ARGENTINA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 88, 7 January 1908, Page 3

ARGENTINA.

A LAND AGENT'S VIEW. • An interesting-, light, upon land conditions In Argentina .is given in a'letter received by a .Wellington, gentleman, from a firm of Ar-. gentine. land - agents, Messrs. Farran' and Zimniermann. They-write:'— ■ • ' . "Your favour dated tho 27th of , July has come to hand, and wo are very pleased to hear'you have takon, a liking to Argentina and intend to return. Since you- left tho country things■have changed a bit, making it more, favourable for buyers, as, on account of the general scarcity ,of money in the European markets, banks hero; have restricted credits, which has put a stop to speculation in stocks, arid land. Prices for good lands 200 miles from Buenos Ayres still liold their value, because owners refuse to soil, at lo'wor figures, and prefer taking moiioy on mortgage than selling at reduced figures. Still, thoir-value is at a standstill, and. can be considered, commercially speaking, o to 10 per cent-, cheaper than twelve months ago.. "The prospects. for settled down farmers (not speculators) are just as .good as they wore last year,, if not better, considering tho enormous rise ih* wheat, linseed, and maize, to say-nothing of 'steers, which 'are selling at most satisfactory figures. So wo really don't see why. farmers should ho uneasy, and, .as.far as wo are'concerned, wo are most satisfied with the results of tho different places under our. care, and only hopo prodpcG prices will continue at their present leifel,> which makes farming a most productive .-, business,. taking land at its ■ present value. Tho fact that speculation, and tho onormous movement it caused, lias disappeared, does not in any way modify farmers' productions or profits, and, on the other hand, we bolieve nothing bettor could havo'happened to tho country, as erratic speculation is dangerous, and especially so in our country, wnich depends entirely oii the European market I .' , "Our Government is settled as far as revolution is concc-rned, and wo don't anticipate any political movement that could upset the present authorities, who are ruling the country with many : good intentions, oven'if not considered-pnident enough by the opposition parties. ; . Life and property are perfectly safe, .'as you yourself can tostifv. AVe can quite understand all sorts of reports reachingyou about-Argentina, but-within a very short - numberi of years.those who gave up the idea of-visiting the country or purchas-ing)'guided-by tho false reports of nowspapers or Governments, will no doubt docply. repent not' having sought information and advice,, from. those that ' have visited tho country and know something about it.. "We have a nice lot of 1000 male lambs being got ready for the freezers, bred on natural grazing, which we feel sure would once more prove that Argentina can produce fat lambs without tho aid of artificial fodder. v •

"Lands 200 miles from Buenos Ayres aro worth £4 to £8 per aero, according to class, distance from railway station, improvements, etc. We would recommend settlers to take up lands 500 to 600 miles from Buenos Ayres, which have every railway accommodation, and can bo had in tho Pampa Central at £1 to £2 per aero, according to improvements, ct-c."

A Swiss chocolato maker has had maps printed on' cakes of chocolato and distributed them to different schoolmasters. He has also reproduced famous scenes in Swiss history, so as to cncourage the young idea to learn—and to eat his chocolate. But the Governing Council of Vaud has put a stop to bis onterorising manner of advertising.