CHATS WITH FARMERS. A Visit to Mb Thomas Brown's Farm, OWAKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 9 July 1891, Page 7

CHATS WITH FARMERS. A Visit to Mb Thomas Brown's Farm, OWAKE.

A trip to Owake without paying a viait to Mr Brown's fine estate would be singularly incomplete. Mr Brown, as is pretty generally known, purchased the property of the late Mr Miller, some one and a-half or two miles up the valley. But Mr Brown's property in the district has" been considerably added to since then by the purchase of what is known as the Big Mill property, aoross the lake. The former comprises some 850 acres, and the latter 1220 acre*. The property across the lake is now being fenced, a belt of clearing five chains wide having been made right round it, and one or two email patoheii of olqaring d«ft« ia o&ar

parts of the blocs. Beyond this very little has been done, but those who know Mr Brown will not have muoh difficulty in coming to the conclusion that in the course of a very few years the physical appearance of this country will be very muoh altered. Oa the property up the valley, whioh is of course the - homestead, there is about 500 acres of cleared and open country, the balance being practically in its native stats. Mr Brown does not know exactly how muoh clearing has been done since be assumed possession of tho estate, but it cannot be much less, if any, . than 250 acres. The whole of this property is- ring fencad, and subdivided into suitably sizad paddookF. The fenciDg is of an exceptionally substantial order, and 1 - to in some measure cope with the rabbit pest, Mr Brown has imported five miles of wire netting, whioh is now being ereoted round the moat infected parts of tbe boundary. Before being ereoted about 6in of the end cf the netting is dipped in tar. This will enable the wire to last muoh longer underground ; but in addition to tbis it ia B»id the rabbits have a great abhorrence of* tar, so that if this be true the tar will prevent the rabbits from attempting to make inroads through any part that may happen not to be altogether securely rabbitproof. Mr Brown estimates that it would take about nine miles of netting to go all round the property, including the road lines, and make it thoroughly rabbit-proof, but considers the five miles will be sufficient in the meantime, The results are awaited with some interest.

The buildings on the estate comprise a dwelling house of 13 rooms, dairy factory, byre, oalfsheda, &c, and in course of erection there ia a 12-stalled stable, with ohaffhouse, feedroom, &c, and comfortable men's quarters. The dwelling house is ereoted in a healthy, elevated situation, oommanding a good view, yet at the aame time well sheltered from the prevailing storms. It is well finished and commodious, and is Bupplied with every detail that can lead to the convenience and com.fort of the inmates. The conveniences are such, indeed, as one rarely expects to find jn such a comparatively speaking out-of-the-way part of the world. The bathroom is fitted up with hot and cold water, of both of which there is at all times an abundant supply. The water, in the first instance^ ia pumped up into tanka placed at a proper level at the house by means of force pump 3 from never failing dams in the valley, about 200 ft below the level of the house. This ensures a constant supply of water for all purposes at all seasons j and to say that the whole thing is complete and satisfactory will convey some idea of the time and expense that must have been necessary before this could have been attained. A little distance to the rear of the dwelling house i 9 the orchard, fairly well stocked with a variety of fruit tress. We understand it is Mr Brown's intention to devote a little more attention to tihs branch. The orchard is splendidly Bituated, and should yield good returns. In the valley to the right of the bouse, and in full view of it, is the byre— a large building about 100 ft square. Round three sides of it are the double stalls, 54 in number. The centre is open for the Btorage of fodder or anything else for which it may be required, or perhaps in the future for making additional stalls if they are found necessary. With the exception of this part of the building the whole is laid with oonorete, which slopes to a gutter running along at the back of the stalls, and which in turn has a fall outwards. From the dams already referred to the water ib laid on to the byre. There is a good fall and a Btrong pressure of water. There are .taps at each corner of the building and plenty of hose, so that the water can be made to play on any part of the building. For 'cleaning purposes this is admirable. Everything is swished into the gutter, and .thence the flow of the water along the gutter, which soon turns into i strong stream, carries everything outside, practically into a manure heap. Everything inside is left " as clean as a new pin." |This mode of cleans* ing the byre is one of the best, as well as one of the most expeditious, I have Been. A tramway ia laid along at the bead of the stalls, ; and though the buildiog is at present used as a byre only, it iB adapted in every rasped; |for stallfeeding purposes. It is not Mr Brown's intention, however, to venture in this direction till the railway runs right into the flat, if, indeed, he does so then. Altogether about 100 cows are kept, but as yet not more than 75 have been in milk at one time. The cleanly and complete appearance of the byre, ia, a, treat' to witness j and though the expense in connection with all the arrangements and conveniences is beyond the means of most dairymen, still many bints can be got which would be exceedingly useful and inexpensive in a much smaller way.

The dairy factory is situated over the brow of the hill from the byre. Only the manufacture of butter was gone into last year, but the factory is fitted up with all the machinery in every detail necessary for the manufacture of cheeße. Last season tha faotory waa supplied with the mlik of 250 cows. The price paid to outside suppliers was 3d per gallon. The result of tbe season's operations has been eminently satisfactory, especially as regards the prioe obtained for and quality of the butter. In this connection I will just quote a report on the subject which Mr Brown bad just received from his London "agents, and which he waa kind enough to show nee : — " Butter ex Doric Good oondition, correct colour and saltness, fair flavour. Kegs of about 601b net are preferable to tubs. Valuation, 115s to 116s — sold at 116 a." Thiß must be very gratifying alike to the proprietor and the manager oE Che faotory, Mr W. R, Henderson. In counec ion with the packages referred to, Mr Brown did not exaotly remember what partisalar kind they were, but said he just tojk what he could get to buy in the market at the t : me, and believed they were of various kind?. There are still some three or four tons of butter in the factory ready for export. Lat ua hope tbe results cf this will be as satisfactory as tbat sent by the Doric. Mr Brown complains very bitterly of the heavy charges in placing butter on the London market, especially those in regard to tbo freezing and shipping. One would hardly credit the charges that are made, and from the way things are managed it would almost appear that the freezing and shipping companies work into each other's bands. Mr Brown is of opinion that before tbis branch of industry can be fully developed there will have to be a material reduction in tbe rate of charges. At present they are a very serious drawback to the proper development: of \he industry, whioh would undoubtedly prove a source of revenue to the country.

We next had a look at the calves' shstia, which are situated across the road from the factory. Quite a number of calves were reared on skim milk last season, and they did fairly well. There iB not much doubt, however, that with the same attention and care, and with the superior housing they have, tha calves would have thriven very muoh better bad the milk bean of a slightly better quality. A quantity of the skim milk was given back to the Bettlers at £1 per gallon, but Mr Brown will not continue this in tbs future, uule«a those who want it bring separate vessels to pud it in. Mr Brown is afraid, aud rightly bo, of anything tbat may have the aligbteat tenderjo? to taint or otherwise injure tbe milk, And ifl* tilts oa avgry wa boiag thoroughly washed

and soalded before leaving the faotory. It is only natural, therefore, that he should objeot to put skim milk into them afterwards. Coming now to a short note of the stook, we find there are no less than 30 horses. They are all considerably above the average, some of them indeed, beiDg prize-takers at various shows. Several of the mares are of a' first-class stamp ; some of them being picked from the stables of some of the best breeders in the vioinity of Oamaru and Ohrißtohurob, at long prices. We next take- a glance at the cows, and a fine herd of animals they are ; as fine a selection as any dairyman would wish to clap his eye on. Among the Alderneys are some firstclass animals — prize takers at the Oamaru and other shows. The total number of cattle on the estate is about 400 head. Thia of course inoludea the cows, and there is a lot of young •took. I saw a draft of fine fat bullocks which bad been purchased by Messrs Latta Brothers, and which they were taking delivery of at the time of my visit. These bullocks bad not been amongst turnips, nor had they any special treatment j yet tbeg were thoroughly prime. Mr Brown had not a great aoreage under green crop laßt year, or indeed under any kind of crop. The few aores of turnips are, however, a good crop. Together* with the one or two stacks of oaten sheaves, which are to be cut into chaff, they will carry the etook through the winter months very well. We went over a lot of the land that has been cleared of the bush. There waß plenty of feed on it, notwithstanding that it seemed to be fairly well stooked. Mr Brown has left patoheß of bush here an i there bo as to provide shelter for the stock— a vey wise plan. We came to a part of the ground which had been reserved by the previous owner for sawmilhng purposes. In clearing this Mr Btown cave instructions— which apply in fact to all the clearing that has been done, for the simple reason that they take up less ground standing than lying-that all trees over 3ft in diameter were to be left standing. We counted those left standing m the thiokest parts, and there did not seem to be more than half a dozen, at the moßt, to the apre. " Now, pertinently asked Mr Brown, "is it worth while keeping land like this looked up for years for the sake of theße few trees?" The greater part of that out down was scrub, and the rest little better than saplings, and of course I agreed with him—that it was not worth while for the sake of theße few trees, especially as they had not been damaged in any way, and could be still utilised for sawmilhng purposes if neoessary. Mr Brown assured me that a large portion of the land reserved by the Government was no bettei than that we were looking at. The valuable trees were bo few and far between that it would not pay to take them out. We oame to the much-talked-of block IX, which has no road to it except through Mr Brown's property. Mr Brown does not altogether stop the seleotors coming through his land, but still it is unsatisfactory* to say the least of it, and such a state of things should not be allowed to exist. Mr Brown has a great deal to say on the question of roads. He is strongly of opinion that it is the duty of the Government to provide roads to the land; What is the good of settling the land if the Bottlers have no roads to it ? He also holds that the Government should metal all roads before handing them over to the local bodies; and further, that roads Bhould be made to the land already sold instead of constructing roads to land that will be placed in the market at some future date. • , But I must draw my visit to a dose. At tome future time I will reter to the dairy faotory when it can be seen in full working order. In conclusion I would just say that — eremoreof those who have some meansat then? disposal to lay it out in the manner Mr Brown has done, there would perhaps be less of the cry about capital and labour. Mr Brown bas spared no expense to make that comparatively small part of bis adopted oountry where he has debided to Bpend the remainder of his days comfortable and pleasant. He has provided labour at no starvation wageß to a large number of men, improving his property, improving the district generally, and giving to it a commercial and an industrial importance hitherto entirely unknown to it. Lastly, too, in these days when improvements are taxed up to the hilt— when indeed there is a tax on the sweat of a nian's bow: the harder be works the more he Is taxed— in that light, Mr Brown has contributed a valuable asset to the State. I have now only to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr and Mis Brown. Mro Brown, by her kindness and unbounded hospitality, has the happy knack of making her guests feel at home and satisfied with themselves and all around them, Visitors are always made welcome, and be the traveller one of the most lewly— homeless, hungry, footßore, ana weary — if be goes past Mrs Brown's kitchen without a good square meal a*nd an order for a bed it ia bis own fault.— Olutha leader.