CONTINUING the Tour to the South published on November 11, 1871. The correspondent is now on his way to Tathra.
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I NEXT started for Tathra, the nearest shipping port of the district, about nine miles off. After getting out of town I passed the parsonage and a few farms, going down a slope of scrubby rise opposite what was pointed out as Murdering Range.
A few miles beyond this I turned to the left, and at the end of a quarter of a mile found myself at Warragubru, the property and resident of Messrs Allen and Woods, who are, without doubt, two of the largest agricultural producers in the district. Their properties at Warragubra, Jenkin's Flat and Tarraganda, comprise about 3000 acres, principally a rich agricultural land, having a river frontage on every farm.
Near the comfortable house of Mr Allen there are capital farm building, including a large barn and milking-shed, dairy, dray-house, stables etc. About 120 cows are being milked on the farm this season.
The great feature of the place is the immense piggery, and an idea may be formed of the trade done with Melbourne when it is known that Messrs Allen and Wood have sent 1100 pigs to the Melbourne market by boat from Eden this year. They were valued at considerably over 2000 pounds. Passing through some meadows where four or five Millionaire foals and a Vanquish filly were kept, I came to a vineyard of about five acres. The whole of the vines are on a wire trellis work, It is under the care of a person who thoroughly understands vine cultivation.
About half a mile from Allen and Wood's, I again turned left into Mr Gowing's farm – an estate acknowledged to be worked on the most approved farming principles. Mr Gowing ranks among the few in the district who have had experience in the home country. He has also been farming in NSW since 1841. He possesses altogether 3000 acres of good land, of which there are nearly 1000 acres of rich alluvial soil. This year 400 acres are under maize, and he is also a large pig breeder. Mr Gowing has suffered most severely from floods which swept a fine residence away, and caused serious damage to fences and out-buildings.
About a quarter of a mile from the house he has a substantial mill erected, and nearer stone stables and store-rooms.
