INGLEWOOD AND NGATIMARU DISTRICTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8431, 27 March 1889, Page 3

INGLEWOOD AND NGATIMARU DISTRICTS.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY. [BT JAMBS KENWORTHT.] Aftbb leaving New Plymouth I had two days with Mr Thomas Drake, of the North End form, nearlnglewood. The shrubbery on the road frontage of this property has grown to attractive proportions, and proves fitting intTodootion ap the winding drive to the truly English aspect presented by the tall bright green laurel divisional fenceß which eiurround the dwelling, and enclose the garden and shnt out the cow yarde and buildings. Additions have just been made to these buildings, quite on the Home plan, fitted with stalls and other conveniences, and well drained, with the view of housing cows at night during winter, and thoß scouring both quality and quantity of milk for dairying purposes -when batter is usually scarce. The extensive cleaned np and ploughable paddocks on many farms in this peighbonrbqod enable the mowing machine to be. operated, and tbia year, for the first time, the proprietor of this farm obtained the use of a machine. The result on a small paddock was highly satisfactory, as, In the act of cutting, the machine lays out the grais appropriately for the first process in haymaking. There is savin? in, labour, expense, and in the important item of time. The cutting is so quickly done that the hay can be made and stacked before it could by hand labour in the ordinary way be all cut. Just a short outing in the buggy was proposed and entered upon, the intention being to go a* for and a Bhort distance down Durham Bond. It was three miles from oui starting point to Durham Road. The journey was continued for obout teo miles along this same Durham Road. If there are still dolefuls in New Plymouth Bt to the future of Taranaki, I should recommend as treatment a course of Durham Road. It would prove a sure specific against croak in any ordinarily constructed human being. The road is not metalled except in patches, but is level foj several miles. Ihe soil on either hand is good, and the clearings extensive j enougfe to show how. far-reaching the fiat land will be once the timber is all away and the plough at work, or the land laid down in permanent pasture- Dairying mast be, as indeed it already is, the staple Industry. From thu present primitiveness and small scale the operations will grow. Every year sees additions to the diirying ■took. All the time other improvements are in swing. It is not a rich man's road, but it is shaping well for what is commercially termed a " snug line." Mansions are not on the line, but neat and serviceable dwellings are plentiful. There wai plenty note. ' . . x . 1 had not gone with noting intentions, fend did not take notes, but passed along n it were in panoramic review, the various attractions and novelties indicating present well doing as regards the necessaries of life, with earnest strivings for future eotnfortt and possible wealth. Gardens of many shapes and stages, from makeshift, for potatoes only, uu to large and well fillfd kitchen gardens and orchards, and especially neatfront flower plots, with flowering flnd evergreen shrubs, were passed. Good apples ore grown in plenty. In places these were tempting to look Upon. Stopping to taste might have broken the obarm of the drive. I felt contented as it was with nothing to do but sit at ease and enjoy the ever varjing scene. My entertainer, who was driving, shouldered all respoßsibility, so that I was free from care, and heedless bb to the continued extension of this " short outing." After a few milea the country became less even on the left band, but still level j on the right, and there were slight windings and descents and ascents, but I cannot call anything to mind in the shape of a long descent and corresponding rise until nearing Horrockß* extenßive clearing. There were at moßt but two more of similar grades, yet nothing to prevent boggy or other vehicles travelling easily In summer while the roads nre dry. The country now was more broken, but the clearings disclosed considerable fiats, and plenty only gently rising bill sides, as well as occasional more abrupt and higher ranges and tortuous gullies. At about 10 miles from the railway crossing at the Durham Road station, a short descent was made to large clearings. That on the Jeff, basin like in chape, and Bnugly enclosed by the surrounding bills, was Mr Patterson's, aboct 2£ mileß from the Waitara bridge. Here we stopped. Mr Swanstou's place is on the right. There were attractions beyond of a different nntuio— in indifferent country — In the shape of winding roads, disclcsingtnarvelß in bugb scenery on that portion of road termed "1 be Zig-zag." Considering that we started for only a short drive, and hod placed 13 miles between our stopping point and tne North End Farm, and felt bound to return the same doy, the " Zig-zag " had to slide. As to busb, there was a beautiful patch on oar left as we proceeded from the roadway to the dwelling, such as would enchant the eye Of n landscape or foliage artist. The fiats and bill sldts, as a rule, here carry only very light buvh, in many oases scrub woutd be the fittest term, for the trees are wide apart, and not very formidable. Clearing is not therefore heavy « ork , and a common verdict by outsiders is that tho land is poor. As judged by the pasture it did not look particularly poor on any of the dealings. Here there was about an acre fenced off, full of Dfcarh all binds of garden stuff and ro. t crops, and on two tides of Ibe outer boundnrj, BDd about the dweilinp, a plentiful aeeortmett of useful herbs, choice flowerp, joucg shrubs, and, indeed, many more items limn I can particularise, net omitting rows of hcnltby »tr»wb«-rrjr plant*, and gooseberry nnd otber frnit bearing bufrhes— berries, of corns-, all gono. The prominent feature was the eunflowtr. lhese grew beside the pathway, and eet v id for boundary, and would be equally ueefu! as shelter had shelter been needed. Tbe bills with the bosh tbinon form a complete iibelter, and the gordm plot therefore requires none. This may account for tbe vigorous prowlh of the eonflowiTß. I won told tbe largest was 16 incbt s across. I measured for mj self, from within the rim, nnd it proved to be a tiifle over tbe 16 inches '.There were dozens over 10 and up to 12 jncbts. Maize was equally healthy io appearance. Potutot swe ro the staple, bu< ot cabbages, lurnipp, beetroot, and Kindred kinds, oot toulJ not desire to see or own better eamplbt. As a trial tobacco had Wo eown, and tbe leaves wete large one tb» stats }oo»«d qpito st healttj pwatlinwirom \mwf n fti