VICE REGAL VISIT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 247, 5 October 1911, Page 5

VICE REGAL VISIT.

HIS EXCELLENCY MEETS THE FARMERS.

WORDS OF PRAISE. ENCOURAGEMEXT AXD ADVICE. In accordance wirh a wi-di expressed by H:s Excellency the Governor. Lord Islington, to make the acquaintance of some of the small farmers in Hawke’s Bay. an informal gathering took place in the stewards room on the Hastings Racecourse yesterday afternoon, timing an interval between the races. About 7n attended and were formally introdneed to His Excellency by the President. Mr. < J. P. Donnelly. The Governor made a short address, saying that the future of the Dominion depended upon the industry in which they were occupied. Tlie appearance of such a large group of farmers proved what was very obviousfthat they were living in happy and prosperous times and in a prosperous part of the world. Nothing pleased him more than to see such a large number of well-circumstanced people as was congregated on the race-course that day. They represented different sections of agriculture and the development of Hawke’s Bay. and many: of the people he was speaking to had helped to make its history. The older persons could look hark and recall circumstances ”.'<-ry different to those prevailing today. .anti it must he to them to see as the result of their energy the development and increase of prosperity, and the high standard of agriculture reached in Hawke's Bay. Through the kindness or his host, Mr. G. P. Donnelly, he had had the advantage of seeing the greatest agricultural possibilities of Hawke s Bav, and he would leave the district charmed with its resources ami convinced that it was a perfect province to live in. In years to come changes would take place in the country they lived in, and it would be brought more and more into keen and acute competition, which would increase in all parts of the world, in the disposal of all the products which this Dominion was so able to place upon the markets. The prosperity they were living m was bound to bring with it collateral disadvantages. Land today could not be bought at the same price as 2o and 30 years ago, and it behoved those who were occupying the soil to-day, if they wished to be as prosperous ns their fellows of days gone by. to follow m the lend set them by the pioneers. He had seen some splendid flocks and herds in the district, none finer m any part of the world, and he wished to warmly congratulate them on the poses.ssion of such splendid stock. Probably as time proceeded dairy farming would become more extensive in this district. and as tn other districts they would have to face those natural disadvantages which cropped up. But scientific methods and foresight might mitigate these disadvantages, as in the case ef lucerne cropping, where it had been shown that a ’ farmer could look on passing disadvantages with comparative complacency. In orchard growing they also had to fan- disabilities, and he would urge orchardists not to put all their eggs in one basket. A calamity could come in'one night, and the enterprising fruitgrower would find that it would pay him to go m for a system of mixed farming. Cohcluding. His Excellency said he was very phased to have had the opportunity ef meeting them and hoped to do so again. He congratulated them on having selected this delightful part of the Dominion to live in. He rejoiced to come to Hawke s Bay because he knew he was amongst warm hearted farmers, and a loyal group of citizens—loyal to the country of their adoption, loyal to Imperialism, and loyal to His Majesty the King, of whom they were so well proud. (Loud applause.) . The meeting then terminated, with cheers for His Excellency.