FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7369, 22 January 1902, Page 4

FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

1 As it seems by no means improbable that South Africa in the near future will contain a large number of Australian settlers, it * will be interesting to watch the prospects there of agriculture. Tha j soil in large areas of the Crown colonies is fertile, but water famines are of frequent occurrence, not from an absence of fair rainfall, but from ' the absence of proper means of conservation and distribution. To meet the want, an enterprise has already been formed to irrigate a block of land of about 136 square miles in Griqualand West, Cape Colony, called the Orange River Irrigation, Limited. Its capital is £250,000, in £1 shares, and the chairman Sir Seymour Blanc. The company proposes to irrigate at once about 1000 acres of land along the Orange River bank, and an additional 6000 acres are to be irrigated from a service reservoir filled by pumps drive a by turbines. A canal has already been made for a distance of two miles, and a weir over 700 yards in length constructed across the Orange River. Th* pumps have not yet been erected, but three are now on the ground, and these, ifc is anticipated, will elevate enough water to irrigate 1000 acres of the 60G0 aore3. The intention is to sell the land to settlers, who, under the custom in South Africa, would pay 20 per cent down and give a mortgage for the balance at 6 per cent, and the prospectus estimates that by tbe time 1000 acres have been sold at £50 per acre, the income from the unpaid purchase money, with an irrigation rate of £2 per acre, and a quit ront of 8s per acre, would amount to £4800 per annum— an amount that would bs proportionately mci eased as fucther sales were made.

Everybody ought to know that Messrs Rardley and Sons have on view the largest and best selection of cooking ranges in the district, including amorg others Barningham's and Shacklock's, makes of high and low pressure, suitable for brick chimneys or open kitohona at Duoedin priccsß — Advt

WALL PAPERS ! WALL PAPERS !

Just arrived, at F. J. Wbiglbt's, 10 bales containing 3000 rolls of English and Canadian Wall Papers. A splendid variety of golds, satins, pulps, tints, balls, etc., in all shades at right prices, to ensure a rapid turnover. These papers are all of the very latest styles and choicest designs, and the Canadians are especially unique and artistic. Inspection invited, and samples willingly posted to any address supplied. The finest stock' of Wall Papers on the Coaßt. — F. J. Wbiglex, Hawera. — Advt.