FROM SIBERIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 435, 18 February 1909, Page 4

FROM SIBERIA.

POSSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTRY;

. Some interesting .statements: in regard to Siberia were mado yesterday by Mr.: Theodore Harper,: who arrived from Sydney by the Uhmaroa. Mr. Harper is a' New Zealander and. an old student of Christ's. College./ After : receiving a course of 'instruction m mining engineering ,at Thames and Hauraki, ne left New Zealand to travel, and ultimately reached Siberia. There ,he represents a mining engineering firm, - and after a short' holiday in New Zealand he intends to return to lis work.

- Of course agriculture and mining " are the chief ■ industries., of the country, .but Vthe former is chiefly in 'the: hands of the Danes, who export a quantity of "Danish'.' butter to tho London market,' .while mining is yet in its .iniancjv .People, are to the possibilities of the large mineral i deposits and ; beginning, to work > them in modem fashion, men ..the, Siberian .Rail.way is .improved— and the! Russian Government is now alive to the need for . this—a great advancement should take placed . Many! people are. under the impression that to live in. Siberia one . must be constantly attired. in ArctioVcostume to meet the oxtromoa of cold which are experienced, but Mr. Harper says that the: Siberian winter is no worse . thin the 1 .. English, for .the people there propare for it. ; AiSthor common misapprehension -which. Air.; Harder corrects :is regarding .'.the Russian -'officials! 'These, ho states; are very pleasant people, and treat genuine; workingpeople in a manner as fair as can bo desired. Mr, Harper 1 recommends 'the • trip from Moscow to Vladivostok as a pleasant and inexpensive ono. It can bo mado in 14 days at -a cost, for tho 'first-class tour; of about £22, plus extras. / If tho journey is made in May, when the weather is very fino,- there is: beautiful snener.v to be- viewed round Lake Baikdly in the Ural Mountains; and in Manchuria. ; !