"THE SUNNY SOUTH."

Evening Star, Issue 14002, 8 March 1909, Page 3

"THE SUNNY SOUTH."

SOUTHLAND AND THE COLD LAKES.

IMPRESSIONS OP MR DAVEY, M.P.

In his tour of Southland and the Lakes district last Meek the Minister of Railways Was accompanied by Mr T. H. Davey, M.P. On the return ionrney to Dunedin on Saturday the member for Christchnrch East was asked by a 'Star' representative to give his "impressions." LUXURIANT CROPS. Mr Davey stated that ho had been delighted with his trip, experiencing beautiful weather throughout. From Christchurch right through to beyond Orepuki the wheat, oat, and barley crops were very heavy, and though farmers would pessibly realise slightly lower prices for their grain than those ruling last, year, they recognised that they had been given a bountiful harvest, and quantity and quality would recompense them amply. In Southland the oat crop was one of tlie heaviest ever garnered, suitable weather having prevailed, whilst Canterbury farmers had unfortunately frequently had to stop harvesting operations owing to rain. Some beautiful barley j were visible in and about Athol and Garston, one of the most- favored barley-grow, ing districts of the Dominion. Amongst the many grand yields Mr Davey had the plea6uro of closely inspecting he ventured the opinion that a small paddock viewed beyond Orepuki was the heaviest seen during hi 6 trip. Here actual measurements showed an average length of straw of between six and seven feet, with heads in proportion thereto. Potatoes usually form a staple product in this locality, but unfortunately the blight is playing sad havoc with the tubers this year. NEED FOR CLOSE SETTLEMENT. One of the most interesting, and at the same time most regrettable, incidents which came under Mr Davey's notice m these days of earth hunger was the fact that thousands of acres of first-class land | were lyim; idle between River ton and Rua- I bine. The railway has bpen running through this district for many years, mainly for timber-carrying purposes] and now that the sawmiller has practically ceased operations the land is absolutely 'unreproductive, ard is gradually bring covered with noxious weeds, whilst there is not a road for over eleven mile?. It is -understood thai, surveyors are, or shortly will be, cnKaged in surveying this block, when it is noped that the South. Island young settler will be enabled to make h:6 home in this locality, practically within a stone's throw of Tnvercargill, instead of being obliged to croAs Cook Strait in his search for a home. In addition there are thousands of acres of magnificent native land beyond the Waiau which it is hoped will shortly be thrown :>pen for settlement. It is possible that the mining community may raise some obiection to the alienation of much of this land from their operations, but in the truest interests of the country Mr Davev believes that it- would be better to throwopen much of this land to the agriculturist, to prove productive for all time, rather than to take out its one crop of gokl, and so probably destroy magnificent soil for all time. THE DREDGING INDUSTRY. Tn this connection Mr Davey (who attended with the Hon. Mr Millar at the opening of the Waikaka line from Gore) regards the destruction of much of the beautiful land in tliis valley as absolutely pitiful, a number of dredges being at work in the district. One or two of these dredges are replacing the soil on the top oi the shingle, but in the majority of instances these goid-hunting boat 6 leave behind tltem unsightly gravel-pit» and mounds of shingle. The mining industry ip. unquestionably, most important, and though at the moment the freeholder can do what he likes with his land, something ought to be done, and that soon, to prevent this criminal waste of first-class land, which, worth perchance from £lO to £ls an acre for mixed agricultural purposes, has been sold from £2O to £3O per acre for dredging. Mr Davey is well aware that this matter has formed the subject of innumerable trenchant newspaper ar- I tides, and that many public men have rel.eatedJy expressed the opinion that le<jis-

lation should be passed preventing this waste of the public estate. A number of the dredges are reported to be retnrnin? handsome dividends to their owners, but if Iredpmg is to continue, and it is found impracticable or inexpedient to stop it, then Parliament should insist that all dredge operators must return as much of the 6oil is possible to the surface. A DRY SUMMER, The continued dry, hot weather in and iround Queenstown and Central Otago, no r.'in having fallen at the lake resort for six or seven weeks, has rendered feed somewhat 6carce. and the residents are anxiously awaiting a plentiful downpour. THE LAKE STEAMER SERVICE. For some years the residents of the Lak?s district have strongly urged the necessity for placing a new and useful steamer on Lake Wakatipu, and in furtherance of this agitation a deputation waited upon the Hon. J. A. Millar at Queenstown. During the course of his 6peech at the social tendered to him on Friday evening the Minister stated that he fully recognised the necessity that existed for improved steamer accommodation, and hoped th.it in the near future the Government would provide a new vessel, capable of comfortably tarrying. Bay, 400 excursionists, with a speed of from 12 to 15 knots. Hesngirested that it would be unnecessary to build an elaborate steamer, suitability to the trade being the great desideratum. If possible the addition to the lake fleet should ho built in the Dominion, and onlv those parts which could not be made in New Zealand should be imported. In this opinion the member for Christchurch East sntirely agrees, and is quite prepared, from experience, to assist Mr Millar in placing reasonable shipping facilities at the di£ posal of the tourists and residents of the district. Mr Davey also hopes the time is not far distant when cheap exenrsion fares will attract a large number of Christchurch excursionists to view the wonderful lake scenery. Dtinedin residents are carried to Queenstown and back for 20s. the ticket lasting four days, and though the district is well known, Mr Davey feels sure that thousands of Canterbury residents would readily make the trip if satisfactory financial arrangements coukl be made. PROSPEROUS SOUTHLAND. The prosperity of the whole of the people of the districts traversed by Mr Davey is undeniable, the boroughs of Gore and Invercargill showing a decided growth and general improvement. Whilst not de.sirin" to in any way adversely criticise the tionx of the ratepayers of Invercart'ill ho thinks it- most regrettable that the "people declined to give the necessary power to the municipality to construct drainage works The Invercargill municipality already con trols its gas and water supplies, owns on© o. the best town halb in the Dominion, and also runs other public utilities and it is a pity that it has not adopted an up-to-date drainage- scheme. , M . r ..^ ave 7 h ™ accompanied the. Hon J t i 'T a V n hjs ]n fpection of the South Island railways, and was pleased to note he hearty welcome accorded to tho Minis ter wherever he went. To the various people wrth whom ho was brought in co " tact at the many paces '-* far Christcnurcn *£"&£?£*£ P *Z Jt nk A f ° r mm * actions received. When the new steamer m ,i.!! u first trip on Lake he hopes to bo present and assist Z ♦ u function. Mr Davey left for Ws h „± by the first express this morning.