THE PELORUS SOUND.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 165, 22 November 1912, Page 4

THE PELORUS SOUND.

NOTES BY A TRAVELLER

The Pel mis' Sound district is unique in more ways than one. It is a country practically without roads —only bridle-tracks —except in a few places. Consequently the settlers pay no road rates, there being no county council or road board to receive them. The only rate paid is one to the hospital at Picton. The thirds and fourths accruing from the sections have been expended in the maintenance of the bridletracks. There are over 250 miles of tracks, but they are seldom used, as the general "mode of travelling is by motor-launch. The Sounds on the whole is pastoral country, very few cattle being kept. In the greater part of the country it is birch land, with little soil, and in many none whatever, just yellow clay right on the surface, steep, and often rocky. The greatest drawback up to the present with which the Sounds farmers have had to contend, is fern, which is everywhere. After a new burn the grass only lasts about three years when up comes the fern, taking complete possession. On most farms they cannot use cattle for crushing, as the land is not suitable, and as no dry sheep, or only a limited number, are pastured, it is impossible to crush the fern with a ewe flock. But now that danthonia is making rapid headway, the days of the fernpest are numbered, though it may be years before that is attained. The wool grown in the Sounds is of good quality, fetching satisfactory prices. Nearer the mouths of the Sounds the bush has been of a more mixed nature, consequently the land is infinitely better and much cleaner, and fern is easier to get rid of. On some farms tauwhinie is in evidence, but as it usually improves soil in which it grows, the settlers are not afraid of it.

One serious pest which will need careful watching l in the Sounds is foxglove. On some farms it has got a hold which will be expensive to eradicate. The usual method is to pull the plants. It is not labourious work in any sense, and the settlers think that to pay a regular wage of one shilling an hour and food is too nvich, but as labour is unprocurable in the Sounds, or practically so, it is a case of "needs

must." The mail services are on the whole good, and mostly give the settlers a delivery twice a week.