NEW CANTERBURY LANDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9789, 4 March 1910, Page 4

NEW CANTERBURY LANDS.

THE UPPER ASHLEY COUNTRY. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., returned from Lis visit of inspection of the Crown lands in the Upper Ashley country on Wednesday night. Seen a reporter yesterday, he gave a short account of his trip and his impressions of the country. Starting from White Rock station on Tuesday morning in company -with Mr 0. H. Ensor, at Haylands station he was interviewed by several of the lessees of tho laud in the back country. The question of roading the country to the best advantage was very fully discussed. Mr J. O'Halloran stated the position in relation to the Government grant of £6UO to the Oxford Road Board for improving the means of communication with the Upper Ashley country known as Lee's Valley, the feeling being that the money should be spent on a road through the Ashley Gorge to give facilities for reaching the Oxford railway. Most of the others present informed Mr Forbes that they would be satisfied if Dobson's Road was improved to enable them to get out their wool. This they thought would be of the greatest advantage to tnose in the valley at. the present time. Mr O'Halloran. on the other hand, expressed the opinion that it was very desirable that the road should go up the Ashley Gorge to connect with the East Oxford railway station about twentytwo miles distant from the southern entrance to the valley"! After spendiug about half an hour with the deputation, Mr Forbes and Mr Ensor started on horseback for the valley, going by way of the Blowhard Track. They called at the Wharfdale station, and from there rode down the valley, which has an area of from twelve to fifteen thousand acres of flat land, to the south end, going to the Ashley Gorge and inspecting the route of the road advocated by Mr O'Halloran. Returning up the Avest side of the flat, they spent the night at the Snowdale hut. Next morning they took a course northwards right through the flat, and joined Dobson's Road, by which they returned to the White jAock station, having travelled abmit seventy-live miles, and having been twenty hours in the saddle.

The flat Mr Forbes found to. be strong and light over a considerable portion, but at the upper end there are several thousand acres of good swamp land. Some three or four thousand acres of the best of the land is freehold, the property of Mr Rudd. In subdividing the large amount of Crown land in the vicinity for closer settlement, a good deal of discretion would have to be exercised, seeing that the hill country is snow-covored in winter time, and every holding would require to include a fair portion of the low-lying flats. At tho present time the whole of the country is practically uninhabited, there being only huts used in the mustering seasons. What those occupying the land at the present time require is facilities for getting out wool to obviate, the necessity of bringing out the sheep to the front country to be shorn. Dobson's Road and the Oxford-Wharf dale Road were formed about thirty years ago as part of the public works scheme- to give jiccpss to the back country. The Oxford-Wharf-dale Road is practically a highway oi the past, slips having rendered it impassable; in fact, it is questionable whether more than a dozen vehicles have ever passed along it. Dobson s Road, which is about thirty miles in length, leading from the vicinity of Whits Rock into the head of tho valley, is passable for dray traffic, and for a comparatively small sum could be placed in good repair. With regard to the suggested Ashlev Gorge Road. Mr Forbes is of opinion that a thorough survey should lie made, and an estimate" of the cost of the whole workobtained before . anv expenditure on formation is decided upon. The block of 80,000 acres said to b» suitable for .settlement is comprised chiefly of the Wbarfdale and Snnwdnlo Runs', leased by Messrs H. Ensor and C. H. Ensor respectively and a lease-. hold held by Mr'Rudd.' Mr H. Knpnr has a. freehold block bordering on Wharfdale. Several thousands of acres on the flat would be plough able and should produce good crops, and tho hills are fair sheep "country, although the winter snows have to be taken into account. During l the past three or four years subdivisions of the Birch : Hill and White Rock Estates has I '—ought about closer wsMJaniaivt of the

country served by Dobson's Road, and improvement of the road is now much required.