ARDGOWAN.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 34

ARDGOWAN.

July 27. — Ardgowan is, as is generally known, an estate purchased by the Government from the. New Zealand Land Company in ISO 6. It is situated from two aad a-h&lf to six miles

nor'-west of Oamaru. The estate was cut up into sections suitable for dairy farming, for which it is specially adapted. At the ballot the sections were secured by a class of settlers who apparently xmderstand the business, as evidenced by the fact that up to date only four of the original settlers have transferred their sections. Two of the transfers date two years back, and the other two within the last month. Mr Smith sold out on account of inconvenience to his family, who are all tradespeople in town and the distance was too far' for them to walk in the winter. The purchaser, Mr Rawcliffe, is one of the sturdy class of settlers, and a chat with him gives one the assurance that he has come to stay. The other transfer, between Measis W. Crmpbell and W. Fraser, was the outcome of an illness contracted by Mr Campbell, which necessitated an operation, and subsequent illness compelled him to give up one of the most compact sectioiis on the estate. His successor, Mr Fraser, has spent tho greatest portion of his life at agricultural work, and is thoroughly adapted to the life of a farmer.

Roads. — The roads intersecting the estate are at present in fairly good condition, but past winters have shown the neces&ity of gravel, as in wet weather we can hold our own with other districts in the mud and slush line.

School. — The Waiareka school was shifted to the south-western corner of the estate, which is a convenience for the settlers in that direction, but the more northerly settlers have received no benefit from the removal, as they still have to send their .children to the town schools, although at first a hidden promise was given to them that a school would be erected for the northern half of the estate on a section set apart for the purpose.

Farm. — Most of the wheat crops are sown, but standing at Smith's corner one can see teams in all directions busy ploughing, harrowing, sowing, etc. Altogether farm -work is. in a more advanced state that at this time last year. Now all the settlers aie well up in their work; last season the reverse was the case. There are yet some smairpatches of potatoes to be dug. The yield throughout this season was nothing great, averaging about four tons to the acre.

Threshing. — I was a little surprised to hear the hum of a threshing mill to-day. Mr J. Farquharson, late of Ngapara, now of Waiareka, has been working his mill in the Oamaru district this season, and is now finishing up here. Mr John Dalgleish has about 15,000 bushels of spring threshing to do. I understand his mill will be out next week. x Creamery. — The Taieri and Peninsula Company have purchased a, reserve for the purpose of erecting a creamery, and the settlers have that company's promise that all will be in working order in time for the flush of milk early in the spring. ' The building has not been commenced yet, so they will have to huny up to keep their promise. s