A QUEENSLAND VISITOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 3

A QUEENSLAND VISITOR.

DARLING DOWNS. THE GARDEN OF AUSTRALASIA. A gentleman is at present in Wellington who is largely concerned in pastoral matters in Queensland. In the course of an interview with a representative of the "Now Zealand Times” he proved to be an enthusiastic admirer of the great Darling Downs country, especially in regard to his particular district —Toowoomba, which is the capital of the Downs, and has a population of 16,000, and is, he declares, one of the most up-to-date progressive inland towns in Australasia. QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT • TERMS.

The Queensland Government, h© says, offer every inducement to new settlers. Laud was available at from ten shillings to twenty shillings per acre, twenty years terms on a freehold basis, and a free pass and a guide provided for buyers of Crown landsi The areas were principally 1280 acre blocks, and agricultural implements, 'stock, goods and. chattels, etc., of new settlers were carried over tho railways at greatly reduced rates.

Asked as to tho quality of Darling Downs lands as compared with those of New Zealand, he pointed out that tliei carrying capacity of Darling Downs isi one sheep to the acre and about one cow. to seven acres on natural grasses, and if cultivation were re-sorted to, as is done here, by planting artificial grasses or adopting up-to-date methods of farming, the carrying capacity would be about 21 acres to a beast, and 10 sheep to the acre on lucerne during summer. The lamb industry on the Downs was quite in its infancy, and only followed by farmers who are growing lucerne, and perhaps a little barficy and oat© for feeding purposes.. Prices realised for fat lambs averaged from IDs to 12s for four to six months old weighing from 301 b, to 401 b dressed weight, and fat lamb raising would soon bo one of the principal features of the Downs.

DAIRYING AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES. Dairying, he said, is receiving more attention, than formerly, but Downs farmers were not half so up-to-date or progressive in their methods as New Zealanders, but though slow to realise the necessity of classifying, grading and improving their dairy herds, during the summer months they obtain from 13s to 20s per oow per month. Of course. New' Zealanders make a higher average, admits the visitor, but he is of the opinion that when Queenslanders adopt tho methods followed nere, and the carrying capacity of the land increased, by cultivation, tho returns from the dairy herds would bo enlarged considerably. They luod already topped the English market twice for butter, which showed what could be done. Tho Darling Downs consisted of rich, heavy black ©oil plains, 30 to 10 feet deep, interspersed with small timbered rises. Its elevation is about 1900 feet above sea-level, and the average rainfall from about 30 inches to 34 inches. Water was obtainable in practically any locality at from 20 to 75 feet bore. THE VALUE OF LUCERNE.

There is no part in the great continent with its alluvial river deposits, such as Hunter . River country in New South Wales, where lucerne will stand the con-r tinual flogging of heavy sheep stocking than it does on tho volcanic slopes and flats of the country. From October to •May every eix weeks will give a cutting of close on a ton per acre of the finest hay ever put in a rack for stock. Of other fodder crops, tho Queenslander says that planted from February to May, with anything like a fair chance, they got green feed right through tho winter. Ho ha® seen rape planted in March being fed in November.

Ho admits Darling Down® is not altogether suitable for wheat growing, as tho good' lands being too rich consequently produce a mass of flag and stalk. Tartarian oats and barley aro very satisfactory for winter green feed and Algerian, oat® for hay or grain. A few farmers havo. planted rye in the first week of February with good result*. Tho impression of New Zealanders, as far as ho has been able to gather/ seems to be that Queensland farmers suffer very greatly indeed from droughts, and ho thinks rather‘‘a false impression is held in this country regarding tho rainfall. They certainly cannot claim to have the splendid regularity of seasons enjoyed in New Zealand; but they have a fair average in rainfall, and havo experienced only one severe drought during 20 years, namely, in 1902 for six or seven, months only, but this was felt acutely. So many New Zealanders speak of the Darling Downs under the wide term of Queensland, and appear to think that they suffer from drought the same as in the western country. When it is remembered that the area of Queensland is •130,000,000 acres, it is apparent there is a great diversity of climate and conditions. Darling Downs are always dry, and they get their rains in the summer. Tho greatest drawback is that the rains expected in September and October are

'not regular, and may not come until a .month later.

RELATIVE LAND VALUES. It Is tho relative value of lands that he cannot quite reconcile between New Zealand and Australia. "For instance,” eaid our visitor, "vou in New: Zealand practically get tho same price for your fat lamb® in the North Island and tho tamo net return from cows aa we do, and, even allowing that we take, say, six ceres to feed a cow on natural grasses only as against your three acres of artificial grasses, our six acres would represent a value of £2l for an unimproved farm at £3 2s Gd per acre, and eay, £33 to £4O for an improved farm carrying about 100 to 150 acres of cultivation (lucerne), as against your three acres representing anything from «C9O to ,£125 for your best dairy farms.” The same comparison applies to sheep farming. Darling Downs country, yrhzcii carries a sheep to the acre on natural grasses, which are heavy-carrying and fattening, can bo bought for 2s Gd on. very liberal terms, and in New Zeamnd,. land highly improved until artificial grasses, carrying, say, throe sheep to the acre, will cost many times .£3 2s Gd. Whilst appreciating very much indeed tho wonderful productivencs and pros- ' p<*rlty of the Dominion, he could not help but feel that with one-third the capital necessary to acquire land in this country, they could get tho same results financially on the Darling Downs, which ho claims is the "Garden of Australasia.”

THE CLIMATE. With regard to the climate ho would only mention the fact that the Governor of Queensland has his summer residence in Toowoomba, which indicates that itis not thickly infested with flies and snakes, os a few New Zealanders have mentioned to him was their belief. There is a railway service all over the Downs, and tho present Government has promised two fresh lines m tho very near future. Tho rates and taxes are reasonably low, and the legislation, ns not so far reaching a® it is in some other places. ~ Queensland is practically in its infancy, and has undoubtedly wonderful resources and a great future.