Cheviot Notes.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 5906, 30 March 1894, Page 1

Cheviot Notes.

(from our farming correspondent.) It is not yet twelve months since tho Government took possession of this estate, and only about four months since the first land was disposed off, and in that short time it is a difficult job for anyono to do justice to the alterations in tho lbok of the place by description. People have to come and see for themselves, when they will find that the croaks would have shown themselves keeping march with progress by silently looking on and abstaining from giving their opinions, which have left them now hopelessly in the rear. It is mildly being referred to that some are throwing up thoir holdings and clearing out in disgust Well, that was to be expected when thei'e was such a rush for the land, and unsuccessful applicants fell back and selected sections which were not taken up at first, and, in somo instances, acted on the opinion of othors without themselves having seen the sections. Now they havo come on tho ground they do not appreciate their position. But such cases are very fow indeed, and no one has much sympathy for them, because they are the class with whom, having obtained a little money and being minus any experience whatever, land is a mania. The sooner such find thoir hobby crushed under them the bettor it will be for the legitimate farmer. One example of the above was out on tho Waiau Flat. Learning that tho roadmakers were having some splendid hauls of eels, ho- resolved to try his luck, and commenced digging for worms. Being unsuccessful, he then knew the land was no good when the worms would not live in it. But he did not know that tho worms were not to be found in dry ground. I need not say ho is off, and a good job too, as some practical man may get the section. Another, after trying to clear some negro-heads, knew that the land would not pay for clearing. In M'Kenzie Town we have two blacksmiths busy at work, one saddler, and two timber yards ready to execute any requirement in their'line. A third timber yard is situated at the Willows, two miles from Hurunui Flat, and about four from the township, and a fourth is talked of, with a view of cutting down present prices by ten per cent. Mr Robinson has a large store in the township, and another storekeeper is making preparations for starting. The Primitive Methodises havo a neat little church, which docs duty also as a day school four days a week, presided over by tli9 Rev. Mr Drake, who also gives lectures on leading subjects, and is showing himself a practical hand at pioneer settlement. A large building is nearly finished, intended for a publichouse, but petitions for and against a license are the order of the day. lam unable to tell you that the post and telegraph office is removed to the township, or that Port Robinson is connected by telephone, but I expect that will come in its turn, as it is badly wanted. While on the postal subject, I may say we havo a coach from Waipara railway station four days a week, and a mail twice a week to and from Christehuich, Viesides occasional mails via Port Robinson, per 'steamer. Mr Francis has lately put on tho road a 4-horse covered conveyance suitable for any weather. Home View Settlement has made great progress lately. Tenements, from the tent upwards, and dividing fences, are fast putting a different appearance on the lato horse paddock. The surveyors are busy getting more of the reserve pegged oft in from 5 to 20-acro sections for selection next month. Too mauy of these sized sections in one locality would be ? disadvantage to the working men, but that is being taken into consideration.

A misunderstanding has arisen over land rents already. It appears that those who took up land in November do not commence to pay rent until January Ist, and those who took up land at the January sale do not commence to pay rent until the Ist of July, so the November settlers held_ a meeting lately to get united _action in approaching the Government with a view to being placed on a similar footing with the January selectors, but there is division in the ranks as some have different views of the matter, and to a certain extent the conditions favor the latter views. Port Robinson is not by a long way supplying the requirements, and roads are being used by all manner of conveyances from the eight-horse waggon downwards, on moonlight nights as well as by day, and to such an extent as to mak,c one wonder where they can be foiug to. Stock-driving is also noticeable. As stock are leaving the estate as well as coming on to it an advance has to bo on hand to select crossing places. Anyone going to Port Rohinson for a load is at sea as to when he may' be able to got a load, the place is so packed with timber and fencing material, and is so limited through the nature of the surroundings. Tt would be a good paying concern for the Government or a private company to lay a horse tramway from the Port to M'KenzieTown, having different trucksfor different goods with a passenger car for steamer days, especially as it will bo some time yet before the road can be open for waggons, and it would bo much easier on the road than waggons and drays. The present road is nearly double the distance the new one wiU be. Anxious eyes are looking for better times. As there is only one surf-boat vessels are delayed double the time they would be if there was a second. The expense of the delay eventually falls on the settlors, but it is an old and true saying that everything cannot be done at once. " Rome was not built in a day." I had almost forgotten to tell you that on section 33, Homeview settlement;*'a few chains from M'Kenzie Town, a well was sunk 12 feet. At night there wore few indications of water, but next morning the well was full to overflowing. This is several weeks ago, and the water is still running as strong as ever, and ditches are having to be dug to convey it to a legitimate destination. Is it not strange how things come round to show how little practicability the Oppositionists possessed in their opinions on the Cheviot transaction. It will be a good thing for the country when some similar estates are dealt with in the same way. There is talk of something hatching in that line in this district.