Subdivision 11.

Small Grazing-run No. 178, Block VII. (Homestead Allotment); 2,943 acres.

Agricultural and pastoral land, rising from sea-level to an elevation of 1,100 ft. This run comprises 128 acres of agricultural land and 2,815 acres of pastoral hills and downs. The agricultural land is all of good quality, and is in the vicinity of the homestead; it includes the garden, orchard, and part of the plantations, and the clover and wool-shed paddocks. About 1.200 acres of the pastoral land consists of a high limestone ridge, very steep and rather bare on the western face, but sloping more easily and well grassed on the top and eastern slopes; the remaining 1,615 acres of the pastoral consists of low spurs and small flats near the coast, much of it being ploughable. The access to the 1,615 acres just mentioned is so steep and difficult that cultivation of it beyond the growing root or fodder crops and grass is entirely precluded; the vegetation on it is tussock and native grass, with a little tauwhinu scrub in the gullies and on some of the hills. Watered by the Flaxbourne River, a spring near the house, the creek on the north, and possibly there is permanent water in other places. This run is situated on the main road between Blenheim and Kaikoura, and is fourteen miles distant from Seddon Railway-station. The improvements which are included in the price of the run consist of 686 chains of boundary and other fencing, the yards at the wool-shed, old stables, fowl-houses, and cow-shed in back yard (five buildings), and about 10 acres of plantation; all valued at £336 11s. The improvements which are not included in the price of the land, and which must be paid for separately by the tenant, consist of a one-story dwellinghouse about 56ft. by 40 ft., with attic rooms and additions 34 ft. by 14 ft., built of wood and roofed with iron, containing fifteen rooms and five fire-places, valued at £420; detached man's room and sheds, valued at £15; dairy, valued at £15; bachelors' quarters, valued at page 34 £70; wool-shed, built with wood and roofed with iron, holds 750 to 800 sheep, and accommodation for twenty-six shearers, valued at £120; stables near entrance-gate, three buildings, valued at £15; iron stable 90ft. by 20 ft., roofed with iron, containing harness-room and thirteen stalls, valued at £25; store-room 30 ft. by 18ft., with concrete floor and iron walls and roof, with groom's room 11ft, by 11ft, attached, valued at £60; blacksmith's shop, slaughterhouse and two other small huts adjacent, valued at £35: all valued at a total value of £775, repayable in fourteen years by fourteen half-yearly instalments of £39 2s. 9d. (Note.—Many of the buildings are old and in bad repair.)