REVIEW OF HIS TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 10

REVIEW OF HIS TOUR.

SOUTHLAND'S PROSPECTS. The Hon. Mr M'Nab, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, concluded his southern tour on Saturday, when he came through from Invercargill by the first express and proceeded to Lyttetton by the afternoon train, and thence to Wellington. Interviewed by a Times reporter, Me M'Nab said he had had a particularly pleasant trip, extending over about a fortnight. "I do not think," he continued,, "I have ever 6een this country looking ea well. The southern shows at Milton. Clufcha, Gore, and Invercargill were, I think, almost without exception records for their exhibitions. The displays of &heep> and horses, particularly in the southern* shows, were -equal to anything, I suppose-* that' could be found in the Dominion. " Everywhere I found the farmers in ex> cejlent heart, and never forgetting to remind visitors of the fact that daring the> excessive drought of the last year or two Southland had saved Otago. A great deal of crop is being put in, both in the <onm of oats and turnips. In some cases H may be a little late, as the early spring was • bit backward. The later rains, however,, are bringing away the grass in plenty, and everything another very success* ful season. An immense amount of subdivision amongst the iarger properties h*» gone on in Southland of late years, and this is beginning to make itself manifest ia the bookings for railway accommodation at the different stations. "I drove through the celebrated Eden* dale- settlement, and I think just now i€ would be hard to find in New Zealand m more beautiful stretch of well-settled agricultural country. Edendale factory is taking in about 8000 gallons of milk pea day. Another very fine stretch, of country traversed was from Wallacctown, through Thornbury and Drummond, to Otautau, country the great bulk of whioh has been cut up recently. Draining operations are> in full swing amongst the swampa, and altogether, from a land-settlement point ofi jdew, things are very bright in the south. "I visited also the Lome Farm, as tha institution of the Qharitable Aid Board foe children and aged is called. There farm and gardening operations are carried on in a highly successful manner. The work ia done by the old people and by the lad*, and the result has been eminently satisfactory from" the point of view of the discipline of the inmates, whilst financially, I am told; it is bringing about a material reduction* in the charitable aid rate. I think th« visible results are marvellous, and the placet is well worth a visit by anyone who take* an interest in the charitable aid problem ira New Zealand. "The meat export companies, I found 1 , were making extensive additions to their premises. At Mataura a larger portion of the river is being taken in for PQwea* purposes, and both there and at the Btnf| additions are being made to the buildings (| whilst at Wallacetown the additions would be even more extensive. On every hand one sees very complete preparation*- being made for an enormous, increase in the output for the future. "The town of Liyercargill," concluded! the Minister, " has improved very maoh* Both those engaged In manufacture ana ua general public are more confident of tha future prospects than I haye ever before seen them. I took part in the presentation; of prizes at the High School, and tkaft institution' appeared to b& sharing in th» general advancement and progress. Mr M'Nab was unable tp give any definite information about his future^ movements, but it wq« practically certain that! he would visit the West Coast of this island in February. The Bishop of Peterborough was on m motor car trip in his diocese when the car frightened a coal-cart horse, and the earn was overturned in the' ditch. The * rural dean sat on the horse's head until it was* released from the cart, and then the. bishop, the dean, and the chauffeur aaol valet helped the driver to reload his cart. Mr Junes Hing, a Chinese merchant, ofi Sydney, has returned to New South Wales) from the Far East. He was astounded ati the progress made in China, and feels convinced that his country is awakening* Australia's trade in the Philippines, he said, had received a big lift through the beycot* of American goods. Many uhinesa sold only Australian products.