WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 20

WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Otjr Own Cobeesfcxdent.) We have had a week of rough, stormy weather with heavy raini The and rivers running full, but Weather. little damage has been done, except in the back country, where the reports state that many of the roads are blocked with slips and wasliaways. so that back-blocks families are imprisoned for another unlimited period. Suoh is the life of the pioneers whom ai section of the townspeople .^ay are monopolising the land of the colony and trying to rob the people of whai they terau the unearned increment. If some of them, were to try twelve months' residence at the foot of the Ruabine ranges or head! waters of the Wanganui River perhaps they would come to the conclusion that the increment (if there is such a thing) is well and faithfully earned. I am a, great believer in object lessons. One such lesson is worth reams of literature, so that is would be well worth the whole of the Farmers' Union to consider the project! that I have often- proposed — that is. thati the Farmers' Union ask the land nationalists to select six families of their crcedl — townspeople — to accept banishment in one of the back-blooks for 12 months and lne( on the same fare a-s the settlers, undergoing the same privations in every way, the Farmers' Union, at tho expiration of! imprisonment, to pay them what they wouldl have earned in town in that time, unless they elected to take up permanent residence on the block. I fancy the Farmers'Union woxild be called on to pay th<s money in every case, as all tho members of the commission would bo glad to geij back to their conveniences imcl luxuries in. town, and would admit that any increment) there might, be was fully earned by the men who have the grit to go out intoi the wilderness and spend half a lifetime] and much capital endeavouring to make a home for themselves in their old age. The result would bo that the farmers wouldl be relieved of the continual bickering of! the land nationalists, and they would secure a fixity of tenure — perhaps. During the week there- has been nothing done on thai

farm, but this morning (Saturday) the weather appears more settled and .the roads ana drying up nicely; but it will be ai day or two before anything can be done on 'the land or "amongst sh'ecp either for that matter.

Dairying men, however, cannot getja spell wlmbi it rains, and they have Dairying. to wade through fud twice a day — hail, snow, or shine— and milk their cows. Mr Seddon cannot relieve them of the milking, but he could, and should, have fulfilled hia obligations to the tenants of the .Crown, and provided them with roads, so that they could get their milfe to the factory.

The annual entire horse parade of the Manawatu A. and P. AssoHorse ciation was held last SaturParade. day at Palmerston North. « The attendance was not large. The stormy weather may have had something to do with keeping some away, but there is nothing to interest the general ' publio in a parade, which is left to the enthusiasts '--in- horse-breeding. '.The horses .^paraded were not ..what they should 1 be, numerically or inequality, considering * the rich ~ farming district the show 'represents: "Two" or thre© ' excellent were shown, and three imported Shire iorses. N " The Shires appear to have taken on in the Manawatu.' We -hive had Bolingfcroke'and -Boro-Drayman for some years, and Messrs" Holt and Spn imported' Hendriwonder in the beginning of the year. I gave a description of him when, he landed, but he has much improved in appearance, as he is now in the pink of condition, and should have a chance of taking the championship if he" is exhibited. Draught horsebreeding is much negleoted,- up here. Surely present pi'ices warrant more attention being paid to this branch of the farming business. Somehow farmers will persist in using any kind of stallion if the fee is cheap.- A pound or two extra at service is money well invested, as if anything like judgment is used in, choosing a sire it will mostly mean a difference of £10 or perhaps £20 when the " progeny, comes to be sold at three of' four years old.

The question of teaching agriculture in schools has now assumed .Agricultural definite shape, which again Education.-" shows what persistent effort can attain. A few enthusiasts, Mr J. G. Wilson afc the front, have been advocating the cause of agricultural education for years, as I have from time to time mentioned in these notes. The last development is a. conference held at the ■Wanganui Education Board's office on Wednesday, September 23, of representatives from the majority of local bodies, county councils, borough councils, agricultural associations, farmers' unions, and Wanganui Education Board — within the Wanganui edu--cation district. Mr" G. S. Brjdge, chairman, of the Education Board, -occupied the chair, and explained., the position with regard to the Education Board.' "Chief Inspector Gray propounded a scheme by . which, the object «ould be gaine'd,'and after some interesting "discussion. the following resolutions were carried:— • (1) That this, conference Jieartjly endorses the of ths Wapganui Education T Board to inaugurate systematic instruction in Nature study and dairying, and will bring the same before the bodies they represont with a view '.to getting them to render financial "assi&taac-e. (2) That this co'ifcrence would strongly impress on. the Government the advisability <of- providing for further technical education in agriculture in the colony, and that the various County Councils and Farmers' Unions be asked to use their influence in tin's direction. This was, after some discussion, amended an the direction of asking the Government to provide definite annual amounts for the -» three objects of the scheme, as laid down by Mr Gray. (3) That the members of the various electorates in tbe district, together -with Mr F. Pirani, be asked to urge the matter on the Government, with a viov/ to obtaining a grant. _ {4) That in the opinion of this conference Nature study, combined with systematic and practical work in school gardens, in Standards I, 11, and IJI should be included in the list of school glasses for which a capitation grant ia paid. , . (5) That as a 'means of bringing higneiand technical education witiun the reach of country children, this conference approves of the movement for the • ' v p6nsolidation of rural schools, when it is practicable to carry out a system of transportation of pupils to a convenient centre. "3tr Gray's scheme, shortly sfated, is for ihe Education Board to get an instructor to go round tU::} 1 g^e in»tr"cti° n to Aho teachers «,t a salary of £400 3 &**>

travelling expenses, included. The Education Board's position is that they have only £100 which they can devote to such a purpose. Hence the conference, to devise ways and means. Prom the enthusiasm shown there can be no doubt that the local bodies will at least provide funds to support ono teacher ; but as the district extends from Hawera to the Manawatu, one man cannot be expected to do justice to the scheme. -The suggestion to appeal to the Government "at the present time can hardly be expected, to bear much fruit. If it were only a matter of a small vote for the Wanganui district there is little doubt -but that they would get a grant, 'there being six or seven electorates within the education district; but if the Government is to subscribe the movement must be/ national, and I fear that is too large an order on the eve of a general election. Mr D. H. Guthrie (Kiwitea County Council) made a suggestion to the effect that a small increase might be made to the land tax, which could be hypothecated for agricultural education. However, if the farmers can only be made" to see the need for more enlighten oaent on the methods they usej^ ip their business as producers, much goo~d will' be done, and if they mean io keep ' in the van, they must move with the times' and continue improving, as in- a race one cannot stand still and expect to win. I hope, therefore, they will support any scheme that may be devised to pro-vide the needful. The pity is we ,have~ not "a few more men like Mr J. Peat, who said at the xmferenoe that "they could easily get th© money: surely £75 was not going to stop it? He almost felt like giving it himself. He would gh-e a fiver anyway, and probably the present meeting- would subscribe the lot."

There is no alteration in the market, the yardings being small on acMavkets. count of the rough weather,

and shearing being at hand, with wool still rising, owners feel inclined to take the wool off before selling. • ANTIQUA OVIS.