Otago Farmers Trip.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3429, 29 July 1929, Page 3

Otago Farmers Trip.

The North Island. THROUGH A SOUTH ISLAND LENS. (By One of the Party.). One ot the finest opportunities for appraising the merits of the North l-.unici, was provided for the large body of Otago farmers who availed themselves or the Railway Departments special excursion last month, being by far the most comprehensive 1 unwary that has yet been underuiKen bv the Department, and there can be no doubt that much good must, icsufc lrom the interchange of views, .mhl the commingling of personal ln- .:(■-!-. under such nappy conditions. ;. LTUuiily, the Railway Department is to be congratulated on. the meticulous care with which the itinerary was arranged, and for the success of the whole tour which was carried out with the unfailing courtesy and efficiency of. the Railway staff at every point, and there can be no doubt almost without a single hitch, tins success was largely due to the painstaking care with which Mr C. Barnes, the onicial representative ot the Railway Department, handled the venture, and every member of the party has nothing but unstinted praise lor him. ine travellers were greatly impressed mat, with the same courtesy, and the same efficiency manifesting itself general! v, the Government Railway would have no cause to fear the adverse competition of the motor car. It was an ambitious undertaking to cater 101, and carry a party of 320 over a Distance of close upon 3000 miles, and to do it without mishap, or the slipping of a single cog. At every stage the party found that the arrangements made in advance for their accommodation were most complete, and they moved to their respective lodgings without even a trace ot confusion. . , Little needs to be said with regaid to the opening run from Dunedm to Christ church, as. that is practically within our own territory,, and familial to all Soutlilanders, but it is pleasant to relate that, notwithstanding all that has been said or written recently about the irregular running ofjto trains, the special which lelt Duneum with our party on the morning ot r une 13th, left on time, and aftei nicking up the North Otago members 0 f the company, en route, arrived at Lyttleton on time. Passing from carriage to carriage, and mixing with members of the party from almost every district in Otago, I was pleased to note that not one timorous soul was to be found who entertained the klist doubt about the safety, success and pleasurable excitement ot the toui and 1 mentally recorded the phenom-enon-Fnday, the day, andl3th the date—and 320 people involved in the coniunction of these malign forces, vet all happy, all unconcerned and fearless. Surely the railway authorities are to be complimented upon having accomplished so much more than they set out to do, and at one bold stroke killing this double-headed monster ot age-long superstition. It was with mixed feelings that the party embarked on the Maheno at Lyttleton, for, though the majority had long since made their peace with Father Neptune, their was a fair sprinkling of "uninitiated" who had to vield to the inevitable "constraining" influence of the sea, notwithstanding the legendary ability of the c C ot to "hold on" to anything he may possess. However, both Nature and Neptune were comparatively kind, and tew experienced the distressing necessity for bringing the "reverse ff ear into action. On arrive at Wellington the travellers were transferred from boat to hostel with the utmost despatch, and her© we obtained the -first realisation of how perfectly we were being catered for. AH our lug c-age having been placed m a prearranged place, each separate piece bearing a distinctive label, we had merely to take our seats in the busses provided, and were whisked away to where breakfast was awaiting us. This over, we were driven to the Thorndon Station, where we found our luggage conspicuously placed and easily identified, so that without confusion we were able to take our seats on the big special which was to carry us over the whole of the North Island run. 'There could be no mistaking this train, for along each side, in bold and striking letters ran the. caption "Otago farmers Special." Once Thorndon station was left behind the keenest interest began to manifest itself and as we sped along through johnsonville, Ponrua, anu Paekaekariki, and on to Palmerston North, many and varied were the comments upon the objects and scenery which Hashed into view, and as quickly faded from sight. One was struck with the beautiful undulating pasture that abounded on every side, another remarked upon the solid nature of the roads running parallel to the railway, and the solid and beautiful surface of the roads feeding the main road from every quarter, evidencing the tact that the North Island Counties make much better use of available funds for road construction than the South island Counties can boast of doing. One facetious individual was heard to remark that the "gorse" was exceptionally striking, especially as it was to be found flourishing most luxuriously "nearest to Wellington," tho centre of Government, whence issues the mandatory edict compelling the unfortunate and harassed farmer in the far distant South to ruthlessly destroy the noxious thing, lb certainly is an unfortunate circumstance that large tracts of land, fairly close to Wellington, should be found lying idle, practically, abandoned, owing to the neglected gorse. From Palmerston to Hawera we ran through some of tho finest looking country in tho Island, all closely settled and under what is termed "intensive culture. To the eye the outlok was pleasant, and beautiful, but the more thoughtful of the company were _ inclined to regard with some misgivings the profusion of dark looking pastures, and felt, later on, that their fears were confirmed when sheep were to be seen on their knees cropping the grass, and the whispered word "footrot," passed from one to another. Truly, "all is not gold that glitters," and the Otago man with his dry climate and high uplands, began to think.

Wanganuij the "city beautiful, ' was reached shortly before five o'clock; after a continuous journey of less than 3< hours from Dunedin. Truly a splendid tribute to the co-ordination aim co-operation of aff who were responsible in any way. The welcome at Waiiganui was right royal ill every respect, and the visitors will long carry with them the recollections oi hospitality received, and courtesies dispensed. llerei, with unanimous consent, we found the best equipped and most capably conducted hotel in all our tour, ant "Spriggens Hotel!' will always hold its place amongst many pleasant memories as a point of the greatest comfort and enjoyment. From Wailgfanui wo journeyed to Havvera, and it is safe to say that whatever part of the tour may lade from memory, it will not be the visit to Hawera, for here .Nature took a hand in the proceedings and staged and impromptu salutation which struck terror to many hearts. As though timed to synchronise with our arrival, we had scarcely stepped from the train to the platform when bho disastrous earthquake, which wrought such navoc on tlio West Coast of the Soutn isiand, rocked Hawera to its foundations. ' The ground neaved ai<u rocked, buildings groaned and twisteu, and chimneys swayed like trees m the wind. However, the hi'sfc lev, moments oi horror over, and the whispered 'plaint, "Oh Why left i my name," having been recorded, the people oi. Hawera laboured to wipe out the unpleasant incident by excelling themselves m the warmth of tlieir hospitality. One has only to read .the appreciation published by Mr J. i). Re vie, president oi : tne Utago farmers Union, tu realise the nature ana extent oi Hawera. s hospitality, anu. though it may be said tnat "comparisons are invidious,'"' it is sale to say cuat others may equal, but none can surpass trie kindly anu tuo'ugiitiul attention accorded to us by tne people oi Hawera." Amongst the trips arranged lor us tner© were visits to various dairy herds where quite a Jot of useful information was given to tne party by tne owners. ine visitors were perhaps most impressed witn the Ayrshire nerd owned by Mr t ■ Mills, and listened with much interest to the exposition given by Mr Mills on tne qualities unu points characteristic oi a, good Ayrshire. One gentle-

i,j„ tu uu qmw; so gioali.) iiiipica.aoU, uaviug viviu and paiinui reconeeuons 01 Uv*ug lurciDiy ana unceremonious!} rwiiovcu over a icui_o uum one p<iuuulk vo aiiot/iicr per rneuium of tne noma 01 a "guou cow. in rem ting this experience wiiiie retaining LiiUxiKS to iviiiis, tne letter reiuaiKcU unit ••uie «.yrsim - e 10 a guuU juuge 01 ctiaractesr, anu wuuiu not nave ueen Uonig' ns duty li il naa not given wie speaker a 'goou tus&." iviany astonrsmng nicts anu ngures were piaceu beioro tile visitors, intended no uoubt wj imprest tnern with tne success ui Lite system oi intensive ina-iiuring anu rotational grazing, and to say vnali many or the pai ty were aniazeu would ue hut a very modified way 01 expressing cnerr surpnue. Un 0110 larm ui 3 - acres bwuetl by Mr j- in. iJJydoj wnere Ins intensive system is 111 opera Lion, «'o were und mat ironi 40 cows, 111 0110 year, no Had taken lat. Allowing ior uie land occupied oy buuumgs, garden, etc, tins bruugnt tne yield 10 tne amazing- nguro ot 200 ibs ot butter lat per acre. VVhno we were endeavouring" to digest his lacts, tlie appalling statement fell upon our reeling senses, that "in one yea)', Ixolll an. area within a radius-ot 13 nines around irawera, the enormous sain 01 si.v million pounds sterling Uau ueen taivon. ouieiy, iiencetorwuru laianaiii will be wie centre of the magnetic pole to tne Utago tanner, wnooe inuuest returns laue away into no tiling ness beiore suca a stupendous achievement, .and yet; and J'et; now tnat we are back m good old Utago, and tne wonder or it, anu tlio glamour 01 it au passed away, one wonders iiuw many ol the 2>-u farmers would Do willing to exchange their 1 lot. At liawera tne party was divided owing to the limited accommodation, and 1 any nan were taken on to New Jfiymoutn. As the writer did not make tnat trip, ho can only vouch tor the tact, trom the testimony or' tnose who did that New Plymouth vied with liawera and Wanganui in the cordiality and generosity of its welcome.

One remarkable fact had now impressed itself upon ail of our company. It was the entire absence of the plough. There was no sign of any land having- ljeen recently broken up, due no doubt to the intensive system of culture, which renders the plough unnecessary. When asked if no ploughs were to b© found in Taranaki their spokesman replied that we might see one in the Museum. Once more we pursued our way in deep thought. With this land to anything from to ,£IOO an acre, and cows at about £2O per head, and a system of intensive culture costing anything up to say £6 per acre, well, it "makes" one think. Does it not look pretty much like a millionaires proposition ? (To be continued.)