ANNANDALE : PIAKO.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 195, 19 March 1887, Page 2

ANNANDAL E : PIAKO.

Mr W. She?h"ejid Allen, of Woodbead Hall, Staffordshire, England, who recently purchased the above estate, together with Mrs Allen, and several members of their family have for some weeks past been residing at Annandaie, having come oat from home with the intention of spending a cpuple of months on their New Zealand property. Annandaie is situated about twelve miles from Te Aroha, on the Te Aroha.Morriusville coach road, being about two miles distant from the latter township, which is alsfo a railway junction. The road referred to arid the WaikatoTe Aroha railway ruii parallel through the property, dividing it into two unequal partions j and the Piako railway station is within a few hundred yards of the house. The estate comprises some 2,400 acres. The property was we believe originally acquired by Judge j Gillies, from whom Mr W A Murray formerly M.H.R., for the Bruce County' Otago, purchased it abjut ten or twelve yeara ago. Whilst in his possession, Mr Murray expended a large amount of capital in bringing the land into cultivation, fencing, draining, etc. Mr Muiray at tir^t liv&f in a small cottage erected on the bank of the Piako river, but some six years since built the present dwelling house, which is most pleasantly situated about four or five hundred yards back from the road, commanding a magnificent view of the Te Aroha ranges, and intervening country. It is a two story building continuing about a dozen rooms, having a varandah on two sides, one side being enclospd by glass, and here a number of vines are in full bearing, being at the present time loaded with fruit. The house is well sheltered by trees of various kinds, the stables and farm yard being within easy reach, but quite out of sight ! from the house. Mr Allen first came ' out to New Zealand about two years ! ago, and landing at Dunedin, came up [north by easy stages, visiting all the chief places of importance en route. He came out with the intention of purchasing land in New Zealand if he saw in1 ducement to do so, and visited a number of properties for sale in the Auckland province. He was most favourably impressed with Annandaie, both from the general good quality of the land, accessibility by rail and road, and being so advantageously situated within a few miles of To Arohn, which, having the double advantage of possessing a valuable and most extensive goldfield, and also mineral waters of wonderful curative properties to which visitors from all parts of the world resort, will probably within a few years become a large and important town. The price paid for the property by Mr Allen to Mr Murray was between £5 and £6 per acre, the title Land Transfer. Mr Allen took possession in March 1886, Mr H. Buste I&ih| v fengaged as manager of the estntei%WoJt\responsible position he continues to hold. At the time Mr Buttle took charge 1000 acres were cleared, cultivated, and divided into paddocks, but during the year that has since elapsed great improvements have been carried out, a largo sum of money expended in various works of a permanent charnc- | ter, and some 200 acres additional been brought into cultivation. Of the remaining 1200 acres, it is intended that about 800 acres, principally ti tree and light awamp shall be brought into cultivation as quickly as possible, sown into turnips next season, and afterwards laid down to permanent pasture ; whilst some 60 to 100 acres will be planted this winter with blue gum9,pinus insiguus,Bvcamore, elms, etc. Of about 400 acres sown down by Mr Murray, but which required renewing, a portion has already been resown, on which the young grass looks exceedingly well, while ft further portion is now under turnips, and will be sown down nextspring, the balance lies ploughed and will be laid down in grass at once. Fifteen acres were last season' planted with Native and English trees. Mr Allen sets great value on trees judiciously placed, both for shelter and ornament, and wherever possible in the paddocks has had clumps of ti tree left as shelter for the cattle. It is not intended to grow corn beyond what is requirec] for home consumption, this season the corn crop consisted of fifty

acres of oats. Of 250 acres now in turnips, 50 acres of swedes, which for some time promised well, have been much injured by blight, about 50 acres sown with yellow aberdeeh, not long up, are looking healthy, whilst the balance, all j swedes, promise to yielJ an excellent crop. The stock on the occasion of our recent visit consisted of 500 tour and six tooth ewes, being about three quarter bred Lincolns, with which &outh Down rams were running ; 1000 fattening wethers, and 200 head of cattle, about half of which are fit for the butcher or | nearly so. To sum up with respect to j Annandale we may say, that as a whole ihis property is well known for its excellent crops and grass. AboutlGOO acres may be classed as very good land 400 of moderate quality, whilst about 300 acres are decidedly poor. Mr Allen is a gentlemen of large means, has long experience in farming his owrrproperty in England, as already jftat&l, has xpiiileJ a/ljarg<s sum of mqnev; Jn improving Ms Annandale ' property, is arranging iof further imp|rov€|rnefHis on ai extensive sVe, and is altdgetnijr a class of settler that will greatly benefit the district, and we wish New Zealand had many more such. Mr Allen about the same time as he bought Ann&ndale, also bought some 6,000 acres of the Oropi ba9h, near Tauranga from Mr T. Buddie of Auckland. This property U principally unimproved, contains a large quantity of useful timber ; it is the intention to work it in connection with Annandale, as a rough run for cattle which will later on be drafted to the latter place. It is distant from Tauranga about fourteen miles, having four miles of road frontage. In conclusion we may state that Mr VV. Shepherd Allen is a well known figure in the House at Home ; having safe in the interests of the Liberal party as member for New Castle Under-Lyne, for twenty one consecutive years ; a con- ! stituency numbering 18,000, prior to the new Reform Bill returning two members ; since the Reform Bill returning but one member. The fact of being continuously returned for so many years, retaining his seat during so many changes of Government, speaks volum< s for Mr Allens capabilities as a politician, and for the high esteem in which he is held by all classes of society in the district from which he hails. He resigned his seat at the time of the general election last j ear, and was mainly instrumental in obtaining the return of a Liberal Unionist candidate. Ha has for many years taken a deep interest in the Colonies, more especially New Zenland whtchuwing to itsuiagnificentclimate, great mineral wealth, and valuable resources generally, he believes has a gr< a' future before it, ami it is principally with the desire that some of his sons may later on come out to permanently reside in the colony that he has invested in the properties referred to. Mr Allen is a Wesleyan, and takes a deep interest in Church matters and the cause of temperance, nnd is a gifted speaker both on the platform and in the pulpit. He with his family sail from Auckland on the return journey via 'Frisco on March 28th, but hopes to pay periodical visits to the colony. We wish them bon voyage. FURTHER PURCHASE OF LAND. Since writing the above we learn that Mr Allen within the past few days' has purchased some land from Mr Cholnnmlley adjoining Annandale which will l-ring the total acreage of his Piako property up to close on 3000 acres.