THE CHEVIOT ESTATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4706, 26 July 1893, Page 2

THE CHEVIOT ESTATE.

» [FBOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.] POBT BOBINSON. In attempting to give a general idea oi tbe Cheviot Estate, it will perhaps be as well, in the first instance, to say something of the port, which will, for many years at any rate, be the principal channel through which supplies will be reoeived, and by which the produce from the property will reach the markets. For more than twenty years the whole of the wool grown on the station has been shipped by this mean., and the facilities now provided are quita sufficient for present requirements. Port Robinson, as the little bay is called, is a bight about a mite long, bounded at either end by reefe jutting out into the see. These reefs form part of a semi-circle, with an opening in the centre, through which the small steamers pass, and form some little protection from the violence of the waves which occasionally roll in after an easterly gale. In course of time, should the increasing trade of tbe port warrant it, it would not be at all a difficult' matter to build a breakwater on this reef. The stone for the purpose is to be got on the spot, and the removal of it would give the double advantage of reclaiming land on the sea frontage, and also giving more room under the cliffs, which at this point are somewhat abrupt. The stsamera are brought to an anchorage in six fathoms of water within less than a quarter of a mile from shore, a surf line is then run out from a buoy anchored within four chains of the end of the slip, the other end being made fast ashore. The surf-boat is launched from the t.pendof a well-built slip 365 ft in length, having a grade of one in tan. On running off the slip the boat is at once in sft of water at low tide, and floats off comfortably. She is then hauled off to the steamer by means of the surf line, and on completing her loading returns in the same way to the seaward end of the Blip, '-where a steel hawser is made fast to her and she is hauled up the Blip into the goods shed, some 20ft above sea level. This is accomplished by means of a powerful engine, with winding gear. The boat, an iron one, which was built by Meßßrs Anderson, of the Canterbury Foundry, weighs 9 tons, and will carry 12 tons dead weight. The engine is of 20 horse-power, fitted with multiplying gear by which ita capacity can be increased to 56 horse-power. Tbere is a well-built shed at the top of the slip measuring 85ft by 30ft which, with the engine-house, slip, and all the other buildings on the estate, including the mansion at the homestead, were designed by and erected under the supervision of Mr John Sinclair, who has been twenty-seven years on the property, and whose services have been retained by the Government. The boat is capable of taking sixty bales of wool or ninety bags of wheat at a trip, and can make on an average twelve trips per day, and as many as one thousand bales of wool have been shipped in one day. The Bteamers appear to lie comfortably enough, and the service can be worked with ease during the greater part of the year. The great advantage that the outlet by sea has over carriage by land will be seen when it is stated that the cost of conveying general merchandise by rail from Christchurch to Waipara is 27s per ton. To this has to be added the cartage from the railway to Cheviot, a distance of about thirty-five miles, over, for the greater pait of the year, decidedly bad roadß. The cost of carriage of the same goods by steamer from Lyttelton to Fort Robinson is 10s per ton. The distance from the port to the homestead by the Hurunui road, which is the only one available for heavy haulage, ia about 11 miles, but when the new road is finished the distance will be reduced to about six miles. This will bring the most remote part of the agricultural land on the estat. within ten miles of the landing service by a fairly level road. By this it will be seen that the estate will have to depend upon sea carriage. Arrangements have now been made with the owners of the s.s. Wakatu, which has supplied the trade for some time paßt, to look in every week, and there ia no doubt this convenience will be much appreciated. The goods Bhed is fitted with cranes and winches, and is iv first-clasß order, while the slip is at the present time being strengthened and repaired, in order that it may be fit to cope with the increased trado which is expected. AS A SANITOBITJM. There is a nice stretch of about a mile of beach reaching from the landing service to Gore Bay, In this bay otands the seaside residence of the late Mr Robinson. Ifc is situated in a piefcureeque spot under the hill on a nice pieceof flat land about forty acres in extent, facing the sea. The climate here is very mild, nofc a sign of frost having been seen during the present winter. This spot should make a splendid health resort, and would certainly compare favourably with Sumner. Beyond this is the mouth of the River Jed, where stands a pleasure-boathouse used by the late owner of the estate, and there is a nice sheet of water for rowing purposes. THE KOAD TO THH HOMESTEAD. Turuiug up the Jed Valley the present road fellows the river to the homestead, passing on tho way some nice pieces of well-grassed, flat land. On approaching tbo station proper the river, which lower

down ia confined ia deep gorgeß, opens oat and shows a Bhingly bed, winding considerably. Aboufc half a mile from the mansion are eeveral houaeß, one of which has been let to Mr Bruce, and is to be u?ed aa an accommodation-house for travellers. TOWN AND SUBURBAN SITES. Fronting the large house are what areknown as the fl .x paddock and North and South deer parks. Theße aro comprised in an amphitheatre about two thousand acres in extent, for the most part beautifully level, and Burrnunded by gently-rolling downs. Tho land in this area is of very rich quality, with a heavy cl»y Bubsoil. In places it is rather wet, but can be drained at little cost. Hero it is intended to lay off a township surrounded by small suburban areas of agricultural land, for which tbe spot is eminently suited. It will be poßsiblo, by using a creek running along the high knd on the north-east boundary of this block, to provide the larger portion of this area with a high pressure water Bupply. The position iB most suitable for a township, being at the junotion of the main lines of communication, viz., the road running north and nouth from the Hurunui to the Waiau, the roads westward to the Wart and Tortnore country, that to the port and other lines opening up contiguous lands. The site ib central and conveniently situated, with due regard to the agricultural and pastoral divisions of Cheviot. The estate being more or less isolated, when the contemplated improve* menta to the roads are completed it ia probable that it will draw a considerable amount of business from the Burrounding country, and there is no reason why in time a flourishing township should nofc be in existence on tv>is '-pot. THK BUILDINGS. The large woolshed on the property alone remains unlet, haviotr been reserved for the convenience of tbe present lessees of the various blocks. The other buildings have been let in most instances to the persona who were in occupation under the late owners of Cheviot. These, with the small paddocks attached, bring in a rental 1 of about -8-140 per annum. OENKBAIi FEATURES. The estate comprises about 83,000 acres, , and is bounded on the north by the river . Waiau, along which runs the splendid rabbit-proof fence erected by the Eabbit 1 Board. It also takes in a bush Bection of k 296 acres oa the other Bide of the ) river, which is the only native ( timber of any Bize on the property. Down the western boundary runs another substantial rabbit fence, which is said to •" have cost JE2SO per mile. The fence i extends in an irregular line for about I fifteen miles, and Bhuts the estate off from 5 the Mount Palm, St Leonards and Kaiwarra stations. Thiß line of fence is guarded by three men (for whom , cottages have been placed at intervals) to prevent tbe inroad of rabbits, _ while the northern fence is similarly guarded by two men. The river Hurunui forms the southern boundary, while the property extends to the sea on the east. As rabbits have been, and occasionally are, killed on the e.t.t., a man is kept on the property whose 5 special duty it is to inspect the run " periodically to prevent the inroads of the [ pest. The highest point on the estate ia • Benmore, which rises to a height of 1750 ft > above sea level, while the Wart mountain " reaches 1630 ft. The Seaward range rises 5 to an altitude of 1181 ft. A fine piece ! of table land on the Port Hills is 784 ft L high, and the saddle on the Hurunui road ' is 492 ft. Some of the downs overlooking ■ the homestead flat rise to a height of 299 ft) ■ the ridge from the homestead to Waiau J along the line of dray road to the Hurunui 3 is 213 ft, and the land on the banks of the L Waiau at the north end of the Waiau flat | is at an altitude of 90ft. The average 1 height of the agrioultural land is about ' 200 ft, while the downs range from 500 ft up ■ to the highest point given above. The | homestead is situated at a height of 180 ft. I Snowfalls are rare, and do not lie for any ■ length of time. THB BLOCKS. 1 The conntry is divided into nine blocks, 1 viz., the Homestead, East and West Waiau, Seaward Bange, Port Hills, ' Hurunui, Benmore, Tormore and Wart < 'blocks. As far as could be ascertained, ' agricultural areas are being surveyed on 1 the Homestead blook, where the numero us fine hedges, fences, natural divi--1 sions and quality and character of the land offer splendid facilities for 1 Buch settlement. On the Waiau downß, | which is admitted to be land of magnificent qnality, and also on the Hurunui flats it is estimated that there nre at least 20,000 acres of good agricultural country, with another 10,000 ocres of contiguous low-lying downs, in addition to a large proportion of the Wart, Tormore, and Port Hills blocks, which is capable of being ploughed and cultivated. From what could be gathered the scheme of settlement includes, where practicable, the letting of areas, including both flat land and hill-sides together. The agricul- ■ tural areaa will probably vary from 100 acres to 300 acres outside the small farm and suburban holdings. Thehill lands will be cnt up into areas of from 500 to about 2500 aores. The immediate attention of the Survey Department is. being direoted to the subdivision of the short lease seotions, viz., the Waiau, Homestead, Hurunui and Port Hill blocks,, comprising in all abont 37,000 acres. These will probably be placed on the market in Ootober next. The remainder af the estate will be surveyed and offered for selection on or before April, 1894, when., the leases expire. DAIBY FABMS. The grasa bas grown luxuriantly during, the winter, and feed is plentiful on allparts of the property. In addition to the area fit for cropping a large poi tion of the land is admirably suited for dairy farming. If a dairy factory were established on the estate, there _b na doubt, good results would be obtained. If a cool store were erected at the port the butter could be taken to Lyttalton by the weekly steamer and placed on board the homeward, bound Bteamers within Bix hours. Thiß industry should be the more profitable on. the property, for the reason that the product occupies but small space, and would, cost less in proportion for freight, than, wool or agricultural produce. Althongh very large sums of money are being spent by the Government on Cheviot,. it must be remembered that the bulk o£ : the money goes in wages, and is spent i_L the interests of settlement.