CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1761, 22 August 1885, Page 7

CURRENT TOPICS.

The New Zealand Trade Review publishes a tabulated return of the produce exports from the Colony during the last 12 months compared with those of the preceding year. From this it appears that the 1884-5 total value of grain ex" ported was £536,466, or less by £249,993 than the 1883-4 return. The notes appended to this return state that in the face of the disastrous decline ;iu the value of this important branch, and a shrinkage in some of the smaHer items of our exports, it is gratifying to find the deficiency made up to the Colony by the expansion of our productions in other directions, more particularly in items connected with pastoral pursuits and dairy industries, so that the total value of the exports of New Zealand produce for the year exceeds that of the previous year by £56,962, the totals being— lßß4-5, £6,667,031, and 1883-4, £6,610,069.

The Government have agreed to grant Mr W. Courtney, of New Plymouth, £ for £ up to £250 to go Home to lecture on New Zealand. Mr Courtney proposes to leave by the Kaikoura on the 27th of next month. It is understood that he has received numerous promises of subscriptions from the public. The object of his lertures will be to induce small' farmers to come out to the Colony and not mechanics.

The greatest industry of the States, namely, fanning (says a Home paper), must depend more than any other for many years to come upon the tide of immigration. From 1870 to 1880 the number of farms increased from two millions to four millions. In this decade the cereal produpt of the United States increased by nearly 100 per cent. The yield of wheat advanced from 287 million bushels to 456 million bushels. As illustrating the importance of the farming industry, it, may be noted that of 17 million persons having stated employment in the States 8,000,000 were returned as being engaged in agriculture; of the £9,328,000,000 sterling estimated wealth of the country, one-fqurth is said to be invested in farming; and of the £140,000,000 to £160,000,000 sterling of total exports to foreign countries more than threefourths is credited to agriculture. These facts and figures help one to estimate the value of the European markets to America.

The prospectus of the Colonist (College and Training Farms (Limited) has been issued privately in London. The capital of the company is £100,000 in 20,000 shares of £5 each. It is proposed "to purchase, for £60,000 (of which £30,000 is- payable iv cash), an estate of 1331 acres in the county of Suffolk, and to extend the accommodation so as ta provide for 75 junior and 25 senior pupils, who will be trained practically in all knowledge likely to be useful to them in a Colonial career. The scheme is considered feasible by a number of influential gentlemen who have had some association wtoh the Colonies. Amongst them are Sir $•. temith late Chief Justice of Tasmania.} Mr William Campbell, late M.L.C.of Victoria; Mr A. Hodgson, C.M.G., of Queensland; Sir Henry Barklv Mr A. M'Arthm-, BI.P". ; the Duke of Manchester, and others. The directors hopo tso open the college early in October, but wilt not proceed to allotment until £60,000, ol shares have been applied for.