THE MEMBER FOR CAVERSHAM.

Evening Star, Issue 11893, 22 May 1903, Page 7

THE MEMBER FOR CAVERSHAM.

IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIA. [Speciai to the Stab.] v WELLINGTON, May 22. Shortly before the Victoria sailed for the South yesterday your representative succeeded in obtaining a few minutes' conversation with Mr Sidey, M.H.R., who has just returned from Sydney, whither he went for health reasons. Pressed to give some information regarding his impressions of tup Commonwealth, Mr Sidey said that ha. had spent the greater portion of his time in v,he western district of New South Wales. He had found the heat somewhat trying on his arrival, and had stayed for a tune on the Blue Mountains. Hjs experience was that the Blue Mountains were not a very satHfactory escape from the heat of Fydney, and he thought an ever-increasing numoer of Australians might be expected to resort to New Zealand during the warmest part of the summer. Drought conditions were general over the whole of the State, but the recovery of different portions took place at different periods. Conditions were not severe nearer the coast—the south-eastern coastal districts hardly suffering at all. In a part of the western plains there was'better grass in the autumn than there had been for years, but the drought had not been exceptionalv severe there previously. The drought had quite broken up before he had left. The losses of stock had been enormous. It was estimated that the Slue would have lost about twenty million sheep. He did not think these losses could be regarded as due to overstocking, as was the opinion of one of our leading Ministers of the.Crown. Some years ago the State ha! 60,000,000 sheep, but prior to last year the number had come down to 40,000,000, and those with whom he had conversed did not mention that that number was too many. Last year could not be taken as an indication. There were tracts of land which in ordinary seasons would sustain one sheep and even more to the acre, and of which 100 acres last year would not sustain one sheep. Growing feed for sheep had not been carried on as in New Zealand, but many successful results had been obtained this year by the hand-feeding of sheep with lucerne grown in an irrigated paddock. In an experiment conducted under the Stale as many as seventy-five sheep to the acre were sustained in this way right through the summer. This method of feeding sheep is likely to be adopted considerably in the future. He believed that the potentialities of the State were very great. There were millions of acres of good wheat-growing country which only required water, and great result* would yet be obtained by vafcer conservation, irrigation, and by thp growth of wheats suitable to climatic condrtioni. Referring to the last-mentioned snbjectjMr Sidey said that while the New South Wales Agricultural Department was behind our department in some respects, as, for Instance in that they had not undertaken forest planting as we have done, which whs a work specially suited for the Government, neither had they yet adopted the system of the grading of dairy produce, which had 3one so much for our own industry ; yet, on the other hand, the New South Wales department had been performing a very interesting and valuable work in'experimenting upon various fruits, vegetables, and grains suited to the great vari»ty of the soQ and climate in the State. The department bad got aome six experimental farms, on whjoh a great variety of interesting experiments am conducted. Not only are all Known wheats tested, but cross fertilisatipa J* carried on and new wheats produced^

The wheats are tested as to their strength, a special plant being provided in Sydney to test the number of loaves capable ot beinc produced from a given quantity of wheat. Ability, to resist rust and grow in a dry climate are also points to be considered. A new wheat called Bobs, grown near Bathurst, produced in a dry season twenty-two bushels to the acre. Mr Sidey, who was in Victoria at uie time of the railway strike, said it was lot until he had taken his seat in the Sydney express for Melbourne that he saw by the evening papers that the engine-drivers ..nd firemen were to leave work at midnight that day. He had therefore travelled through from Albury to Melbourne by the first train after the strike had been declared. The journey was an exciting one between surmounting inclines with grea-sed rails and demonstrations at stations. His return journey to Sydney occupied two days, the engine with which the train had started having to be discarded on the journey owing to soap having been put into the boiler, and afterwards an engine had to be obtained from Melbourne. When in Sydney Mr Sidev visited the University, and had also given special attention to the schools of law and dentistry. He had found that a very good feelin"- prevailed everywhere towards New Zealand. Everyone seemed to know that our colonv possessed wonderful scenery, and all wh,» had not been there expressed a wish to visit ns, though some dreaded the sea vovage. Bringing our conversation to a close, Mr bidey said that altogether he hi.i Im.i a very interesting trip, and had greatly benefited by the change.