CENTRAL OTAGO VINE AND FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10421, 25 July 1895, Page 4

CENTRAL OTAGO VINE AND FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

. The committee of the above body met on Tnesday afternoon, Mr Bathgate presiding. After tho transaction of some formal business, the following report was read from Mr B. Hallenstein (vice-president), who had been authorised, while in Wellington, to interview the Government in the interests of the association :—

to t. a Dunedin, 17th July 1*195.A. Bathgate, Esq., president of the Central Otago Vioe and Fruitgrowers' Association.' Daar Sir,—As I may b- prevented attending the next meeting-of the socieiy. I b«g to give yon the lollowicg information■:— When lately in Wellington I waited on the Hon. Mr,M'Kenzie, Minister for Agriculture, on thesiibje'ct of your letter, with a view of furthering the objects'of the association. 1 asked our respected townsman Mr John Davie, who happened to be in Wellington, to accompany me as he was acquainted wifch that part of Central Otago so^ eminently suitable for vine and fruit culture. The Hon. Mr M'Kenzie seemed ple»?ed that nich an association as ours had beeu tonned, and I believe he is thoroughly in earnest to forward the industries'mentioned ;-and he promised to-do all he could to assi 3 t us'in this object, and thus help the cause of small settlements. He told us that there was still an unexpended vote for forest tree planting, which lis thought .could be expended in conjunction with tne estanluhment of a ,'school for viticulture aad trmwtrowing, and a ".nursery for the rearing of suitable vmeand fruit trous. I feel al>:o sure that the Hon. the Premier, with whom I had an interview a short time ago on the subject, is also favourable to the establishment of these industries. ■ " •

Aftvr our interview with the' Minister for Asricui ture I met Messrs Piukerton, W. Hutchison, All.n, Eraser, and a few'other Otago member* in the troyernment^Buiiaing*, and I mentioned to tberuthc^ object,upon which I had seen the Minister for Agriculture; but I found it was Hardly necessary.to solicit their support, an they ware equally as desirous as we are tosse vine and fruit culture established in Central Otago. 1 have no doubt that something practical will soon be done by , the Government. — Yours faithfully, B. Hallenstein. Mr Hallenstein was cordially thaufced for the istsrest manifested and action taken to further the object-* of the association. As Mr Blackmore, the Government expert in fciub culture, has recently returned from an extended tour through the neighbouring culonies, it was decided that he ba invited to meet the committee on his next visit to Dunedin. It was stated by a member present that in all probability the next; annual conference of the Associated Australasian Fruitgrowers, which recently met at Hobart, would be held in New Zealand, in which case it was thought some effort should be. made to have the meeting in Dunedin.