THE WEST COAST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 138, 5 March 1908, Page 2

THE WEST COAST.

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

MUCH MORE MIGHT! BE _ DONE. (BY, TULECnAriI—6PECIAI,. CORIIESrON'DENT.) ' . Ohrlstchiirch, 1 March 4." Mr. M. Murphy, for many years secretary of - die .Canterbury,.'A. and P. 'Association,' lias just : returned to Christchiirch;'; froiiv' a visit to' tiie West Coast, with the conviction that.a great deal- more'migjit be deno there ,v/itl) the agricultural and pastoral industries than is the case at .prcsoilt. "'There 1 is '110 reason," he told a £l Press"' reporter, "why Inhere ,- should- not bo a very - good-' • dairying industry over there. The people, however, are miners, and know nothing of agriculture. It would be a good 'thing lif the Government were to establish an'experimental farm on the_ coast, where tho "rising generation could bo'instructed, in tho kind of farming suitable for that coast. From' what I saw-1 have no doubt'- but that: root 1 crops, grasses, Native •flax, and even Indian corn (for'ensilage) could bo grown 'successfully.' ; The' rainfall ■is 'such'that tho'growth : of cereals would not be found profitable. ■ 'The: opinion -washeld on tho coast ; that the timber supplies would bo cut out in i twenty-fivo : y earß> . ■ ,j n meantime 'the Government pould do valuable work by training the' rising generation iii agricultural pursuits' suitable to West Cfiast 1 conditions; One industry that'could be very profitably taken up was flax growing. Greymouth is pushing ahead.: Thero' is a record value being put on'land owing to 'tho. prospective'completion of the: railway. A s much as '£800 is 'being- asked' for a quarter. 'acre section, which is far aiid awav above-the valuo of cottage land 'in Chriotehuvch."