LORD ROSEBERY AS A LANDLORD

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4295, 2 March 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

LORD ROSEBERY AS A LANDLORD

Lord Rosebery’s most extensive property is in Scotland, whore bis estates comprise 20.000 acres, with'a rental of £'20,300. T'hci estate known as Rosebery lies at tho base of the Moorfuot hills, on the south of Midlothian. There is no family dwelling-house, but- only a simot- , in-g-lodge. Mr Gladstone slept there on one of his Midlothian campaigns. Houietimes, hut rarely, tint Ea;l vbits' tlrese outlying possession*, which are- usually let- to an Edinburgh friend for the autumn. There is a story that, when lie succeeded to the title £e was ignorant of tho exact position- of file estate, ami ns Edinburgh water is partly derived from tho Mcorfcot hills, het called at the Water Trust Office to ask direct ions' lor ■his■-Coachman. Mr A.- L.. Drystlale. bis present factor, has, with I hr-full concurrence and approval of Ins Lordship, made Dalmeuy a centre of interest for agriculturalists from all parts of the world. Some months ago an article appeared in the “Nineteenth Century” under tho title “Manu)'i,iig with Brains,*’ which explained the expeiri incuts at Dalm'eny. Colonial agriculturalists often come to gather suggestions from his model estate-. Lord Rosebery’s famous herd of shorthorn cattle, which lias won him so many prizes at, Birmingham, Hmithfi.-ld anil elsewhere, is kept on tho Dalineny grounds. . The sheet) and pigs are also prosperous, comfortable-locking creatures on which the eves ef Hie judges at-shows may bo trusted to alight with approval. Lord Rosebery’s prize animals have frequently been outrivalled by Her Majesty’s only. The chief amusement of the last Smithfie'd Show was the competition between the beautiful heifers belonging to the Queen, and her hr-.' Prime Minister. S»me yews ago there vras a »alp of short-hern cuttle at D.ilmeny. Lairds and fanners assembled from every part of Scotland. Lord Rosebery, accompanied by his children, spent the day iu making tho acquaintance of his visitors. He talked about the weather, tho croj).'., the prospects of the autumn shows, as if ho had no interests in the wider world c.f statesmanship. Sir Richard Varney warned the Ear! of Leicester not to put himself “outside the profession of politics, ’’ as ho would find the life_ o fa country gentleman intolerably tedious. Tho strangers at Dalmenymay well have thought that their distinguished host, who, had held the highest office iii the State, was not suffering too severely from disappointed ambition.

The workmen of the ilalmeny estate aro treated with consideration and kindness. When Lord Rosebery became Premier, an article appeared in sin English paper describing the life of tho ploughmen and labourers on the heme farm.. The married men, havd good cottages, with gardens; for the uiimarric.il there is the model bothy, with large central, sitting-room well supplied with daily and weekly newspapers, -and a separate bedroom ior each man. A carctakeikeeps the fire burning while, tly' men. aro at work, and also arranges for the cooking of their evening meal. Wages are good, and a workman rn.iv if be chouses, spend his whole life on the estate. \\ lieu too old for heavy tasks, lie is provided with seme light and comfortable billet, so that, hit may not feel he / is dependent on charity. Tho old peo)!e round the Earl’s English countrv ibntes, oven if they do not happen to belong to the estate, seldom look te him iu vain tor needed help. Not long ago ho was strolling through the village of Grafton, near Meutmore, and meeting au aged labourer, ho made inquiries -as to Ids-health .and circumstance:-:. "Ho yc-u * get any help from the house?’' ho asked, meaning Meutmore. “Yes, I got “s Od a week i rom the Guardians,said tlm poor old follow, thinking that his Lord- . ship referred to the workhonv. . The ex-Premicr expressed lii.s svmpath.v, gave the man a sovereign, and, later senword that, in future he would receive Id;-: a week as long as ho lived. - “The Woman at Home.’’