The Farm-Pinze Competition, 1884. 
585 
justice and liberality ; an evidence of which is the fact that 
ever since 1878 returns varying from 10 to 20 per cent, have 
been made. INIr. Miles says, " I have had a hard uphill fight, 
but think I may say, with the help of Providence and good 
seasons, if I have my health and strength with good luck, I have 
a bright remunerative prospect before me. I shall endeavour 
to still go on improving the farm and increasing my stock to 
its fullest possible extent, and hope to be able to very much 
increase the produce. I never go away from home except when 
business obliges me to do so. I go to work down the fields 
with the men all day, that is, when work is going on, on the 
land, till milking time, five o'clock, taking a bit of lunch in 
my pocket ; these are my happiest days, as I can get so much 
more work done when I am amongst it and helping to do it : 
I never indulge in any luxuriant extravagance for myself and 
family." This last assertion is proved by the extraordinary 
experience which has been related, for such success could only 
■be possible with untiring industry and severe economy. On 
•our first visit in January we reached the farm at an unexpectedly 
■early hour, and found the husband and wife in their working 
gear, each busy with their respective departments. The farmer 
would apologise, but we assured him that he was in such 
guise doing infinite credit to himself. Nor must we omit to 
mention that the eldest boy of the second family had begged a 
holiday, in order that he might see the judges and that they 
might see his rabbits, of which he was evidently a most suc- 
cessful breeder, and thus early gave evidence of his taste for 
live stock. The family comprise a boy and girl by first wife, 
the former apprenticed to a grocer, the latter at home helping 
with the house-work, and three children at the National School, 
and the youngest at home. 
The buildings are excellent, and provide much accommoda- 
tion, which is fully occupied ; indeed, the cart-shed we found 
converted for the nonce into a habitation for young stock : 
most of the implements were carefully stowed away in a hovel, 
whilst two waggons, only used in harvest work, were loaded 
with beans and carefully thatched down, so as to be thoroughly 
protected from the weather. The buildings include two roomy 
well-contrived cow-houses; a capital yard, covered with gal- 
vanized iron, which extends right up to the dairy buildings, 
which are an extension of the house ; and though this affords a 
convenient and protected covered way for the delivery of the 
milk, it must be rather a nuisance at those times that the manure 
is being removed. There are two or three boxes for calves, 
stables, boxes, and the cart-shed already mentioned ; whilst, on 
the other side of the house and roadway, is a big barn for straw, 
2 Q 2 
