AMONG THE TEVIOT FRUITGROWERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 4

AMONG THE TEVIOT FRUITGROWERS.

By Robert Nairn.

For some years past large quantities of fruit— mostly apricots and peaches — have been offered for sale in Christcburch from the Teviot. But where is Teviot ? is the question some of your readers ask, as has often been asked during the last few years. The reply, in many cases, has been very indefinite — " somewhere in Otsgo," or "down south," or "up north." Thinking it may interest your many readers, I send you a report of a visit to the place itself.

Teviofc is just one day's journey from Dunedin, which place you leave by the 8 5 a.m. train and reach Lawrence at 12.20 pm. Ffrom Lawrence you take coach to Roxburgh, which iB a distance of 40 miles, and occupies about six hour*, so that the cml is reached about 7 p.m. The coach journey is through much hilly country of an uninteresting character; no bush of any kind, only scrub here and there. The monotony of the journey is relieved by a pleasant conversation with Mr Hugh Craig, one of the proprietors of the splendid lines of coaches which serve the interior of Otago. Mr Craig has been in the district since the gold rush broke out in 1862, and can give many interesting accounte of the old goldfields which are now worked out. Roxburgh is an old mining township, situated on the banks of the Molyneux. At r k the back of the town.

ship are the Teviot hills, the seat of the fruitgrowing industry of Otago. This chain of hills extends some miles, and runs north-west and south-weßt. The hills are of considerable height, very bare of bush — only a few bunches of scrub to be seen in places. The general appearance of the hillsides would not suggest to one that it was good ground for fruit-growiDg, but experience has proved it to be unequalled for (this purpose. The principal gardens at present, and where most of the fruit is grown, are from two to four miles north, of Roxburgh, on what is called Coal, Creek Flat, in a beautiful bend in the hills, which lies open to the sun and is well sheltered from what winds they get. It is hero that the industry was started, and it is very interesting to know the start of what has grown to such large prop ortions.

HOW IT STARTED was as follows]: — Nearly 30 years ago a number of miners took up 'gold-mining claims on the banks of the Molyneux, which they worked with varying success. To be away from the floods to which the Molyneux is subject, they built their cottages on the rising ground close to the hillside. One of their number, Mr Joseph Tamblyn, sent to* Dunedin for a few fruit trees, which grew remarkably and fruited prolifically. Others who saw them started gardens and planted trees, with similar results. After a while ttiey had more fruit than they could use, and sought and found a profitable market for it. This gave them the idea that it was possible to add to their income and fill Up their spare time, of which they have a good deal in mining life during the summer time through want of water for sluicing) and at other times from floods in the river. From such a small beginuing has started what is now a large industry, and which can be extended to many times its present dimensions. The growers number perhaps 25, and their fruit gardens range from one to ten acres* Perhaps it would bo as well to say just here that although these men have much in their favour as fruitgrowers, yet they have also much to contend with before placing their fruit in the market. I will first tell what they have in the way of advantages, and then what the disadvantages are.

THE CLIMATE is superb, and most favourable for fruit culture. The summer is warm and the air clear and dry. These are the atmospheric conditions which give to the fruit the rich colouring that is to greatly admired. The fruit also keeps well when grown in such a climate, as has been proved, especially with strawberries, which have been sent to Dunedin with great success and in prime condition, even after 43 miles travel up hill and down dale in a spring van before reaching Lawrence, and then 60 miles by train. The winters are sharp, but do not affect the trees, as the wood ripens so well in this sunny spot ; in fact, the heavy frosts are more beneficial than otherwise. The advantage they have over us in Canterbury and other places near the eastern coast of New Zealand is, they are quite free from the easterly winds, which do co much to cut .vegetation. Indeed, I was informed on the best authority that the wind does not blow from the east three times a year. The soil is especially favourable for fruitgrowing, and is varied in quality and variety, enabling all kinds of fruit to be grown in the district. Some of it is of a rich stiff nature, suiting plums and apples especially well, but most of the orchards are on a stony soil, in which almost all trees grow luxuriantly and fruit freely. These are the advantages, and now for

THE DISADVANTAGES

they have and the troubles they have overcome. The greatest trouble they have to put up with is the distance from the railway — from 40 to 43 miles, much of which is hilly country. This is a great difficulty to face, especially m £he carriage of such fruits as peaches, apricots, and strawberries, none of which can be picked loog before placing them on the market. But these plucky people meet the difficulty bravely, hoping that in the near future the railway will come near Roxburgh; and I make bold to prophecy that if it doee, ' ten times the quantity of fruit ~will be grown in the district. These 40 odd miles are travelled at present two or three times a week by the principal growers, and the journey takes 12 hours to accomplish — that is, with two hours for rest and horse-feeding. Often it is travelled at night. This enables the growers to pick and pack fruit all day, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon leave for Lawrence, which is reached in time to eaten the 6.30 a.m. trail? for Dunedin, thereby landing fruit in that city within 24 hours after picking. Of course this is not' the rule, most of* the growers sending the fruit away before midday, and reaching Lawrence before midnight ; and by the kindness and consideration of the stationmaster, who has a van always ready for them on the siding, they are able to get their cases away by first train 'in the morning. In, some seasons late spring frosts cut the fruit after it has set, and occasionally they have nor'-westers, which do considerable damage to the trees, especially to those that are heavily laden. Rabbits are also an evil to be reckoned with, and almost every garden has been made proof with wire netting. I quite forgot to mention that the cost of trenching and preparing the ground for planting the trees is a serious consideration in the first outlay ; especially the stony soil, from which all the large rocks have' to be removed. This cost from £30 to £50 an acre to prepare, which is certainly a formidable item ; but if you could see the results of the work in the growth of the trees and the quantity of highclass fruit, you would understand how short s time it takes to recoup the outlay.

HOW THE FRUIT IS SOLD

is worthy of mention. For years past every grower Bent his frait to town, and beiDg so far away from the market himself did not know where to dispose of ifc to the bpst advantage, with the result that sometimes ' Dunedin was glutted and other centres were quite bare. They profited by this folly, formed an association called the Teviot Fruitgrowers' Association, and appointed Messrs Lo'rie and Co., of Dunedin, their agents. Now all fruit is consigned to Mefsra Lorie, and they distribute to all consuming centres north and south of Dunedin, some even going as far as Wellington. The different markets from Christchurch to Invercargill get regular supplies, and no one place is glutted. The result is that prices are good. The cost of sending the. fruit to Dunedin is a serious consideration. From Roxburgh to Lawrence it is 2s per cwt, and from Lawrence to Dnnedin lOd per cwt. Cartage from station, commission, cases, &c , also mount up, making, in all, an average of £d per Ib. The quantity grown this fctason is estimated at from 16,000 to 20,000 cases, and has been tent away duriDg the last few weeks at from 20 to 25 tons weekly. Where such quantities are used up is a wonder to some people; but when I tell you that Messrs Stevenson, of Dunedin, are taking 30 tons of plums for jam, besides many tons of apricots and peaches for jam and canning, you will understand how the demand for such quantities comes. There is every prospect in the near future of a cannery being started in Roxburgh, and if it will pay to Btart ono anywhere m New Zealand Teviot is the place. It would not be out of place to say that with one or two bxceptione