shed is 70ft in length by 40ft in breadth. The cattle are divided off into separate stalls over 4ft wide, and each one contains a bail and a feeding trough. A double line of tram rails runs through the entire length of the shed for the purpose of bringing in the feed and bedding. The tram line extends from the entrance of the shed to an adjacent building in which the food is mixed and cut up by steam power. The dairy is similar to most others to be seen on farms, large, airy, and scrupulously clean. A milk cooler, similar to those in use in breweries for cooling beer, is fixed at one end of the dairy, and as the milk comes in from the milking shed it passes over the cooler, a process which tends considerably to keep it sweet. In connection with the farm is a good-sized and well-appointed “ smithy,” from which the well-known metallic ring of the anvil may be heard at almost any hour during the day. In a couple of large and airy loose boxes may be seen two very fine Clydesdale horses, one named Curate and the other Premier. The former is,

.by Gladstone, and is a fine compact horse, a dark brown color, without a single '.white hair to be seen, a very rare occurrence with draughts. He has immense muscle, stands 16A hands, has large bone, and is remarkably quiet. It is the intention of Mr Craw.ford to travel the Curate in the Wellington and Hutt districts. The other horse, Premier, is an Otago-bred animal, by the celebrated Clydesdale, Sailesbury. He is a dappled brown, the same height as his stable companion, and is possessed of great strength .with a good temper. The other horses on the farm are those used in the ordinary teams or saddle, and all show unmistakable signs of being well cared for.