MR. RITCHIE IN THE NORTH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 101, 22 January 1908, Page 2

MR. RITCHIE IN THE NORTH.

SOUTHERN PROSPECTS. (BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, January 21. Mr. J. 1). Ritchie, Secretary for Agriculture, is at present on a visit to tho provineo in order to conduct a general inspection of tho many experimental farms which aro under the supervision of his Department. _ On i'Viday last Mr. Ritchie visited the biggest of "the Department's farms in tho liaipara district, where ho found tho effects of tlio wet winter still very apparent, tho | grass in particular boing somewhat backward. " A good shower or two there would, however, rectify matters in this respcct," said Mr. Ritchie to a " Herald " reporter yesterday. " To-day," lie continued, " I have been looking into several matters connected with the llax industry. There have been some complaints recoived both as regards tho grading and ilio quality of tho hemp, but none of them is of a serious nature, and, with a. "little more care on the part of ibo millers, any matter for dissatisfaction will soon bo settle;! favourably." To-day Sir. Ritchio will visit Wneranga, wliero experimental viticulture is being oarriod on, and he- will call at Rualcura tomorrow. On iho following day ho will go on to Tauranga, via Waihi, and will inspect the fruit testing station at Tauranga. On tho Monday after vhat ho will return to Rualcura with tho Hon. 11. M'Nab, Minister for Lands. " In tho South Island," said Mr. Ritchie, in reply to a question, "it lias been particularly dry lately, though things aro not so bad as they were this time last year. Tho stock market is not in too good a condition, and rain is very badly needed for the grass and root and rapo crops. Tho ordinary cereals will bo MlTe'cted by tho dryness Where they are not sufficiently advanced to keep tho gram from shrivelling up, there will bo a lot of light grain. I am afraid Canterbury has been the greatest sufferer from the continued dryness. " Further south, matters improve, though at Oamaru, just before tho holidays, when I was there, tho country was beginning t-o feel tho pinch. This absence of moisture in the South Island,", ho concluded, "is naturally aitwitiae fcka milk vu>.l<J or&t*"