THE WONDERFUL SOUTH

Evening Star, Issue 19175, 16 February 1926, Page 4

THE WONDERFUL SOUTH

COMMISSIONERS IMPRESSED

The Overseas Commissioners who were taken on a trip to Southland during the week-end had a most enjoyable time. Mr W. L. Smnllhorn (Australia) arrived back last night, and lie speaks in the highest terms of the richness and beauty of the country traversed. On arrival at Invercargill on Friday the visitors were motored around the district, while on Saturday they were taken across to Stewart Island. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that all the Commissioners, their wives, and other members of the party proved good sailors, and saw no terrors in the crossing. On Sunday another extensive motor trip was indulged in, and the return journey to Dunedin was begun ou Monday. The party, with the exception of Mr Smallhorn and Mr Croft (Canada), stayed overnight at Gore, and came on this morning. One of the things which struck the Australian Commissioner forcibly was that, in view of the richness and productiveness of the land down south, so much of it should he covered with ragwort. Paddocks of this could, he says, be seen beside other paddocks which groaned under heavy crops. Another thing was the absence of rabbit-proof netting. In Australia a farmer reckons that eight rabbits are equal to one sheep, so far as feed is concerned, and as on one farm alone there were 4,000 rabbits killed off .last year, the loss mav bo estimated. ‘ the richness of the districts he saw in Southland convinced Mr Smnllhorn that at least double the stock now upon them could be carried. The Aparima Valley impressed him particularly, and to an Australian it was reminiscent of the beautiful Darling Downs country in Queensland. “ If the people of Australia knew of the scenic beauty and of the sporting possibilities held by Stewart Island,’ said Mr Smallhorn, “ there would be an annual migration of visitors to that spot.” “The hospitality of the people, too, is wonderful,” he added-