FARMERS ON TOUR

Evening Star, Issue 20309, 18 October 1929, Page 2

FARMERS ON TOUR

PARTY FROM TASMANIA IMPRESSED WITH CENTRAL OTAGO Of the twenty-eight farmers who comprise the Tasmanian party which arrived in Dunedin last night, twentyfive are young men who are keen to obtain knowledge and prepared to work hard to obtain their information. As technical adviser of the party is Mr C. L. Gillies, Chief Agronomist of the Tasmanian Department of Agriculture. He was the first graduate in agriculture from the University of Otago and he is one of the eight Now Zealanders engaged on the department’s staff. Mr Gillies, who was horn in Timaru, and graduated in 1922, made the preliminary arrangements for the tour. Two ladies are included in the party, the personnel of which is: Mr and Mrs Brown (York Plains), Mr and Mrs C. Fisher (Oatlauds), Messrs L. F. Clark (Natone), C. W. Eastwood (Burniei, J. E. Smith (Burnie), P. Reach (Ross), G. Reach (Rosa), K. B. Cutts (Northtown), B. Walker (Longford), V. W. Shoobridge (“ Cloverloa,” Macquarrie), D. Russell (Barrington), J. F. Wright (Barrington), J, G. Heritage (Launceston), K. Heazlewood (Whitmore), G. Genders (Launceston), M. K. Taylor (Brighton), R. C. Thompson (“ Summerville,” Brighton), E. P. Jacques (Glenorcliy), A. J. Lazenby (Sandford), F. R. Hume (New Town), P. J. O’Rourke (Cygnet), H. Hanson (Nubeena), S. Pixley (Lymington), E. Napier (St. Mary’s), Collins (St. Mary’s), and Aser Smith (Yolla). Arriving at the Bluff last Sunday, the farmers immediately commenced a tour of Southland. They were greatly impressed with the grass and the density of stock. The Southland roads pleased them, no pot holes being encountered. “ But we could see from the huge quantities of gravel available that coping with the road problem was 't, difficult,” said Mr Gillies. In Southland, as in the other places so far visited, the farmers were “ killed with hospitality.” The party visited Wakatipu, hut the members were sorry Mint more could not be seen of tho district about Queenstown, only an overnight stay being made there. The visitors, however, were impressed with tho rugged scenery of Otago Central and particularly that down the Kawarau Gorge. Their journey to Dunedin was broken for two hours at Middlomarch, where the local branch entertained the party. Six members also loft the train at Alexandra to inspect the fruitgrowing districts, and they will rejoin their companions to-morrow. The trip from Middlemarch to Dunedin was made by goods train, and consequently the late arrival made an official reception last night an impossibility. Mr Gillies. said this morning that little irrigation was carried out in Tasmania, but. the party was struck with the magnitude of the schemes in tho Ida Valley and other parts of Central Otago. The green lands were evidence of the success of the scheme. The farmers wore highly impressed with the growths of Lucerne in the Central. The quality of the stock had been an eye-opener, the best studs having been inspected. This morning the party, which is quartered at Wain’s Hotel, was taken for a trip round Dunedin, a visit being made to Larnach’s Castle, where Mr and Mrs J. Jackson Pnrdie entertained the visitors at morning tea. The two ladies accompanying tho party were the guests of Professor Strong at lunch at tho Women’s Club. In the afternoon a tour of tho Taieri was made, particular interest being attached to tho visit to Mr J, W. Blair’s shorthorn cattle farm and the Clydesdale stud, owned by Mr J Young. A visit to the Mosgiel Woollen Mills, where afternoon tea was served, was also on thcprogramme. To-night the farmers will he the guests at a social evening in the Somerset Lounge of the Farmers’ Union, the A. and T. Society, and tho Expansion League. The departure will he made from Dunedin to-morrow morning, a call first to be made at Bushev Park to inspect Mr J. A. Johustnrip’s Shorthorn cattle and Corriodalo sheep.