THROUGH THE DISTRICT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11562, 19 May 1905, Page 2

THROUGH THE DISTRICT.

By " Rambler."

On the; Goat Valley Road, off the Main road, and close to the Westmere railway station, we find that well-known property, "Lily Bank, 1 ' so well remembered in the past, when occupied by Miss Watt. Now it is owned by Mr J. Wilkie. and under the management of Mr H. Guscutt still produces some of the best bred sheep (Lincolns) of the district. In the past Lily Bank held a high position in. sheep-breed-ing circles, as a glance at old sale and show reports will tell, and under the new Owner the same high standard has been maintained. 'On this farm the visitor will see as fine a class as are to be seen anywhere round about. The cattle are also a fine, well bred, useful lot. chiefly Shorthorns. During the time Mr "Wilkie- has had the "farm he has gone in for importing some of the best bred stud, sheep ami, cattle to be obtained, consequently they are found to .be a very high class and arj a bit better than the average throughout the district. The soil is good throughout; and suited for either pastoral or agricultural pursuits. Some portions at the back are a little- more broken thaai the front, still, it is not what could be called rough, as a great part of it could be ploughed if so desired. At the same time it affords good shelter -for stock, and from tlic nature of the soil it makes a good wintering farm. The buildings are good and substantial, consisting of a fine dwelling, woolshed, stables and others necessary for the successful working of the farm, which appears to be in good order, , and being so close (adjoining) to the railway station, the produce of the farm can be got. away easily -.to the various markets. Taken &1together, Lily Bank is a very valuable perty.The next farm on the inland side as that of our respected townsman, Mr H. B. t Dymock. This is a nice general purpose farm* and though it is not of the" same class of land as that in "the Westmere, still, I should say it will • carry a goodly number of stock. Any time I have passed this ' farm I noticed the stock appeared "to be in good condition. The land is a bit more broken than that on the . opposite side of th© Goat Valley; neverthe- i less, the soil is a good loam, and is generally fern land, but once the fern is got under, and the land ploughed, there appears to be very little trouble from it afterwards. The farm is at present occupied by Mr George E.U3sell, who carries on the business of mixed farming. The Goat Valley Eoad passes through the property, which is distant about eight miles from town. Mr F. Dymock comes next, and joins that of Mr Dymock sen. A good portion of -this farm is .very' similar to the oneabove described,, although that part nearer^ to the Brunswick is not so much broken. Part of this place was bush only a ,few years ago, but now there is very little left to remind one that such was the case. The land bears grass very well, and from all" I could see I should say it is- a very useful piece of land, on which, it desired, mixed farming could be carried on. Mr Dymock carries on the business of milking, and supplies to the Brunswick creamery (W.averley Coy.) and is, under favourable seasons; quite satisfied with his farm's ieturn. On the opposite side of the road we find Mr George Campbell, who has a very nice little farm indeed, and although only a few years ago a large part of it was bush, now the most of it is cleared and grassed land. Like some of his neighbours', land, some part of this is a bit broken. But this is only said in all these cases, so far, to indicate that it is not level, but at the same time, not to mean by broken, that it is lite ,the country ■ over in the Tokomaru. Mr Campbell manages to keep a good number of stock,, and has them in very good condition, too. Mr Campbell goes in for ' agriculture on his farm', as well as stock raising. And as far as crops are^ concerned he has-'had as gootPas the

average round about, in fact some of the root crops grown on this farm have been very good indeed. - The soil is of a deep loam on clay and sandstone, and is suitable for any 'kind of cfop. : " We ar.e now into what I look upon as $«>" best (or at least one of the best 1 * potato districts on this coast. Brunswick has always be«n looked upon as a great potato district, although tSiis past season- has ; not been so good as usual, on account of the dry spring and summer. Mr Campbell ifl one of the oldest settlers in this district and during the last Maori war saw active service in tho Kai Iwi Cavalry, under Captain John Bryce.

Next in rotation we come ta ' the farm of the lateP'Mr George" Wright; ' now ' occupied by *Mr James- Wright. This also is a good piece of land, and suited for almost anything a farmer may wish for. The soil is like what I have already said of others near it. When I first knew tkis land it was mostly all heavy fern, but this has long since disappeared, and now there are nice grassed paddocks instead. This property has also turned off some excellent crops, both grain and root. This farm' is romjDaratively flat country. There are very convenient farm buildifigfr on the place for carrying- on farm wotfK. Mr Wright also milks for the .creamery, and I consider his farm is well adapted for such a business, too.

All these farms I have described appear, so far as I could sce r to be well kept, and to be-cxcejstionally clear of noxious, weeds or out-gro-wiug gorae, etc.